Hi Damon, Good thinking, but may I throw another suggestion in to the melting pot? Microsoft worked with the three main screen reader companies to produce a Driver Chain Module (DCM) which produces a common link to the video system. This was a complex bit of work, compared to what I'm suggesting below. How about a similar joint effort to produce a Screen Reader Validation Module (SRVM)? Essentially this would be a software module which confirmed that the PC user was a genuine screen reader user. Kind of a sophisticated cookie if you like. I have often thought that there could be many uses for such a thing, for example:- 1) Allow greater access to PDF files. 2) Allow PDF files to be imported into braille and large print software. 3) Allow verification graphics to be spoken back. Just a thought. George. -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: 28 February 2006 14:26 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] A verification graphic solution perhaps? HI all, I just drafted what I I hope will be a thought provoking email about registration verification graphics for an internal accessibility list here at work. The BBC are seeking new solutions to the problem and currently have the idea to provide an 0800 support number alongside the website. The following are some ideas I had on a possible web based solution, Be good to get feedback off it. Good idea or bad idea? This whole problem is about Verification graphics. Visually impaired people either can't decipher the complexity because of low vision or just can't read a graphic at all if they have no sight. Screenreaders, obviously, can't read graphics. Follow my train of thought here ... If screenreaders COULD read the verification graphics, then so could any bit of software cobbled together by a script kiddie. In fact, that's why the graphics work so well for sighted users ... and indeed why they work so badly for visually impaired ones. If it were readable in any way, then scripters could setup mail accounts, swing votes, etc en masse. An issue for spamming and integrity of many online services. Other solutions in the past, such as the one used by Hotmail, have involved speech. A sound file with a word in it is generated. Speech recognition software exists, however, thought though I'm sure this is a pretty good solution with more thought. So, we're looking at something that isn't an alphanumeric ascii solution. The verification graphics are fancily written words so that even the best OCR software can't read it. It relies on your brain to decipher things too complex for computers. So, why not another solution that is too complex for computers to easily crack. What if the web user was given an alternative verification ... i.e. given the verification graphic and also a riddle or quiz? E.g. 1: "Work out the answer to the following and tap it into the edit field below" E.g. 2: "What is the next number in this sequence?" E.g. 4: "What is the capital of China?" E.g. 3: "the cat sat on the --- .... Fill in the blank word" This approach is one a computer program can't easily replicate. It asks the user to use their brain to answer a question. Any thoughts appreciated. Any flaws in my plan most welcome. Better more appropriate examples also welcome. ...Damon http://www.bbc.co.uk/ This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received. Further communication will signify your consent to this. ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq