Dawn
I have a confession to make. Now, don’t get too excited, it is not one of my deep dark secrets; it’s just a common annoyance that I feel the need to share. Here it is: I hate those CAPTCHA things. You may not know the name CAPTCHA, but you know what I am talking about, those distorted alpha-numeric blocks that you have to manually enter in order to gain access to a web page or purchase concert tickets online. Yes, I understand they are for my own protection, but it always takes me multiple times to enter one correctly because I just can’t see them clearly. Whenever I start to get irritated upon entering a CAPTCHA for the umpteenth time, I try to take a cleansing breath and think that if this is hard for me, it must be nearly impossible for someone with vision impairment. Thankfully, Dr. Jonathan Lazar of Towson University decided to do something about that.
Using recognizable sounds instead of the common visual CAPTCHA, Dr. Lazar, along with Tim Brooks and Gena Melamed of Information Systems Solutions (ISS) and other students and faculty from Towson, are working on a new technology called SoundRight audio. Audio CAPTCHA technology does exist; however, in its current state it produces very low success rates for blind users. TU’s new technology will provide blind and vision impaired people with the same time access to websites as everyone else, through the use of common sounds. Based on the English language, SoundRight audio relies on simple sound clips such as bells, barking dogs and running water, etc. The sounds being chosen for SoundRight are designed to be recognizable by a greater number of people, because they are sounds that cross different cultures and backgrounds.
The work being done here to further develop and patent this new technology is gaining attention from outside the University as well. The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) awarded the Towson team with a $50,000 grant to further develop this new technology. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said “We are pleased that Towson University has received this grant and is actively working on a CAPTCHA substitute that does not rely on alternative accommodations. TU’s SoundRight initiative will provide the blind with equal access to websites that utilize CAPTCHAs . . .” This new technology is a great representation of using the resources of the university to solve a real problem facing our citizens. Providing tools to allow the blind and visually impaired to more easily access the web is a much needed advancement, I just hope they let me use SoundRight too.
Guest Blogger
Bobbie Laur
Sharyn Grove
Jeremy Monn
Raquel Frye
Clay Hickson
Dawn Bott
Lindsey Meyer
Allie Pyzik
Daraius Irani
Past Bloggers
Jenn Lake
Kelsey Beckett
Timothy Brooks
Ashley Buzzeo
Matt Michels
Nicole Schiraldi
