GAPTCHAs: Playful Exploration of the Limitations of Human Verification CAPTCHAs

Yidan HONG; Jiayu LIU; Linqi SUN; Lin WANG; Ray LC

doi:10.23362/KOEN2025.07.25.1.004

GAPTCHAs: Playful Exploration of the Limitations of Human Verification CAPTCHAs

Yidan HONG
, Jiayu LIU
, Linqi SUN
, Lin WANG
, Ray LC^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Creative Media

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

CAPTCHAs are commonly used online to protect websites from AI bots by verifying that the user is human. Evolving from simple checks like swipes to the right, CAPTCHAs have become increasingly complex as the abilities of AI to escape detection increase, often leading to frustration amongst human users who just want to get through. Instead of frustration, we wanted to bring back the Gameful side of CAPTCHAs to bring joy into the human verification process and raise awareness about their limitations. We designed CAPTCHA-like games, such as scenario-based multiple-choice questions and item categorization, for an interactive installation. We found low rates of successful human verification in these experiencebased CAPTCHAs, suggesting the need for design of more accessible CAPTCHA systems in the future.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art
Publisher	Art Center Nabi
Pages	48-55
ISBN (Print)	979-11-87275-32-9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.23362/KOEN2025.07.25.1.004
Publication status	Published - 25 Jul 2025
Event	30th International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA 2025): 동동 (憧憧, DongDong): Creators’ Universe - Seoul, Korea, Republic of Duration: 23 May 2025 → 29 May 2025 https://isea2025.isea-international.org/

Conference

Conference	30th International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA 2025)
Abbreviated title	ISEA 2025
Place	Korea, Republic of
City	Seoul
Period	23/05/25 → 29/05/25
Internet address	https://isea2025.isea-international.org/

Bibliographical note

Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

Research Keywords

CAPTCHA
AI systems
Human Verification
internet security
interactive installation

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10.23362/KOEN2025.07.25.1.004

https://www.isea-symposium-archives.org/presentation/gaptchas-playful-exploration-of-the-limitations-of-human-verification-captchas-presented-by-lc-wang-hong-liu-and-sun/

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@inproceedings{e9448562163845b2bc953535bada5732,

title = "GAPTCHAs: Playful Exploration of the Limitations of Human Verification CAPTCHAs",

abstract = "CAPTCHAs are commonly used online to protect websites from AI bots by verifying that the user is human. Evolving from simple checks like swipes to the right, CAPTCHAs have become increasingly complex as the abilities of AI to escape detection increase, often leading to frustration amongst human users who just want to get through. Instead of frustration, we wanted to bring back the Gameful side of CAPTCHAs to bring joy into the human verification process and raise awareness about their limitations. We designed CAPTCHA-like games, such as scenario-based multiple-choice questions and item categorization, for an interactive installation. We found low rates of successful human verification in these experiencebased CAPTCHAs, suggesting the need for design of more accessible CAPTCHA systems in the future.",

keywords = "CAPTCHA, AI systems, Human Verification, internet security, interactive installation",

author = "Yidan HONG and Jiayu LIU and Linqi SUN and Lin WANG and Ray LC",

note = "Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned. ; 30th International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA 2025) : 동동 (憧憧, DongDong): Creators{\textquoteright} Universe, ISEA 2025 ; Conference date: 23-05-2025 Through 29-05-2025",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

day = "25",

doi = "10.23362/KOEN2025.07.25.1.004",

language = "English",

isbn = "979-11-87275-32-9",

pages = "48--55",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art",

publisher = "Art Center Nabi",

url = "https://isea2025.isea-international.org/",

}

HONG, Y, LIU, J, SUN, L, WANG, L & LC, R 2025, GAPTCHAs: Playful Exploration of the Limitations of Human Verification CAPTCHAs. in Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art. Art Center Nabi, pp. 48-55, 30th International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA 2025), Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 23/05/25. https://doi.org/10.23362/KOEN2025.07.25.1.004

GAPTCHAs: Playful Exploration of the Limitations of Human Verification CAPTCHAs. / HONG, Yidan; LIU, Jiayu; SUN, Linqi et al.
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art. Art Center Nabi, 2025. p. 48-55.

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - GAPTCHAs

T2 - 30th International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA 2025)

AU - HONG, Yidan

AU - LIU, Jiayu

AU - SUN, Linqi

AU - WANG, Lin

AU - LC, Ray

N1 - Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2025/7/25

Y1 - 2025/7/25

N2 - CAPTCHAs are commonly used online to protect websites from AI bots by verifying that the user is human. Evolving from simple checks like swipes to the right, CAPTCHAs have become increasingly complex as the abilities of AI to escape detection increase, often leading to frustration amongst human users who just want to get through. Instead of frustration, we wanted to bring back the Gameful side of CAPTCHAs to bring joy into the human verification process and raise awareness about their limitations. We designed CAPTCHA-like games, such as scenario-based multiple-choice questions and item categorization, for an interactive installation. We found low rates of successful human verification in these experiencebased CAPTCHAs, suggesting the need for design of more accessible CAPTCHA systems in the future.

AB - CAPTCHAs are commonly used online to protect websites from AI bots by verifying that the user is human. Evolving from simple checks like swipes to the right, CAPTCHAs have become increasingly complex as the abilities of AI to escape detection increase, often leading to frustration amongst human users who just want to get through. Instead of frustration, we wanted to bring back the Gameful side of CAPTCHAs to bring joy into the human verification process and raise awareness about their limitations. We designed CAPTCHA-like games, such as scenario-based multiple-choice questions and item categorization, for an interactive installation. We found low rates of successful human verification in these experiencebased CAPTCHAs, suggesting the need for design of more accessible CAPTCHA systems in the future.

KW - CAPTCHA

KW - AI systems

KW - Human Verification

KW - internet security

KW - interactive installation

U2 - 10.23362/KOEN2025.07.25.1.004

DO - 10.23362/KOEN2025.07.25.1.004

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 979-11-87275-32-9

SP - 48

EP - 55

BT - Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art

PB - Art Center Nabi

Y2 - 23 May 2025 through 29 May 2025

ER -

GAPTCHAs: Playful Exploration of the Limitations of Human Verification CAPTCHAs

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Research Keywords

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