[Reader-list] Call for Ideas: Workable User-Verification system for Bookbole

[Chintan]

From
http://inclusiveplanet.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/workable-user-verification-system-for-bookbole-a-call-for-ideas/#comments

Bookbole.com is seeking ideas on creating a sustainable and scalable user
verification system. The goal is to ensure that Bookbole is reaching its
intended users i.e. print-impaired, caregivers of print-impaired or
organisations /individuals accessing for the print-impaired and NOT sighted
users who are none of the above.

*The Problem Statement*

Currently, Bookbole.com requires a user to self-certify whether he/she is
print-impaired i.e. visually impaired or unable to read because of a
non-visual problem or accessing the content on behalf of print-impaired
persons or a part of an organization accessing content on behalf of print
impaired persons (‘intended users’). This system is chosen because Bookbole
connects users from across the world and there is no way to check whether
every user is an intended user. Requiring every user, across potentially all
the countries in the world, to submit some sort of documentary proof would:

(a) be difficult for the users and would discourage users from adopting the
platform; and
(b) result in different ‘proofs’ from across the world – necessitating
verification cells in every country in the world, an expensive and unwieldy
solution.

The core challenge of the current self-certification system on Bookbole is
that sighted users, who are not intended users, can claim to be print
impaired and access content shared by the visually-impaired community for
itself.

Hence Bookbole is seeking a better system of verifying whether the user is
an intended user.

*Call for Ideas*

We are looking for a system that is:
(a) Cost-effective
(b) water-tight
(c) Preferably technology or community-driven rather than manual
(d) Easy on the user

Please share your solutions with us at team at bookbole.com. Your solution will
be a long way in ensuring that Bookbole can achieve its vision of enabling
the global print-impaired community to overcome their challenges viz
accessible content.

SM