Rails - Apr 2006 - How to display numbers or word graphically?

Some blog sites and others (ticketmaster, for example) require you to 
read a graphical representation of a word or number to prevent a form 
from being submitted programmatically.

I''d like to do something similar on a new site I''m building.

Two quick questions:

1. Is there a standard term for these graphical representations? i.e. 
how would I do a google search for this topic?

2. Anyone know of any existing Rails plugin that could do this for me, 
before I try to write my own?

Thanks!

Jeff
softiesonrails.com

-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

Hello Jeff,
> Some blog sites and others (ticketmaster, for example) require you to
> read a graphical representation of a word or number to prevent a form
> from being submitted programmatically.
>
> I''d like to do something similar on a new site I''m
building.
Be aware that it will reduce accessibility to your site. Blind visitors
will not be able to authenticate for instance.
> Two quick questions:
>
> 1. Is there a standard term for these graphical representations? i.e.
> how would I do a google search for this topic?
capcha.
> 2. Anyone know of any existing Rails plugin that could do this for me,
> before I try to write my own?
I don''t know. Check http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pages/Plugins

   -- Jean-Fran?ois.

--
? la renverse.

On 28 Apr 2006, at 16:47, Jeff Cohen wrote:
> Some blog sites and others (ticketmaster, for example) require you to
> read a graphical representation of a word or number to prevent a form
> from being submitted programmatically.
>
> I''d like to do something similar on a new site I''m
building.
>
> Two quick questions:
>
> 1. Is there a standard term for these graphical representations? i.e.
> how would I do a google search for this topic?
>
captcha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captcha
> 2. Anyone know of any existing Rails plugin that could do this for me,
> before I try to write my own?
http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pages/HowtoSecureFormsWithNoisyImages

How about this for an alternative?  Instead of generating a random 
string of letters in an image, you have a set of really obvious 
questions a table - things like ''What colour is the sky?'',
''Are trees
green - yes or no?''.  There could either be a small list of answers or
a
text field to fill in.

They''d have to be answers that anyone could get but it would stop Bots 
getting through.  It''d also not cause problems for users with voice 
browsers.

Of course the usability of such a device could be questioned, but surely 
it''s no worse that having a random set of blurry letters.  A short, 
clear explaination would clear up any confusion.

Thoughts?

Steve


Jean-Fran?ois wrote:
> Hello Jeff,
> 
>> Some blog sites and others (ticketmaster, for example) require you to
>> read a graphical representation of a word or number to prevent a form
>> from being submitted programmatically.
>>
>> I''d like to do something similar on a new site I''m
building.
> 
> Be aware that it will reduce accessibility to your site. Blind visitors
> will not be able to authenticate for instance.
> 
>> Two quick questions:
>>
>> 1. Is there a standard term for these graphical representations? i.e.
>> how would I do a google search for this topic?
> 
> capcha.
> 
>> 2. Anyone know of any existing Rails plugin that could do this for me,
>> before I try to write my own?
> 
> I don''t know. Check
http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pages/Plugins
> 
>   -- Jean-Fran?ois.
> 
> -- 
> ? la renverse.
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Rails mailing list
> Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org
> http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails

Check this page:

http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pages/HowtoSecureFormsWithNoisyImages

I secured my forms in this ways, very easy and very nice

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodrigo Dominguez

Contra la contaminaci?n de las papeleras. 
Por el r?o Uruguay. 
El 30 de Abril en Gualeguaych?. 
Yo Voy.

Iplan Networks                Datos Personales
rdominguez@iplan.com.ar       rorra@rorra.com.ar
www.iplan.com.ar              www.rorra.com.ar
5031-6303                     15-5695-6027

-----Mensaje original-----
De: rails-bounces@lists.rubyonrails.org
[mailto:rails-bounces@lists.rubyonrails.org] En nombre de Stephen
Bartholomew
Enviado el: Viernes, 28 de Abril de 2006 12:20 p.m.
Para: rails@lists.rubyonrails.org
Asunto: Re: [Rails] How to display numbers or word graphically?

How about this for an alternative?  Instead of generating a random 
string of letters in an image, you have a set of really obvious 
questions a table - things like ''What colour is the sky?'',
''Are trees
green - yes or no?''.  There could either be a small list of answers or
a

text field to fill in.

They''d have to be answers that anyone could get but it would stop Bots 
getting through.  It''d also not cause problems for users with voice 
browsers.

Of course the usability of such a device could be questioned, but surely

it''s no worse that having a random set of blurry letters.  A short, 
clear explaination would clear up any confusion.

Thoughts?

Steve


Jean-Fran?ois wrote:
> Hello Jeff,
> 
>> Some blog sites and others (ticketmaster, for example) require you to
>> read a graphical representation of a word or number to prevent a form
>> from being submitted programmatically.
>>
>> I''d like to do something similar on a new site I''m
building.
> 
> Be aware that it will reduce accessibility to your site. Blind
visitors
> will not be able to authenticate for instance.
> 
>> Two quick questions:
>>
>> 1. Is there a standard term for these graphical representations? i.e.
>> how would I do a google search for this topic?
> 
> capcha.
> 
>> 2. Anyone know of any existing Rails plugin that could do this for
me,
>> before I try to write my own?
> 
> I don''t know. Check
http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pages/Plugins
> 
>   -- Jean-Fran?ois.
> 
> -- 
> ? la renverse.
> 
> 
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Rails mailing list
> Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org
> http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails
_______________________________________________
Rails mailing list
Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org
http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails

Another way I have seen it done is with a simple math problem, like 9 + 2 [   
], and you have to enter 11.

