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Evolution of the 'Captcha'

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the why-can't-i-even-read-them-half-the-time dept.

FireballX301 writes "The New York Times is running an article about the small word puzzles various sites use in order to defeat automated script registration while still letting humans through. It seems many people can't actually solve them anymore, so new alternatives (image recognition) are being created. This, of course, seems breakable as well — is there a feasible alternative to the captcha, or are we stuck jumping through more and more hoops to register at places?"

11 of 383 comments (clear)

  1. I am torn by jollyreaper · · Score: 5, Funny

    As a Christian fundamentalist, I cannot in good conscience believe that catchpas have evolved, yet at the same time since I can never figure out what to type to make them work, I cannot believe any intelligence was involved in their design.

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    1. Re:I am torn by dattaway · · Score: 5, Funny

      Here in Kansas, captcha evolution has been subject to legal review. Kansas City's Road Runner is employing packet shaping to eliminate the evolution of captchas. You might not see the captcha, but others believe it exists.

  2. Inverted problem by sveinb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ask the user to perform a task that only a computer is likely to succeed at, like factorizing a 6-digit number. If the user gives the right answer, and this is the cunning part: Then it's not a human!

    MAN, I feel clever some times.

  3. Re:Knowledge tests... by CrazyTalk · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ummm I dont think this would work in the US, where (considering our educational system) some people might answer "yes". In fact, some celebrity (I forget which) recently thought that Japan was a country in Africa, which is why Africa has the best sushi.

  4. Re:Knowledge tests... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    No great loss in keeping people with that kind of education and/or intelligence away from the internet. Kinda like you'd like to keep the caveman with the club away from the nuclear bomb.

  5. See you in court? by tepples · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ask the user to perform a task that only a computer is likely to succeed at, like factorizing a 6-digit number. If the user gives the right answer, and this is the cunning part: Then it's not a human! Now you're discriminating against autistic savants like Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man, in possible violation of disability discrimination acts in the United States, the United Kingdom, or other countries. See you in court.
  6. Re:Knowledge tests... by bobmarleypeople · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've seen several sites using questions similar to yours except they were more obvious. An example was:

    Which is a food?
    A) pink
    B) car
    C) Britney Spears
    D) Hamburger

    There is of course the possible registration by a disturbed and horny male who would say "Britney Spears" but you get the idea.

  7. Re:Knowledge tests... by jollyreaper · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've seen several sites using questions similar to yours except they were more obvious. An example was:

    Which is a food?
    A) pink
    B) car
    C) Britney Spears
    D) Hamburger

    There is of course the possible registration by a disturbed and horny male who would say "Britney Spears" but you get the idea. Make sure you cook your Britney thoroughly first, no telling what diseases she's carrying.
    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  8. Re:Knowledge tests... by oliverthered · · Score: 4, Funny

    Kinda like you'd like to keep the caveman with the club away from the nuclear bomb.

    And then you voted for Bush, TWICE!!!!!!

    --
    thank God the internet isn't a human right.
  9. Re:Captcha too hard by Snaller · · Score: 5, Funny

    "OK, I am a bit shrotsighted,"

    And dyslexic.

    --
    If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
  10. Re:Knowledge tests... by Fred_A · · Score: 4, Funny

    "pink" is a common dessert on airlines.

    --

    May contain traces of nut.
    Made from the freshest electrons.