Microsystems Takes the Lead in Creating the Industry's First PICS server
based on its CyberNOT Rating System

Microsystems To Offer Developers FREE PICS Client Test Program

FRAMINGHAM, MASS., THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1996 -- Microsystems Software,
producer of the Cyber Patrol Internet filtering software, today announced
it has created the industry's first commercial PICS (Platform for Internet
Content Selection) server, pics.microsys.com. The server will provide
developers with access to a PICS rating service based on Microsystems'
"CyberNOT Block List," a classification of Web sites that parents may find
objectionable. It can be used by browser developers to test their
browser's ability to interpret standard PICS labels.

Additionally, in an effort to encourage other companies to develop PICS
compatible products, Microsystems will offer its PICS Client Test Program
for Windows free-of-charge. The client program can be used by server and
service developers to test their servers and labels. PICS is the new
industry standard rating format created under the auspices of MIT's World
Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to address the issue of Internet regulation.
This easy-to-use web site, labeling and selection platform will enable
people worldwide to selectively control online content they receive
through their personal computers.

"We are very excited to take the industry lead in creating the first PICS
server," said Richard Gorgens, CEO of Microsystems. "Our main concern is
the growth and advancement of the industry in the face of Internet
regulation. We hope that by setting an example and sharing our work we can
encourage other companies to develop PICS compatible products."

Albert Vezza, associate director of MIT's Laboratory for Computer Science
and Co-Chair of the PICS Steering Committee said, "We are delighted that
Microsystems has developed a product based on the PICS technical
specifications and we believe their creation of additional software tools
will foster the development of even more PICS compatible products."

Gorgens added that Microsystems Cyber Patrol, the leading Internet filter
for home and school,will also support the use of other PICS rating
services as they become available. "Cyber Patrol will be able to filter or
block based on returned label information," said Gorgens. "However, apart
from our own server, there aren't yet any commercial services or servers
to support."

Microsystems' "CyberNOT Block List," serves as the foundation for the PICS
server. It is a database on Cyber Patrol that identifies web sites
containing material that parents may find objectionable. There are
currently over 5000 web pages on the CyberNOT list, which is evaluated and
updated weekly by Microsystems' Internet research team of parents and
teachers. On the PICS server, the "CyberNOT" sites are categorically
labeled as either SEX (Gross Depictions; Sexual Acts/Text; Partial Nudity;
Nudity) or OTHER (Racist/Ethnic; Gambling; Satanic/Cult; Drugs/Drug
Culture; Militant/Extremist; Violence/Profanity; Questionable/Illegal and
Alcohol/Beer/Wine).

The PICS service rates the "CyberNOT" sites on a scale of 0-8, based on the
level of objectionable content. For example, in the SEX category, a rating
of 0 indicates that there is no content classified within the category; a
2 means the site is classified as having content in one of the four Sex
CyberNOTS; a 4 rating indicates content in two Sex categories; a 6, in
three Sex categories and an 8 indicates content on the site classified in
all four Sex categories For the OTHER category, the rating corresponds to
the number of categories in which the site content was classified.

Microsystems' PICS Client Test Program works with any WINSOCK. The program
runs between the browser and the WINSOCK and requests labels from a web
server when it gets the page or requests labels from an external PICS
server. The user can specify up to 10 label services. The program returns
a text-version of the label which shows the rating as defined by the
particular service.

Microsystems Software is privately-held and develops cost efficient
Internet and productivity software. Products include Cyber Patrol, the
leading Internet filtering software for home and school; CaLANdar,
enterprise-wide calendar/scheduling software; Cyber Sentry, Internet
filtering and license metering for corporate networks; and HandiWARE, a
family of adaptive access software solutions for persons with disabilities
that includes screen magnification, word prediction and keyboard
alternatives. European operations are headquartered in Ascot, Berkshire,
United Kingdom. In 1995, its first year of eligibility, Microsystems
ranked #223 on Inc. Magazine's 500 list of the fastest growing
privately-held companies.

Review the description of the Microsystems CyberNOT PICS Service located at
pics.microsys.com

Download a copy of the Microsystems PICS Client Test Program from
ftp.microsys.com/pics/p-setup.exe

Contact: Susan Getgood, Microsystems Software, Inc. 508/879-9000
susang@microsys.com or Cheryl Delgreco/Krys Monaco, Miller/Shandwick
Technologies, 617/536-0470 cdelegreco@millercom.com
 
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