[access-uk] Graphical images - CAPTCHA
- From: "George Bell" <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:32:03 +0100
A slight change of subject here for anyone encountering web
sites where signing up involves copying text from a graphic.
Doubtless there are others, but the original concept was
call "CAPTCHA" (for Completely Automated Turing Test To Tell
Computers and Humans Apart). A CAPTCHA is a program that
protects websites against bots by generating and grading
tests that humans can pass but current computer programs
cannot.
The official web site for this is at
http://www.captcha.net/. The software to do this is
actually free from this site, and I quote:-
"Get a Free CAPTCHA For Your Site
"A free, secure and accessible CAPTCHA implementation is
available from the reCAPTCHA project. Easy to install
plugins are available for WordPress, MediaWiki, PHP, Perl,
Python, and many other environments. reCAPTCHA also comes
with an audio test to ensure that blind users can freely
navigate your site."
Note that last sentence above, but please read on.
Now here's an extract from the same page concerning
"Guidelines".
"Guidelines
"If your website needs protection from abuse, it is
recommended that you use a CAPTCHA. There are many CAPTCHA
implementations, some better than others. The following
guidelines are strongly recommended for any CAPTCHA code:
"Accessibility. CAPTCHAs must be accessible. CAPTCHAs based
solely on reading text - or other visual-perception tasks -
prevent visually impaired users from accessing the protected
resource. Such CAPTCHAs may make a site incompatible with
Section 508 in the United States. Any implementation of a
CAPTCHA should allow blind users to get around the barrier,
for example, by permitting users to opt for an audio or
sound CAPTCHA."
Although they mention "Section 508", which applies to
American Law, it could equally apply in British law under
the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act).
So if you come across such sites where you do not have an
audible option, perhaps it might be worth taking the time
and trouble to refer the webmaster to
http://www.captcha.net/ and the Guidelines set down. If
they are an American organisation, they are definitely
breaking their own laws.
Meantime, I'd be interested to know if anyone here with
their own web site has tried out CAPTCHA. Unfortunately I
am having to consider it seriously myself due to robot
attacks on our enquiry forms.
George Bell.
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