Usability and user authentication: pictorial passwords vs. pin

Antonella De Angeli; Lynne Coventry; Graham Johnson; Mike Coutts

doi:10.1201/b12800

Usability and user authentication: pictorial passwords vs. pin

Antonella De Angeli, Lynne Coventry, Graham Johnson, Mike Coutts

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents the design and evaluation of the Visual Identification Protocol (VIP) an innovative solution to user authentication based on pictures and visual memory. Three authentication systems were prototyped and compared with the PIN approach in a longitudinal evaluation. The study revealed important knowledge about attitudes towards, and behaviour with, different authentication approaches. VIP was found to be easier to remember and preferred by users, but its usability can be easily disrupted by an inappropriate solution. A detailed error analysis is presented to help understand the limits and constraints of visual memory. This knowledge is instrumental in designing innovative authentication systems of this type.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Contemporary ergonomics 2003
Editors	Paul T. McCabe
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Pages	240-245
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9780429071751
ISBN (Print)	0415309948
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1201/b12800
Publication status	Published - Apr 2003
Externally published	Yes

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abstract = "This paper presents the design and evaluation of the Visual Identification Protocol (VIP) an innovative solution to user authentication based on pictures and visual memory. Three authentication systems were prototyped and compared with the PIN approach in a longitudinal evaluation. The study revealed important knowledge about attitudes towards, and behaviour with, different authentication approaches. VIP was found to be easier to remember and preferred by users, but its usability can be easily disrupted by an inappropriate solution. A detailed error analysis is presented to help understand the limits and constraints of visual memory. This knowledge is instrumental in designing innovative authentication systems of this type.",

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Usability and user authentication: pictorial passwords vs. pin

Abstract

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