16 December 2011 / by Radmila Gurkova

Learning Languages with CAPTCHAs

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQl6jUjFjp4

The term CAPTCHA (for Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart) was coined in 2000 by Luis von Ahn, Manuel Blum, Nicholas Hopper and John Langford of Carnegie Mellon University. Luis - the man who brought you the word CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA, now unveils his newest and most innovative project to date, please watch the video.



The process is a type of challenge response test used in computing as an attempt to ensure the response is generated by a human.

The process usually involves one computer (a server) asking a user to complete a simple test which the computer is able to generate and grade. Because other computers are assumed to be unable to solve the CAPTCHA, any user entering a correct solution is presumed to be human. Thus, it is sometimes described as a reverse Turing test (The Turing test is a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour) because it is administered by a machine and targeted at a human, in contrast to the standard Turing test that is typically administered by a human and targeted at a machine. A common type of CAPTCHA requires the user to type letters or digits from a distorted image that appears on the screen.

Yes we've all done this at some point and got it right or probably got it wrong... Go through this target language relating to CAPTCHA, taken from a conference by Luis von Ahn.


































































Word Image Definition Example Listen
 CAPTCHA Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart; a type of challenge-response test used in computing as an attempt to ensure that the response is generated by a person Amazon.com uses CAPTCHAs.  Listen
 Check The act or an instance of inspecting or testing, as for accuracy or quality; examination. The careful check of each unit before sale; gave the car an oil check.  Listen
 Deploy To spread out strategically A poet demanded that the government end its strategy of deploying the army against crime groups. Listen
 Spam Electronic mail with irrelevant content I receive a lot of spam in my mail.  Listen
Digitize To convert (data) to digital form for use in a computer. Today a lot of books are digitize. Listen
Expenditure The act of expending something, especially funds; disbursement; consumption. A Rolex watch is an unnecessary expenditure.  Listen
 Untapped Not utilized:not used The company had untapped resources that we were able to use.  Listen
 Response An answer or reply I need a response to the question.  Listen

 

"After re-purposing CAPTCHA so each human-typed response helps digitize books, Luis von Ahn wondered how else to use small contributions by many on the Internet for greater good. At TEDxCMU, he shares how his ambitious new project, Duolingo, will help millions learn a new language while translating the Web quickly and accurately -- all for free."

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE



GRAMMAR PRACTICE


Click here to read a post that helps to explain one of the grammar issues in this video: the use of 'real' and 'really'.

There is another post here that helps set out some points about the use of the verb 'to have' related to this topic.

READ MORE


Click here to read the transcript of the CAPTCHA video presentation.

 

03

November 2011
Do you speak English?
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxUm-2x-2dM Why do you want to learn English? Do you think it would be useful on holiday? Have you ever had any problems making yourself understood? This is a little bit of fun... "Simon Pegg and the Big Train comedy sketch team perform a funny short on life of an English speaking tourist in France." ...

01

November 2011
Current News - Trick or Treat!?
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://youtu.be/R-VRAemIvbI Halloween isn't just costumes and candy; it's a cultural holiday rich in tradition. Do you know why it is celebrated?! ...

28

October 2011
Oxbridge TEFL - Iain McGilchrist: The divided brain
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFs9WO2B8uI "Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist describes the real differences between the left and right halves of the human brain. It's not simply "emotion on the right, reason on the left," but something far more complex and interesting." If your intention is to become a teacher, knowing a little bit more about...

28

October 2011
Friday Meeting 28/10/2011
by Radmila Gurkova
This weeks meeting focused solely on students. How to evaluate students? How many levels exist in English? and teaching students who don't want to learn. We often find that when lev...

28

October 2011
Oxbridge Madrid - 'Working Together, Sharing Experiences'
by Radmila Gurkova
 ...

27

October 2011
Breaking News - Eurozone leaders agree emergency deal
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgDSauvALHk Eurozone leaders have reached a "three-pronged" agreement they say is vital to resolving the region's debt crisis. As part of the deal, banks have agreed to take a 50% loss on Greek debt. Read more here: ...

23

October 2011
Current News - Herman Cain on Obama's Race Card
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_YEj5P-Bv0 "Everytime someone disagrees with the President, one of his service men play the race card. If the policies aren't working that's not racial, that's just simply a failed policy." Herman Cain talks about Obama playing the Race ...

21

October 2011
Friday Meeting 21/10/2011
by Radmila Gurkova
This weeks meeting focus is on telephone classes, the S1 beginners’ course, Legal (Law course) and P4 structure material. Although we’ve had positive feedback on most issues covered in the meeting, we still need to improve in some areas. ...

21

October 2011
Breaking News - An end to ETA violence?
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OCkyZ7dlq8 Basque separatist group ETA declared a ceasefire on Sunday in its bloody 42-year campaign for a homeland independent of Spain, vowing to give up guns and bombs to seek a democratic solution. Spain's prime minister has hailed the end of Basque separatist group Eta's arme...

19

October 2011
Current News - All we are saying is 'give pizza a chance'
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://youtu.be/Am4uhFH66HE As anti-capitalist protests spread in cities around the world, the number of people involved has been growing. Some demonstrators have been camping out in New York for several weeks, presenting the organisers there with plenty of difficulties for which they have had to find some very creative solutions...