Beyond the I masthead
an online magazine from eyeway.org

issue 6 bullet september-october 2005
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Headlines : world news
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First talking A.T.M.s installed in New Zealand

E-Access Bulletin

New Zealand's first talking bank cash machines (A.T.M.s) have been installed by 13 branches of the country's credit unions, it was announced. All machines installed in future will have speech capability, according to the New Zealand Association of Credit Unions (N.Z.A.C.U.).

Customers of the not-for-profit unions, which provide banking and insurance services, can access the A.T.M.s through a universal headphone socket using any standard set of headphones. As well as providing vision-impaired users with greater independence, the new machines also enable more privacy when carrying out transactions. The screen goes blank once the user plugs the headphone in, so a sighted person standing close by would not be able to see or hear what transactions are being carried out.

The talking A.T.M.s also provide users with detailed information about their withdrawals. The machine tells the user the number of notes that have been dispensed. New Zealand currency varies only very slightly in size and the notes feel quite similar so it would be difficult to tell what denomination they are. But with the machine, if a user has withdrawn 100 dollars, it would tell him that he has received five notes or 10 notes or two notes, so he would know what denomination they are in.

Other World News stories in this issue:
Bullet imageVisually impaired stage performer wows audiences
Bullet imageBlind citizens gain new voting option
Bullet imageWest Indies about to set up its first blind cricket team
Bullet imageStudents mix technologies to help blind people
Bullet imageTour operator offers Europe Walking Holidays for visually impaired enthusiasts
Bullet image'Free post' for visually impaired users
Bullet imageVisually-impaired singer makes history by winning 'Project SuperStar'
Bullet imageAudio description service theatrical experience for blind patrons
Bullet imageBetter Web accessibility for all

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