It seems Captcha security measures are annoying consumers enough to make a couple of companies ditch the system for something more user-friendly.
They take about 14 seconds to fill in and some times two or three attempts to get them right according to specialists in the area.
Online ticket retailer Ticketmaster has announced a move to Solve Media which asks users to type in words and phrases that are easier to read and recognise.
This BBC report describes the Captcha as ‘one of the most hated pieces of user interaction on the web’.
Interestingly, Ryanair, which originally introduced the Captcha technology more than a year ago has also moved to the Solve Media solution.
The airline introduced the reCaptcha in late 2011 to prevent third parties from screen-scraping its price and availability information although it disappeared for a short while in the middle of 2012 while the budget airline carried out some technical maintenance on its site.
A Ryanair spokesman confirmed the Solve Media technology was introduced last November:
 ”The system offers consumers advanced and simplified methods of entering CAPTCHA details, including via a question and answer process, as well as by simple word recognition and repetition.”
The solution can also be used for advertising although Ryanair declined to comment on whether it would take advantage of this as another potential revenue stream
Something about the ‘sour grapes’ example above made us giggle and here’s a Solve Media clip with those interesting stats on Captchas:
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Whoaaa there!!!!!! Before we all rant on about how great this is, how about a modicum of thought applied to how annoying some consumers are going to find being forced to type in some tacky brand’s advertising bullshit?
It still takes up my time and at least Captcha is a collective “good deed” (conspicuously not mentioned above) because it is being used to help with the digitisation of older, out of copyright, texts.
I don’t fly Ryanair anyhow, so they can do what they like, their brand is inescapably naff anyhow, but if somebody I do deal with starts doing this………..
I’m so glad to see the back of the Captcha on websites. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but you really have to squint and get close to the screen to make out the letters and numbers. Good riddance I say!!
Captcha is inefficient and ineffective. I would be interested to know just what percentage of consumers actually get the entry right at the first attempt. Some are ridiculously shaped and covered. At a rough guess I enter on sites correctly once in twenty? As a result some sites I dont go back to as it is just too frustrating. Glad some are moving into the real world. Others might follow!
This is the smartest bit of online marketing/advertising I’ve ever seen from an airline. Kudos Ryan Air!
I love Solve Media. I don’t know why anyone would elect to stay with Captcha.