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In case you didn't know, to the right of where you are supposed to type in the words (or diamonds as the case may be), the top most button reloads and gives you 2 more words.

As an aside - the way they check to see if you are allowed to enter the site is that they give you a known word and an unknown word - so if you get the known word right it doesn't much matter what you type for the other one. They send the same unknown word to a number of people and if enough of them type the same thing then they consider that word known and go from there. It would be funny if everyone typed the same word in when you couldn't identify it because the computer would think that was what it said...

The 'captcha' pushes the problem out to the user, forcing him to waste time entering nonsense, and also costs the site money for human verification services.  It works - and unfortunately the result is that better security procedures aren't being implemented, and we're stuck with this idiocy. 

It isn't for security, it is to keep automatic programs from logging on to gather data on downloads etc. (and I presume clog up the servers). It is a shame they can't come up with a better way of doing this though.

I think you don't need to enter these characters, just the words will do; AFAIK, comma's, dots, tildes and other symbols can be ignored.

Scanned books that whose words are actually searchable are thanks to this type of captcha.  It's like tom said, but once enough people type in the same thing for the 'unknown' word (your diamonds), that unknown word is then catalogued in the book as whatever it is.  I am more than happy to deal with complicated captchas to help provide this service.

I haven't seen one of these in months. But I also only log in from home lately.

Great presentation.

And now I don't feel so bad about "Captcha"....can't wait for "duolingo" to go live. Thanks!

Fascinating, thanks for the link!

fred

Just in case you missed it over the years:  Mary Lou Jepsen didn't set out to invent the netbook and turn the computer industry upside down. She was just trying to create a supercheap laptop. In 2005, Jepsen, a pioneering LCD screen designer, was tapped to lead the development of the machine that would become known as One Laptop per Child. Nicholas Negroponte, the longtime MIT Media Lab visionary, launched the project hoping to create an inexpensive computer for children in developing countries. It would have Wi-Fi, a color screen, and a full keyboard—and sell for about $100. At that price, third-world governments could buy millions and hand them out freely in rural villages. Plus, it had to be small, incredibly rugged, and able to run on minimal power. "Half of the world's children have no regular access to electricity," Jepsen points out.

http://one.laptop.org/

I've always thought this was a pretty great way to spread education and information. Heck I want one just to see how they work! (built in webcam, mic, antennae in the rim for better reception, long life battery, solar powered? This IS Cool!) I always thought that they could have a program, buy one and one gets donated, or a percentage of the extra cost in the price would go to fund charity computers. So OK I pay $150 and $50 of that goes to half a computer for someone in a developing country or rural school. Everyone wins?