A Proposal for an Open and Objective Content Rating System

[Timothy G. Kambitsch]

I know this list has been victim to religious wars concerning the use
of content filtering products. I've been experimenting over the
last month with a content filtering system that attempts to minimize the
objections expressed by many members of this list. In short,
this rating system:

	1) Uses a PICS Ratings Bureau to store a database of rated
		sites.

	2) Proposes a ratings criteria that can be applied
		objectively and consistantly.

	3) Provides open access to the list of all rated sites.


The Open Ratings Criteria (ORC) Rating system is described in
detail at:

	http://pics.dayton.lib.oh.us/pics/orc.html

A demonstration server is also available.  Following the instuctions,
you should be able to configure MSIE to use the sample database
within a few minutes.

The server is not very robust, so expect some performance hits.
Even if a small number of this readership explores this server,
I anticipate

Your comments and feedback on this system will be appreciated.







Tim Kambitsch <mailto://kambitsch@dayton.lib.oh.us>
Dayton and Montgomery County Public Library                   937-227-9560
215 East Third Street Dayton OH 45402                   fax:  937-227-9524