I demand $5 million, a helicopter and...a random sequence of five letters
Category: Internet...
Posted Thursday, December 16, 2004 at 03:03 PM [GMT-6]

You know that string of letters and/or numbers that some sites require you to type in before you can access another page or feature? I never realized it had a name...never thought about it, really. But it does, according to NetLingo.

It's called a "ransom note." Ransom notes are supposed to ensure that a real person is requesting access, rather than a bot. I suspect they're pretty effective from that perspective, but they can also stymie a visually-disabled person's attempt to use the site.

Keep paying attention, kiddies, and you'll be killers once the "Trivial Pursuit - Geek Edition" hits the shelves. We won't discuss what you'll be until then.

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Comments

I've noticed more and more of those in use. A pretty good idea generally I think. Except the ones on grid backgrounds with the letters and numbers at crazy angles. I can't tell the g from the q or an 0 from an o.

Posted by: Wallace-Midland, Texas at December 16, 2004 04:29 PM

Yeah, I've had the same problem. Fortunately, most of them let you do a quick reload until you get an image you can read.

Posted by: Eric at December 16, 2004 05:11 PM

I've had the same problem (0/o, g/q). I noticed that on the weblog awards the instructions stated the letters were A..F, and then, no problem. I don't know it that's the standard configuration, but it would be helpful.

Posted by: Jack Grey at December 17, 2004 12:29 AM
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