Nobody likes unwanted spoilers, and trying to avoid them can be like walking through a minefield. I usually dread scrolling through the Internet the day one of my favorite shows comes out with a new episode. There are always some people who spoil the big twist or character death for me. However, even after I finally sit down at home and relax, I can still risk spotting spoilers just by searching for a show, movie, actor, or sports score on my TV.
Samsung has taken steps toward resolving this issue for all of us. The electronics giant has patented a TV that will automatically detect and hide spoilers that appear in search results, according to Patentlyze. This Samsung TV setting would ensure that the device doesn’t accidentally spoil something for viewers while they’re searching for something to watch. Viewers wouldn’t have to install a browser extension or change their TV’s settings. It would all be built in!
This technology was invented by Youngin Park, Byounghyun Kim, Sangyoung Lee, and Cheulhee Hahm. The patent was filed back in March and was officially published on July 30. While this television is still under development, the details revealed hint at a promising innovation and a massive boon for Samsung.
How would this spoiler-free TV work?
Enter spoiler prevention mode
As stated in its official patent application, this Samsung TV would feature a “spoiler prevention mode.” When someone enters a search term on this TV, its processor would determine whether it is likely to generate spoilers. If so, the TV would activate spoiler-prevention mode, use its network connection to retrieve information corresponding to the search term from external sources, and store the result in its memory.
After scanning the images and text it gathered, the TV would flag anything that qualifies as a spoiler and hide it before its user can see it. Spoilers would include details revealing the result of a sports match, the death of a character, or other key story events. Though spoilers would be out of sight, the rest of the search result would be visible on-screen.
The patent described blocking spoilers in multiple ways. For instance, the TV could cover a person holding a gun with a graphic object if it thinks the image would reveal them as a villain. The TV’s user would have the option to remove, move, or change the color of the object covering the spoiler.
All in all, the TV wouldn’t require any websites to determine what is and isn’t a spoiler. The device does the deciding. Also, since the anti-spoiler tech applies to both hardware and software, it could even operate beyond the apps and websites cooperating with a particular streaming service.
Will Samsung make this spoiler-stopping TV?
It is too early to tell
Should Samsung release a TV that hides spoilers, it could help deal with such a widespread problem for audiences. However, the big question isn’t whether Samsung will make this device. It’s how accurately it could spot spoilers.
What qualifies as a spoiler in each situation is up for debate. What the TV considers a spoiler may not be seen as one by the user. A Samsung TV with a faulty algorithm could end up hiding important information or missing some spoilers, which could leave users dissatisfied with the product.
In the end, this Samsung TV’s ability to accurately detect and filter spoilers would determine its success with consumers, should it be released to market. For the time being, the likelihood of this patented TV getting a grant is listed as “medium.” Should Samsung approve and refine this spoiler-detection technology, this TV could stand out in a market that thrives on delivering customers enjoyable, worry-free entertainment.
