IDEO re-thinks the ATM

by blazamos • 16 years ago

55 40 16 years ago

jinushaun• 16 years ago

Pretty, but what about blind people?

eagleal• 16 years ago

The blind people could see the sunny weather icon, in the top menu! (I really don't understand the utility of that icon)

Aside from jokes, it basically is just an aesthetics design over the original ATM design. Though it's just a pilot test.

* To increase more confidence in people, as they say, they should rise the semi-transparent panel to cover the shoulders of the ones in front.

* Also from a security point of view, doesn't change anything. It's still vulnerable to existing attacks.

InclinedPlane• 16 years ago

I think it misses the mark. What I want from an ATM is a machine that dispenses cash and takes deposits 24/7 with minimal fuss. Modern ATMs that automatically count deposited cash and read deposited checks perform this role remarkably well. I don't want a full-fledged electronic banking kiosk, if I need to do anything other than a withdrawal or deposit then I'd vastly prefer to be able to do that using online banking on the web.

rapidstuff• 16 years ago

On the contrary it is very useful to have a full fledged electronic kiosk, especially for developing countries. In most places outside the US, online banking is still in it's early stages and the masses generally prefer and trust the physical ATM

tallanvor• 16 years ago

Of course. most of Europe is ahead of the US in terms of online banking.

For example:

My bank here in Norway let's me transfer funds internationally online. I can't do that in the US.

All I need to know to send money to another Norwegian bank account is a single account code. --No need for routing/sort codes or anything else.

The banks here have even agreed on a single scheme for two factor identification so that even if you have accounts with multiple banks you don't have to carry around multiple key fobs, worry about who will be sending you an SMS with your single use code, or whatnot.

sh1mmer2• 16 years ago

I think this is a great concept, and I think they have applied some great improvements, but I to admit many of these features that are novel in Europe I've had since I moved to the US 2 years ago.

My Wells Fargo ATMs give me customized short-cuts, touch-screens, cheque scanning, cash depositing and a bunch of other features. It's not quite as integrated as this, but it's nowhere near the sad state of cash machines in the UK.

rahim• 16 years ago

Agreed. The new Bank of America ATMs make getting cash incredibly fast. After inserting your card, you're presented with a screen that has an input field for your pin and then just below that are buttons with the most common withdrawal amounts ($20, $40, $60, etc.). Most of the time I visit an ATM to get a bit of cash, and can be done in about a minute. Another nicety: after choosing one of the "quick cash" amounts, the ATM spits your card out before your money, so that you're less likely to leave your card behind.

sh1mmer2• 16 years ago

That's actually a well researched bit of cash machine UED. I remember when I worked in the usability lab at a university in the UK this one came up.

Most early ATMs gave cash first and there was a significant minority of people who forget their cards. I can't remember the paper, but it's pretty essential to be people first in design, rather than engineering first.

bittersweet• 16 years ago

Is this really that new and innovative? The way you describe is exactly how it's always been in the Netherlands.

I think 90% of our machines are just there to get money, not deposit it, so maybe we had more chance to come up with a streamlined and simplified process.

qw2• 16 years ago

That's an exact description of the ATMs in Norway, and they have always done that.

kristiandupont• 16 years ago

Funny, because going to the US for me felt like a step back. In Denmark I would never carry any cash which is impossible in the US (NYC at least). The idea of a futuristic ATM seems like an oxymoron to me.

jawngee• 16 years ago

FrieNDA Christian?

I too live in NYC and live an 80% cashless existence. I typically never carry cash unless I'm hitting a poker game.

rimantas• 16 years ago

Looks like it differs widely across Europe and UK is not on the leading edge of it.

qw2• 16 years ago

In my country we stopped using checks at least 15 years ago, and who carries around enough cash that you want to deposit it? I've only used an ATM machine maybe 2-3 times this year. If I need a small amount of cash I just ask the cashier at my grocery store for some extra cash when I pay using my card, but it's been at least 3 weeks since the last time :-)

I can't think of a situation where I need cash at all, except for a few vending machines. If I need to buy a car or something from an individual, it takes me 5 minutes to transfer the money using the web. If I want, I could even setup a list of friends/family (for safety) and transfer money by sending an SMS message to my bank.

protomyth3• 16 years ago

The Well Fargo ATM selling stamps is pretty nice when you have to deal with those "charge extra for online bill paying" services (I'm looking at you Chase Auto).

ugh• 16 years ago

Hey, it’s not just a concept! I thought “Great, once again some pie in the sky concept which will be reality in circa fifty years or not …“ but there are already pilot units installed which turns this from lame into awesome.

