NCR, Diebold India unveil ATMs for visually challenged
By By Amit Sharma | 12 Aug 2009
Diebold India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based Diebold Inc, and NCR Corp, today showcased their special ATMs that can be used by the visually challenged people for making financial transactions.
The demonstration was conducted in association with the Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), where the two ATMs have been installed.
XRCVC is a support and advocacy unit for the visually disabled at St Xavier's College, Mumbai, and as part of its projects has worked closely with the banking sector for creating and implementing features to enable people with physical challenges to access ATM services.
The special ATMs provide the following features that allows them to used by the visually and physically challenged:
- Audio support and guides to menu items
- Voice output for transactions
- Personalised headphone jack with voice control features
- Tactile cues for buttons
- Large display for users with partial vision
- Braille-enabled function keys and guide labels for other functionalities including card reader, receipt, cash dispenser, depositor
- Bunch cash presenter for ease in collecting cash
- Voice guidance for ease of transactions
- Integrated digital video recorder for enhanced security
- Ergonomically designed for easy accessibility
- Incorporation of American Disabilities Act (ADA) wheelchair accessibility standards
The two ATMs are ready for testing at the XRCVC. The test results will be used for feedback and final deployment of the machines.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Sam Taraporevala, director, XRCVC, said, ''It is a well-known fact that ATMs today have increased convenience banking for the able-bodied customers. For the same effect to take place involving disabled people, ATMs will need to scale to meet accessibility standards.''
