ATMs talk to blind customers

by Ivano Abbadessa - 2013.05.30

Over 400 cash machines with verbal instructions have been fitted in the last few days in the UK, with an additional 1,000 and 2,000 expected to be introduced respectively by the end of 2013 and 2014. That is the aim of the Co-operative Bank. The British credit institute followed the line traced by other banks that joined the initiative launched by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). The charity institute, supporting 2 million blind or partially-sighted UK citizens, has been long launching a campaign urging banks to introduce machines with audio services for their clients. In this way, people with visual disabilities can use ATMs by simply plugging a headset into the ATM: a vocal guide will help users through menus and submenus. Moreover, the Co-operative Bank committed to implementing high-contrast screens, to assist partially-sighted customers. Thanks to these expedients, people with visual disabilities will be able to operate transactions whenever, independently and easily.