Audio Challenge/Response

Accessibility Requirement #17
Last Updated: January 18, 2007
Author: Donald F. Evans

Table of Contents

  1. Priority
  2. Description
  3. More Info
  4. Coding/Best Practices
  5. Testing/QA
  6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  7. W3C Guidelines

Priority:

Required


Short Discription:

If a Graphic Challenge/Response is used to validate the user, then an Audio Challenge/Response must also be provided.


More Info:

Many registration processes, or other validation routines depend on CAPTCHA challenges to determine who is a real person making the request, and who is an automated process trying to steal access to the system. The typical solution is to provide a Graphic Challenge. That is those little boxes of crazy squiggly words that you have to decipher and type into a text field. Obviously, people who can not see the graphic can not pass the challenge. Therefore and Audio alternative must provided. If one is not provided you have excluded an entire segment of the population.


Coding:

Best Practices:
None

Guidelines:


Testing:

Anytime you find a Graphic Challenge like this...

Screen Shot of an Graphic Challenge

You must also provide an Audio Challenge.

Screen Shot of an Audio Challenge pop up screen


SEO:

SEO


W3C:

HTML Techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0

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