By Bernard Maldonado
Note: the middle of this article contains some long quotes. Please make sure to read towards the end of the article for additional commentary.
Microsoft filed a Patent Application with the US Patent and Trademark Office on August 13, 2009. According to the application, Microsoft seeks legal protection for the concept of embedding advertising within Captchas.
In case you are wondering what a Captcha is: A Captcha is a security puzzle that can be embedded in a webpage that must be solved before access is granted to the next resource. Captchas are generally used on account setup pages and comment pages for webblogs.
Current usage of Captchas includes text in graphic form. The most widely used Captcha Tool, ReCaptcha, is a mature tool that provides a graphic representation of two vocabulary words and an audio alternative for visually impaired users. Other Captcha tools similarly display text, numbers, or words in graphic form that a user must type into an edit field in order to gain access to resources such as: email account registrations, forum posts, and ticket search results. It’s widely known that most Captcha tools to not provide accessible alternatives to the graphic text.
Captcha contents are, shall we say, more mechanical than attractive. The graphic is a word or two words in a regular font, one color (black usually) and there are geometric shapes that obscure the letters so that OCR systems cannot easily convert the graphic to ASCII text. The objective is not to entertain the user, but to provide security for the web resource.
According to Application number 20090204819, Microsoft seeks to rejuvenate Captchas. They want to inject a dose of pizazz and sparkle into each security device. Make no mistake, Microsoft also wants to monetize Captcha security devices. The idea is to make the Captcha like a commercial. The application points out that the ad Captcha will use similar “Cost per Click” techniques. Furthermore, ad’s will be shown based on demographic indicators of the website or users. It is believed that this will help target potential consumers more effectively.
One example would be to show a colorful graphic with words and images. One of the words on the ad would be “XBox”. The question would be “what is the brand represented in the Captcha”. So the user would have to enter “XBox” in order to gain access to the next level of the webpage resource.
The Captcha tool would also provide an audio alternative. Microsoft already provides audio on resources like: Hotmail, Live, and MSN. However, it is well known that the audio message is extremely difficult to interpret.
In an effort to include an accessible alternative, the new advertising model would include an audio alternative in the form of a commercial. The following is a direct quote from the Microsoft patent Application: “As an alternative or supplement to graphical ad-based HIPs (Human Interactive Proof), the ad-based HIP challenge may be audio-based by being implemented as an audio recording, file, or clip that is played on the user’s computer or other device, typically for example, as an assistive technology to enable sight-impaired users to access websites, or use Internet-enabled or other locally-running applications. The audio may comprise, for example, a slogan, musical jiggle or ditty, spoken words, or other sounds (or combinations thereof) that are used to convey an advertising message while also providing the basis for an ad-based HIP.”
In English, what that says is that you can expect to hear a commercial much like you would on TV or radio. For example, if you are solving a Captcha for a sports related site, you might expect the commercial to be about Gatorade.
Here’s the bad part. MS claims that the spoken audio would be obscured by noises such as “screeching tires” and “revving engines”. Here is a quote from the application: “an audio ad-based HIP could start with the sounds of revving engines and screeching tires that are played over a fast-tempo rock music track before a voiceover next says “Get ready for high-flying stunt driving in Xbox Live Arcade due in stores in November, and only for the Xbox 360.” The user will type “Xbox” to successfully pass the challenge when prompted to identify the product in the advertisement. The sounds effects and music can help obscure the voice and reduce the ability for a computer to recognize the challenge answer. As a result, the audio ad-based HIP can generally be expected to be equally robust as conventional audio HIPs where users typically listen to obscured or garbled letters or numbers and then type them into their computers.”
COMMENTARY:
Folks, I won’t hold back any punches. By making a business out of Captchas, Microsoft has an obligation to make sure that this new security device has been run through every level of accessibility testing that is available.
There is no excuse on earth for someone to realize a profit from a Captcha that is not 100% accessible to everyone.
If Microsoft wants to monetize this tool, there is a higher level of compliance that must be expected concerning accessibility.
I realize that this is still in the early stage of development and deployment. Honestly, I have not seen any example of this new concept beyond the images contained in the application. Perhaps Microsoft is already planning on extensive accessibility testing and compliance. I might be pleasantly surprised. However, I suspect that this will be exactly like a current MSN Captcha audio alternative, but it will be a commercial instead of just numbers.
Having said that, I am inclined to believe that proactive cooperation between a Consumer Organization of Blind People and Microsoft is the only way to ensure an end result that can be beneficial for everyone.
You might find my commentary negative or pessimistic. On the contrary. I take pleasure in finding opportunity here within to bring accessibility to Captcha devices.
With the introduction of profit, the developer cannot claim “lack of resources”, or “lack of funding”. Microsoft has plenty of both, and has just opened the gate for creating a HIP security device that is accessible to everyone.
A truly accessible Captcha is long overdue. Many vendors offer audio alternatives. We all know how those work and how difficult they are to successfully negotiate. This is the perfect opportunity to engage and demand an accessible Captcha.
If you are reading this, and agree with what I have just said, then I encourage you to contact your Blind Advocacy Group of choice and express the need to approach Microsoft and extend willingness to help ensure that this new Captcha is truly accessible. At the least, contact Microsoft and let them know that you want their new Captcha technology to address the needs of both visually impaired and hearing impaired Internet consumers.
Best Regards,
Bernard Maldonado
Solona Captcha Solution Service
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