| ABOUT US | ARCHIVES | LINKS | RSS FEED | MONDAYS | |

3quarksdaily

An Eclectic Digest of Science, Art and Literature

« Tuesday Poem | Main | zizek on haiti »

August 19, 2008

humans helping computers

Battlesout__1218863447_9340

It happens all the time: you're registering a free e-mail account or making a purchase online, when up pops a wavy, multicolored word. The system asks you to retype the word - and you roll your eyes, squint a little, and transcribe. This little test is one of the most successful techniques for making sure the person trying to log on is really a human, and not a digital "bot" prying into the site.

But now, when you type that word, something else may be happening as well: You may be deciphering a word from a decaying old book, helping to transform a historic text into a new digital file.

In May of last year, computer scientists started using those cryptic-looking words to solve a frustrating problem. Digital cameras at libraries worldwide are scanning millions of pages of old books, automatically "reading" the texts and turning them into computer files. But as books age, their typography smudges and flakes away. While human readers have little trouble comprehending even the most mangled words, sophisticated computer software still hangs up on them.

more from Boston Globe Ideas here.

Posted by Morgan Meis at 11:39 AM | Permalink

Comments

Hey how can we get this put into 3QD's "Turing Test" for commentators. If every time I made a bonehead remark on the comment page, I had to decipher some ancient text fragment rather than just the standard, "humans-only", randomly generated word/number/picture puzzle, why- I'd be saving precious information while making goofy comments. Maybe not win-win but definitely the path of least harm. Digital penance for my adding to the Age Misinformation. Synergy anyone?

Posted by: Pete Chapman | Aug 19, 2008 5:15:32 PM

The motion is heartily seconded!

Besides, have you looked at their website? If their example is any indication, medieval texts are going to be easier on the eyeballs than the present mash-up!

Posted by: reader | Aug 20, 2008 4:45:05 PM

Post a comment






Subscribe to this blog's feed  

3QD Politics Prize

3QD ADVERTISING


3QD on Twitter


Miscellany

Lijit Search

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Add to Google


Recent Comments

Anderson on The Images Dancing in David Gelernter's Head

Frances Madeson on 3 Quarks Daily Prize in Politics

charles e rackley on Siam I am

Ingolf on 3 Quarks Daily Prize in Politics

Dredd on We May Be Born With an Urge to Help

Carlos on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

nita soans on 3 Quarks Daily Prize in Politics

Kris Kotarski on 3 Quarks Daily Prize in Politics

Sagredo on Dubai: A morally bankrupt dictatorship built by slave labour

Sagredo on The Images Dancing in David Gelernter's Head

Dave Ranning on 3 Quarks Daily Prize in Politics

thatguy on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Dave Ranning on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

aguy109 on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Chris Schoen on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

J'accuse! on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Louise Gordon on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

dean on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Dave Ranning on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Dave Ranning on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Unitedincommonsense on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

yuko on Short Takes

Steve on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Robin on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban

Chris Schoen on Cyrus Hall on the Swiss Islamic Minaret Ban


Acclaim For 3QD


"I couldn't tear myself away from 3 Quarks Daily, to the point of neglecting my work. Congratulations on this superb site."—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University.

"I have placed 3 Quarks Daily at the head of my list of web bookmarks."—Richard Dawkins, Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University.

"Just wanted you to know I’m one of many who reads and enjoys 3 Quarks....almost daily."—David Byrne, musician, former lead-singer of the Talking Heads, artist, intellectual.


The 3QD Prizes


Logos designed by Vicki Winters

Subscribe to this blog's feed