[bcab] Re: Captchas

Clive and all,

I have found a lot of issues with audio in general on the internet. On some 
machines things tend to work, and on others they don't. I've heard it said that 
for best results, make Windows Media Player your default MP3 player, not 
something that many of us would particularly want to do!
Cheers
Dave

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Clive Lever 
  To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 12:22 AM
  Subject: [bcab] Captchas


  Hi all,

  Since this topic was raised there have been well over 70 messages posted to 
the list on the subject in only three days.  I also get the feeling from the 
names I'm seeing, that the subject has drawn several people to post for the 
first time, who may have been "lurking" before.  All this goes to show what a 
hot topic the Captcha issue is for us.  The volume of traffic on the subject 
could in itself be used as evidence in any campaign to give sensible 
alternatives to the Captcha.

  I've just come across a variation on the theme.  I tried to create an account 
on Google.  The good news was that they offered an option to listen to the code 
as well as one to type on the graphic contents.  The bad news was that when I 
clicked on the "listen to the numbers and type them in" link, nothing played.  
I visited the help page and sent an email to show that I was having trouble 
crating an account, and will be interested to see what follows.  However, The 
help pages gave me a check list, and yes, my soundcard was working; yes, my PC 
supports .wav files; yes, my volume was turned up, but, in the words of Little 
Britain, computer says no.  Now there's a phrase to be quoted in a campaign!

  I would therefore hope, that anyone who arranges for an audio alternative to 
be in place would ensure that it is working at all times.  This is the 
equivalent in D D A terms of the Good practice Guideline from the DRC that 
cites the example, that if you have an induction loop in place but it is not 
working on the day that a hard-of-hearing customer needs to use it,  the 
service provider will most likely be found to be liable under the terms of the 
act.  The code of practice, mentioned in Léonie's overview of the captcha 
issue, is not in itself the law, but states in its own introduction that it 
will be used in evidence, so has the power to influence any case.

  I would of course, not countenance wielding the stick of the D D A against 
offending companies, unless all other attempts to get a satisfactory result 
have met with resistance or insufficient action to remove the barrier to 
access.  

  Best,
  Clive





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