Segment-based Visual Cryptography

Abstract

A version of Visual Cryptography is presented which is not pixel-based but segment-based. It is used to encrypt messages consisting of symbols which can be represented by a segment display. For example, the decimal digits 0,...,9 can be represented by the well-known seven-segment display. The advantage of the segment-based encryption is that it may be easier to adjust the secret images and that the symbols are potentially easier to recognize for the human eye, especially in a transparency-on-screen szenario.