We've all encountered a form on a Web page where we land on an edit box
and we are then asked to type the letters, numbers or words which appear
in the box. This is done to prove that you're a human being as some Web
sites don't want automated computers setting up tons of accounts
automatically. However, it's a bit more complicated if the human being
happens to be visually impaired. The reason is that the characters are
graphical images and not actual text, which means that your screen
reader can't recognize it. If you're lucky, the page might contain an
audio challenge but sometimes solving these challenges are difficult and
they are not helpful to deaf-blind users.
For years, I've been able to solve this problem by using the Webvisum
add-on for Firefox. This add-on is still available and is free of
charge. However, a few years ago the Webvisum site was hacked and I've
not seen a new version of the add-on in years, which gives me the
impression that the software may be abandoned and using it makes me a
bit nervous. Btw, if someone can provide me with reasonable evidence to
show that the Webvisum addon is still being maintained I am more than
willing to resume using and recommending it.
I recently discovered another addon called Rumola, available at
http://skipinput.com/VIP.php
In some ways, this addon is similar and even better in that it
automatically solves and fills in the captchas for you as soon as you
begin filling out the form. I'm not kidding. Start filling out a form
and Rumola, if you enable its own speech output, informs you that a
captcha has been detected. In around fifteen or twenty seconds or so, it
will then tell you that the captcha has been solved and the characters
are conveniently placed in the appropriate edit box.
Its one disadvantage: it's not entirely free. While you get five free
attempts at solving captchas, you have to purchase additional credits if
you want to continue solving more captchas. However, the fees are
reasonable, as you can spend around two dollars to solve around 150
captchas. I don't know if the reference on their Web site to Safari
apply for the Mac version and I am assuming that this does not, at least
in iOS 8, apply to the iOS version. Sorry, this addon doesn't seem to be
available for Internet Explorer.
This addon has definitely won me over!!
--
David Goldfield,
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
www.davidgoldfield.info
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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