On 4/28/06, Stephen Bartholomew <sb@2404.co.uk>
wrote:
>
> How about this for an alternative?  Instead of generating a random
> string of letters in an image, you have a set of really obvious
> questions a table - things like ''What colour is the
sky?'', ''Are trees
> green - yes or no?''.  There could either be a small list of
answers or a
> text field to fill in.
>
> They''d have to be answers that anyone could get but it would stop
Bots
> getting through.  It''d also not cause problems for users with
voice
> browsers.
>
> Of course the usability of such a device could be questioned, but surely
> it''s no worse that having a random set of blurry letters.  A
short,
> clear explaination would clear up any confusion.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Steve
>
>
> Jean-Fran?ois wrote:
> > Hello Jeff,
> >
> >> Some blog sites and others (ticketmaster, for example) require you
to
> >> read a graphical representation of a word or number to prevent a
form
> >> from being submitted programmatically.
> >>
> >> I''d like to do something similar on a new site
I''m building.
> >
> > Be aware that it will reduce accessibility to your site. Blind
visitors
> > will not be able to authenticate for instance.
> >
> >> Two quick questions:
> >>
> >> 1. Is there a standard term for these graphical representations?
i.e.
> >> how would I do a google search for this topic?
> >
> > capcha.
> >
> >> 2. Anyone know of any existing Rails plugin that could do this for
me,
> >> before I try to write my own?
> >
> > I don''t know. Check
http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pages/Plugins
> >
> >   -- Jean-Fran?ois.
> >
> > --
> > ? la renverse.
> >
> >
> >
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Rails mailing list
> > Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org
> > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails
> _______________________________________________
> Rails mailing list
> Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org
> http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails
>
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Stephen Bartholomew wrote:
> How about this for an alternative?  Instead of generating a random
> string of letters in an image, you have a set of really obvious
> questions a table - things like ''What colour is the
sky?'', ''Are trees
> green - yes or no?''.  There could either be a small list of
answers or a
> text field to fill in.
> 
> They''d have to be answers that anyone could get but it would stop
Bots
> getting through.  It''d also not cause problems for users with
voice
> browsers.
> 
> Of course the usability of such a device could be questioned, but surely
> it''s no worse that having a random set of blurry letters.  A
short,
> clear explaination would clear up any confusion.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> Steve
That''s interesting, Steve.  I feel that the blurred graphics represent
a
kind of arms race.  Seems that every few months I see blurrier and 
blurrier numbers as they try to keep ahead of the bot technology, but 
meanwhile we make it harder on the rest of us.

I really would like to figure out an alternative to the captchas, and 
you''ve given me some food for thought here.

Jeff

-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

You can always go with this: 
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060407-6554.html

Jeff Cohen wrote:
> 
> That''s interesting, Steve.  I feel that the blurred graphics
represent a
> kind of arms race.  Seems that every few months I see blurrier and 
> blurrier numbers as they try to keep ahead of the bot technology, but 
> meanwhile we make it harder on the rest of us.
> 
> I really would like to figure out an alternative to the captchas, and 
> you''ve given me some food for thought here.
> 
> Jeff

-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

That''s great but it doesn''t solve the problem of voice
browsers :0)

Of course, you could include alt tags, but that would kinda defeat the 
object :0)

Steve

Ben Sinclair wrote:
> You can always go with this: 
> http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060407-6554.html
> 
> Jeff Cohen wrote:
> 
>>That''s interesting, Steve.  I feel that the blurred graphics
represent a
>>kind of arms race.  Seems that every few months I see blurrier and 
>>blurrier numbers as they try to keep ahead of the bot technology, but 
>>meanwhile we make it harder on the rest of us.
>>
>>I really would like to figure out an alternative to the captchas, and 
>>you''ve given me some food for thought here.
>>
>>Jeff
> 
> 
>

Yeah - it''s got me to thinking too :0)

I see it working by having at least 10 questions, randomly selected. 
That''s going to make it hard for a Bot to work out.  Even if lots of 
sites were using this technique, the questions and even the wording 
would be at least slightly different.

It''s also far easier to explain than a blurry image.

Steve


Jeff Cohen wrote:
> Stephen Bartholomew wrote:
> 
>>How about this for an alternative?  Instead of generating a random
>>string of letters in an image, you have a set of really obvious
>>questions a table - things like ''What colour is the
sky?'', ''Are trees
>>green - yes or no?''.  There could either be a small list of
answers or a
>>text field to fill in.
>>
>>They''d have to be answers that anyone could get but it would
stop Bots
>>getting through.  It''d also not cause problems for users with
voice
>>browsers.
>>
>>Of course the usability of such a device could be questioned, but surely
>>it''s no worse that having a random set of blurry letters.  A
short,
>>clear explaination would clear up any confusion.
>>
>>Thoughts?
>>
>>Steve
> 
> 
> That''s interesting, Steve.  I feel that the blurred graphics
represent a
> kind of arms race.  Seems that every few months I see blurrier and 
> blurrier numbers as they try to keep ahead of the bot technology, but 
> meanwhile we make it harder on the rest of us.
> 
> I really would like to figure out an alternative to the captchas, and 
> you''ve given me some food for thought here.
> 
> Jeff
>