CAPTCHA Oxymoron

CAPTCHA is an oxymoron. Computers can not administer the Turing test.

If you think CAPTCHA is something gangsters try to avoid, here is some background:

  • What is CAPTCHA? A Captcha is a Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. (Oh, it’s those hard-to-read letters you have to type in at some sites. Why didn’t you just say so!?)
  • Can I try one? Sure. Try Gimpy.
  • So what’s wrong with them? Computers can sometimes solve them. Some with incredible success rates.

Posted by Jeremy on September 29, 2005 6 Comments.

6 Comments

  1. Jeremy replied:

    Hey, at the moment, I’m the only person (according to Google) who thinks that CAPTCHA is an oxymoron!

    October 13th, 2005 at 10:04 am. Permalink.

  2. Bob Aman replied:

    Ewww. What’s with the goatse image on the pwntcha page?

    January 4th, 2006 at 3:30 pm. Permalink.

  3. Jeremy replied:

    Hmm. That wasn’t there before. I’ve removed the link.

    January 4th, 2006 at 3:35 pm. Permalink.

  4. Bob Aman replied:

    Ehhh, I’ve seen the link before and I vaguely remember noticing it then too. Probably just didn’t notice it since it’s somewhat obfuscated.

    January 4th, 2006 at 3:39 pm. Permalink.

  5. Bob Aman replied:

    Incidentally, I’ve been working on a top secret project that I hope will make captchas obsolete. That’s kinda what that whole identity/privacy/trust post I wrote was getting on about.

    January 4th, 2006 at 3:40 pm. Permalink.

  6. Bob Aman replied:

    Here’s some even better CAPTCHA ideas.

    July 19th, 2006 at 9:38 am. Permalink.

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