11Apr/069
Google Releases Audio CAPTCHA
Google has now unveiled the Audio CAPTCHA for blind and low-vision users for many of the Google services. Gmail, Google Groups and the Google Account for the homepage. Users simply have to click the link and type the numbers they hear.
My main problem with testing this is that the audio CAPTCHA required a Quicktime plug-in, something that is flakey in my FireFox browser. In IE, it worked fine. The numbers use a combination of speakers in what sounds like a busy cafe - it will be interesting to see if that is still able to keep bots out.
Thank you, Google. For listening to your users and allowing EVERYONE to share in the services that you offer.
Courtesy: The Desert Skies Podcast
April 27th, 2006 - 00:31
Yes, good to see the willing, but sad to see a potentially inaccessible (requiring plugins) solution. I can’t even get QuickTime to work with Firefox under Linux.
The Captcha problem just won’t go away – unfortunately, neither will spammers. I have described a possible solution, although it could present problems for people with cognitive disabilities. ho, hum.
June 5th, 2006 - 14:25
My Audio CAPTCHA use Flash to play the sound file, you can try it out and download the PHP source at: http://www.nswardh.com/shout
November 21st, 2006 - 09:26
Nick that has to be the best audio captcha I’ve hear. Completely clear. Great Stuff!
December 21st, 2006 - 12:21
I have a hard enough time hearing as it is, not sure I’d want an audio captcha that was difficult to hear. While I think different methods of verification are good to think about, usually the methods are a little frustrating to users and I believe there are easier ways to verify it is a human. Like asking basic math, or object identification based upon a photo.
November 4th, 2007 - 09:54
Yes shure! Basic math! That should be great trouble for a computer bot to unravle the puzzle! Use your brain people!
BTW The voice on Audio CAPTCHA is scrambled because computer bot can use “voice recognition systems” to bypas the security option as well as with OCR “optical character recognition”.
December 3rd, 2007 - 06:34
Are you stupid Luke!! How sophisticated do you think bots are!! The Audio captcha has the female voice describing the letters cases. This is as far as I know the only solution to captcha accessibility
August 15th, 2008 - 02:34
Good to see the new development of audio captcha.
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Sheryar Nizar
March 10th, 2009 - 06:47
Looks very nice but one thing… If audio captcha is for providing accessibility to blind users and so why do we have to hove over the image? Keep in mind that blind peoplo don’t use mouse!!! Sill… Great job!!
July 13th, 2009 - 09:38
Computers (bots) can access the sound file, parse the output wave form, and match to trainin database.
For those not in the know, spammers use readily available software that can be “trained” for the various forum and guestbook etc captcha environments the spammer wants to use to flood their advertising.
So not only “noisy background” sound output helps to mix character output in the wave form but ALL image and sound output should be constantly changing through RANDOM CHANGES to each letter image part AND character sound output to if not confuse at least frustrate the training process.
PS: character recognition is now used by post offices (i.e. handwriting with considerable success) and authority road speed checking (of moving vehicles) around the world. So anyone who moans about the difficulties encountered using a web site should NOT be considered a reliable customer user.