Introduction
We have done it thousands of times. Squinted at blurred letters. Clicked every square with a fire hydrant. Ticked the checkbox that says “I’m not a robot”. Proved that we are human to gain access to a website. It feels like a silly, sometimes annoying game, just to prove we deserve entry to a site. This is the story of the CAPTCHA
Here’s something to think about. We helped scan millions of old books. We trained cameras on self-driving cars. We did it for free, without being asked and without even knowing. And now the CATCHA has gone invisible. We were tested, we were used, and now we are being watched. The question now is: if we had known about this from beforehand, would we have clicked ‘agree’? Let us know what you think in the comments box.
A last nugget of information: Look at the full name again — Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. The CAPTCHA has always been a Turing test. What’s a Turing test? That’s a story that deserves its own feature — and it’s coming up soon in TPPJ.
Moksh Bhambhani
I find joy in the intersection of creation, gaming, and writing. These pursuits fuel my optimistic nature, allowing me to explore philosophical depths while building new worlds and seeking meaning through every story I craft and every digital horizon I explore.
1 Comment
Sagar Public School
Brilliant piece. A well researched article. Your knowledge is beyond your years.