CAPTCHAS invoke a number of reactions amongst both designers and users. They are a common source of frustration, consuming screen real estate and more importantly the user’s time spent deciphering and completing them. Studies have shown that they are generally bad for business.

However they are still widely used as they are considered a necessary evil in protecting websites against bots by generating tests that humans can pass but current computer programs cannot.

As you may have heard Google recently purchased ReCAPTCHA to accelerate its massive efforts to scan tens of millions of books and periodicals.

What you may not know is just how Google is utilising this technology to actually use the (re)CATPCHAS you’re filling out. By completing a reCAPTCHA you are directly helping Google in their quest to digitise the world’s books.

Here is a surprisingly interesting presentation on what is a generally dull topic: Why Nerds Rule: Luis Von Ahn and reCAPTCHA

UPDATE: CAPTCHA’s: Tough on Sales & Common Way to Test User Tolerance | UX Booth

About a week ago it seemed as though the Interweb was going into meltdown. I think I first noticed something was amiss when my iPhone denied my my morning serve of email, tweets and analytics on the way to work. The disconnectedness continued at work when it became apparent that a major Telstra connection was down. This was soon followed by Gmail going offline and Twitter went into another tailspin (probably due to everyone tweeting complaints about Gmail being down). Finally there were the reported attacks on WordPress blogs. Luckily my blog is akin to a Mac – it’s small and insignificant so who would want to waste their time with malicious intentions?

While the folio and resume are for public consumption, the blog is really for myself anyway. If someone else finds it useful or interesting then it’s just a bonus. But really it’s just a scrap book of random thoughts and links about design that I want to save for later. It wasn’t always like that though. Back when I started my blog in 2004 there were only a handful of design blogs. I on the other hand was too busy writing about my travels around Europe. Then there was a long period of neglect before I imported my old Blogger database into WordPress. At first I was sceptical of the cookie cutter approach to applying pre-made themes, but now I am continually surprised by the ease with which you can make endless changes and additions. There really is no excuse for tardiness anymore.

It’s still early days in this new format and I’m still finding my feet, or more to the point my voice. Anyway, below is a collection of articles that will hopefully help me to get where I’m going. Where ever that may be.

100 Ways To Improve Your Blog
16 Excellent Wordpress Security Plugins To Secure Your Blog
Must See SEO Guide for All WordPress Bloggers
Key Elements to Blog Visibility
The Anatomy of a Blog
Top 7 Crimes Best Bloggers Commit!
9 Things to Do To Make Sure Your Next Blog Post is Read by More than Your Mom
Writing Blog Post Titles That Grab Attention
Designers Discuss the Benefits of Running a Blog
The Benefits of Running a Blog as a Freelancer (Tips Included)

The Apple rumour mill is cranking up again and this time it’s the tablet. Tablet rumours have been around as long as touch technology itself, but this time they seem to be gaining real momentum. Obviously the Apple fan boys will snap up anything marked with the ubiquitous logo, but to the rest of us just how useful is an Apple tablet?

1. APPLE TABLET: Ultimate Gallery of Concept Designs and Prototypes
2. That September Apple Tablet? More Like A 2010 Apple Tablet.
3. iTunes 9: A wish list
4. iTunes 9: Blu-ray And App Organization And Twitter, Oh My?
5. The Case Against Apple Is Just As Much A Case For Apple
6. Why Outlook For Mac Is Great For Apple
7. Aug. 6, 1997: Apple Rescued — by Microsoft – It’s amazing just how much things have changed in the last 12 years.
8. Interview with Rob Janoff, designer of the Apple logo