Continuing on my post about accessibility from the other day, earlier I was signing up for an account on a website, and I think I may have found a perfect example of some of the features I was mentioning the other day.
First: It is not a traditional CAPTCHA, although it does feel similar to one:
Above is LibraryThing's Robot Check Page. First you will note that it is thematically appropriate, instructing the user to select "cookbooks and other books about food or drink" from a series of images.
When you use your browser's developer tools to inspect the form, you will see that it appropriately uses ARIA labels and alt descriptions to accurately describe the different options it is requesting you to select from. Here, the book is The Blighted Stars (Volume 1) (The Devoured Worlds, 1).
Those with visual impairments should have no problem understanding the prompt, and assessing each option. I believe that most, even if not familiar with the book, would be able to assess the title and determine that it is not a cook book.
And finally, at the bottom of the page, they include an advisement explaining the purpose of the robot test, and inviting you to reach out if you have any difficulties completing it. This of course shows that, while it may be impossible to prepare for every eventuality, you should still be willing to provide a recourse for those who still cannot access your site despite your best attempts.
I'm sure, of course, there are downsides to this approach. A bot probably, eventually, could be programmed to identify book genres from their covers. In fact, I'd imagine we are on our way to that very outcome. Additionally, including a "contact us" link may increase the amount of spam emails they receive.
All things considered, I think this is a great example of attempting to balance security with accessibility. I also think it goes to show how much we can all benefit if we "inspect" the sites we all visit every day! You'll be amazed at the tips and tricks you can discover.
Related:
How to use Inspect Element in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox
Top comments (2)
I really enjoyed this post. It's a great example of how balance security with accessibility.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Matheus, I'm glad you found it useful! I've been trying to look at every interaction online as a learning opportunity, it has certainly helped me see the internet in a new way!