Google Releases Consumers From the Scourge of Captcha

Google on Wednesday announced the no-Captcha reCaptcha, a kinder, gentler way of distinguishing human Web surfers from bots. The new system requires that users confirm their humanity by checking a box to the left of the statement "I'm not a robot." A privacy statement is displayed on the right. If checking the box doesn't work, a window containing distorted text will pop up. "Given how annoying Captcha was, I actually think this is a step in the right direction," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.