ã€World Wide Web Reporter Lin Di】is back in the annual Spring Festival ticket-grabbing battle. As we all know, one of the most challenging parts of the process is the verification stage. Many netizens have complained about struggling to identify the images and missing out on their tickets. This year, however, things might be a bit easier.
According to recent reports, the complexity of the verification codes during the Spring Festival ticket purchase has been significantly reduced. China National Railway Corporation announced that the percentage of users required to complete graphical verification will now be below 15%. This means fewer confusing images, and more straightforward checks, helping passengers get their tickets faster and with less frustration.
Chart: 2017 Spring Transportation Forecast Report
User Tucao shared his experience with the ticket-purchase image verification, describing how the images are often blurry or unclear, making it hard to distinguish the correct option. A single wrong click could mean starting over, which many users find frustrating. Some netizens even joked: “If you're not a pro, you might as well give up on grabbing tickets,†and “You don’t realize how tough it is until you try.â€
According to media reports, there are currently 581 different image verification options on the 12306 site, with users facing over 336,980 possible combinations. However, only 8% of these can be correctly identified on the first attempt. The top three easiest images to recognize are bicycles, RMB notes, and tigers, while the hardest ones include ladybugs with seven spots, barrels, and sprayers.
Even 12306 customer service staff admitted that some images are not clear enough, and they sometimes make mistakes themselves. This highlights the real challenge users face when trying to complete the verification step quickly and accurately.
Why not eliminate them entirely and keep just 15%?
The decision to reduce the number of graphical verifications to 15% was made to improve user experience. The railway authorities have stated that they will remove unclear or difficult-to-recognize images and continue to update with high-definition options. This change aims to help passengers buy tickets more smoothly and efficiently.
So why not just eliminate all of them? According to sources, the 15% graphical verification is dynamically applied based on demand. When a particular route is highly sought after, the verification code appears randomly to reduce the load on the system. For less popular routes, users can purchase tickets without any verification, speeding up the process significantly.
Anti-yellow-cattle measures: AI replaces image verification
Reports suggest that this year’s graphical verification on 12306 is not as complex as last year. It seems that image verification is no longer the main tool used by railways to prevent ticket scalpers. Instead, stricter real-name authentication and other advanced methods are being used to block automated ticket purchases.
It's also worth noting that after years of improvements, the 12306 website and third-party ticketing platforms have become more mature. Technologies like big data and artificial intelligence are now widely used, helping to prevent scalpers from taking tickets and reducing the difficulty for regular passengers.
This year’s Spring Festival situation: The peak of the month
Data from the transportation department shows that the number of passengers during the Spring Festival travel period increased from 2.98 billion in 2017 to over 3 billion in 2018. Railways are expected to transport 393 million passengers, a 10% increase compared to the previous year.
However, industry insiders believe that this year’s ticket purchase situation will be less stressful than in previous years. First, the number of trains has increased to 3,819 pairs, with high-speed and intercity trains accounting for 60% of the total. Second, due to the late Spring Festival, students have earlier holidays, reducing the overlap between student, work, and office worker traffic. This should ease the pressure during the peak season. Additionally, alternative ways of returning home, such as carpooling, self-driving, and even cycling, have also helped reduce the overall congestion.
According to projections, the most difficult time for ticket grabbing in 2018 will still occur around the 12th day of the lunar month, followed by the 13th. The southern ticket rush tends to peak earlier than the northern one.
The age distribution of travelers during the 2018 Spring Festival also shows a significant shift. It's predicted that people born in the 1990s will make up over 40% of the traveling population, indicating a new generation of travelers shaping the future of Spring Festival travel.
REMOTE CONTROL SOCKET
Important Safeguards
When using any electrical appliance, in order to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and/or injury to persons, basic safety precautions should always be follow8d. including:
• The appliance is for household and indoor use only.
• Before plugging in. check that the voitage on the rating label is the same as the mains supply.
• To protect against electric shock, do not immerse any part of the product in water or other liquid.
• This socket is intended for use by competent adults only and children should be supervised at all times.
• Do not use the socket for other than its intended use.
• This socket can be used by children aged from 8 years arxl above and persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge if they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance in a safe way and understand the hazards involved. Children shall not p<ay with the appliance Cleaning and user maintenance shall M be made by children without supervision.
• Children of less than 3 years should be kept away unless continuously supervised.
Children from 3 years and less than 8 years shall only switch on/off the appliance provided that it has been placed or installed in its intended normal operating position and they have been supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance in a safe way and understand the hazards involved. Children aged from 3 years and less than 8 years shall not plug in. regulate and clean the appliance or perform user maintenance.
• Don't use this socket in the immediate surroundings of a bath, a shower or a swimming pool.
• In case of malfunction, do not try to repair the socket yourself, it may result in a fire hazard or electric shock
Do Not Exceed Maximum a680W
Place the LR44 batteries provided into the compartment in the back of the Remote Control, please insert as sho*/m in the back of the compartment to ensure the polarity is correct.
Programming Instructions
• Plug the Remoce Socket$($)lnto the wall socket(s) and switch on the mams supply, the red LED will flash every second.
• If the LED is not flashing press & hold the manual ON/OFF button for 5 seconds until it Hashes
•Press any ON switch on the Remote Control for approximately 2 seconds and the Remote Socket(s) learn the code. The LED will stop flashing top confirm the codehas been accepted.
• Any number of Remote Sockets can be programmed to one Remote Control ON button to create multiple switching.
• To programme o<her Remote Sockets on different Remote Control ON buttons repeat the prevous steps
• If the mains supply is turned off the Remote Sockets v/ill lose their code and it wil be necessary to re-pcogramme.
Operation:
• Plug your appliance(s) into the Remote Socket(s)
• Press the programmed ON or OFF button on the Remote Control to control the Remote Socket.
♦ The Remote Sockets can also be operated manually using its ON/OFF Button Trouble shooting
If a Remote Socket does not react to the Remote Control please check the followng:
♦ Low battery in tbo Remote Control
• Distance too large between the remote control and the recerver (ensure the range distance is no more than 20 clear Metres) and free from obstacle that may reduce the distance.
• If programming has not been successful, tum the power off and back on then follow the programming steps above.
How to decode
• Press the manual ONX)FF button for 5 seconds until the red LED flashes once per
second to confirm de-coding is successful
♦ Press the ALL OFF switch on the Remote Control for more than 3 seconds, the LED
flashes once per second to confirm (decoding successful.
Voltage: 240V-/50HZ
Max power rating: 3680W max.
Remote frequency:
Remote range:
Battery Type:
433.92MHz
230 Metres
Button Cell 2x1.5V LR44 =
Please check with your local waste management service authority regarding regulations for the safe disposal of the batteries. The batteries should never be placed G municipal waste.
Use a battery d^posal facility if available
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For eioctncal products sold within the European Community. At the end of the electrical products useful life, it should not be disposed of wth household waste. Please recycle faaMies exist. Check with your Local Authonty or retailer for recycling advice.
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