The present invention involves a system and method that facilitate
identifying human interaction by utilizing HIPs such as order-based HIPs
and determining a difficulty rating of any type of HIPs in an automated
fashion. Order-based HIPs require a user to identify elements in the
sequence as well as to identify a correct order of the elements in the
sequence. The invention involves presenting a user with at least two HIPs
such that the HIP can be of known and/or unknown difficulty. A user that
correctly answers the HIP of known difficulty gains access to the
HIP-controlled resource, action or application. The user's response to
the HIP of unknown difficulty can then be examined and employed to
determine whether that HIP is too difficult for humans to solve.
Alternatively, at least one HIP can be presented. Difficulty of
individual HIP parameters can also be determined.