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
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.
Comment by Matthew Smith — April 27, 2006 @ 12:31 am
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
Comment by Nick — June 5, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
Nick that has to be the best audio captcha I’ve hear. Completely clear. Great Stuff!
Comment by Gill — November 21, 2006 @ 9:26 am
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.
Comment by SEOG — December 21, 2006 @ 12:21 pm
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”.
Comment by Luke — November 4, 2007 @ 9:54 am
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
Comment by Shah — December 3, 2007 @ 6:34 am