thinkcomp• 16 years ago

Why would we need ATMs in the future? My ideal ATM is no ATM.

doron• 16 years ago

I agree, and if i am allowed a moment of NY bitterness. My most valued feature in an ATM is the - No Fee.

adolph• 16 years ago

Yes! When I need cash I use debit at the grocery store and do a cash over transaction. It makes getting cash as convenient as bread or bacon.

bdonlan• 16 years ago

Converting everything to a touchscreen seems like it'd cause problems for blind users - no way to give braille feedback then...

basex• 16 years ago

in Portugal the ATMs use touchscreens, you can also click to get some machine voice talking to you about the operations.

stretchwithme• 16 years ago

People can still come up behind you from a different direction. Maybe they should consider a curved wall to mount this thing on. And also have that wall be completely smooth with no way to mount a camera that can detect your pin.

Where you enter your card should also be very clear and impossible to cover up with a fake card reader.

heresy2• 16 years ago

Revamping the ATM seems a bit backwards.

I don't carry cash, haven't for 6 or 7 years now.

Electronic transaction fees with debit cards are non-existent.

My paycheck goes straight into my bank account.

Transferring money to other NZ bank accounts electronically costs nothing, and shows up within 1 day (or instantly if the same bank).

In fact, the only time I get charged is if I actually use an ATM, or go into the bank to speak to someone.

But there is no merchant in NZ who does not accept electronic transactions, so no need to use an ATM, or carry cash.

Only necessary if you want to transact without knowledge of the revenue department :)

dedward• 16 years ago

Canada is much the same way.

That said - that's not true of the entire world - many societies still accept cash as a regular form of payment, and electronic methods cost extra.

(And darn it, we SHOULD be worried about the non-anonymity of electronic banking. There is nothing wrong with cash.)

I still get a kick out of the shock from surprising places when I go shopping with cash... people get freaked out because you have some whoppingly HUGE amount of money like $200 in your wallet, and ask "Aren't you afraid you'll get robbed?" and whatnot.

ascuttlefish• 16 years ago

I've actually moved away from using electronic transations exclusively to using them only for receiving my pay, paying bills, and online shopping. Every pay, I withdraw the cash I've allocated for various things (food, fun, photography, gas, etc.) and put it in labeled envelopes. It keeps me much more honest. When the envelope is empty, I just don't do that thing anymore.

heresy2• 16 years ago

Using a debit card with the PocketMoney iPhone app keeps me honest.

I know as soon as I've bought something if I've blown the budget.

And for some reason, debit card feels more like "real money" than the credit card with its elastic limit.

protomyth3• 16 years ago

I learned to carry cash after not being able to use my credit card at 2AM in winter (-22F with a -65F windchill) in North Dakota at the gas station. I tend to pay cash for gas these days to avoid those moments.

radley• 16 years ago

I find it's better to pull a small amount of cash ($200) for a week or two to cover lunches, little things, and is always handy when I'm out with a group.

People who never carry cash are a social nuisance: they often slow down the queue at convenience stores and are always awkward splitting the check.

gcb2• 16 years ago

Heh. You should visit the USA. On my last trip to the usps I found that theirs parking lot had park meters ... then drove around some 4 blocks because I didn't had quarters. Gave up and went to work and from there found another usps.

Moral? You can't even exit your car here without some 10 pounds of coins.

ehosca2• 16 years ago

i think the same concept should be applied to computers ...

a single magic slot that accepts CD's, DVD's, floppies, SD Cards, Compact Flash cards, eSata drives, USB peripherals, mouse, keyboard etc etc...

i want a PC with a giant multi-function universal slot :)

This is what happens when designers who don't know shit about technology start making shit up and pass it on with hubris.

sorbus• 16 years ago

Yep, entirely made up by designers, except for the bit about it already existing: "In 2009 the first pilot units have been installed, while BBVA prepares to roll out the ATM across its Spanish branches."

ehosca2• 16 years ago

"In 2009 the first pilot units have been installed" translation: we have a sample unit running the lab and we installed another one at the headquarters...

"while BBVA prepares to roll out the ATM across its Spanish branches." translation: its uncertain if this will ever be deployed... for time reference its currently 3Q 2010

RiderOfGiraffes• 16 years ago

Bloody annoying self-starting video.

From the guidelines:

    If you submit a link to a video or pdf,
    please warn us by appending [video] or
    [pdf] to the title.

zackola• 16 years ago

By removing the physical keypad you totally screw everyone with vision impairments. Check out the keypad and side-screen buttons next time you use an ATM, they most likely have braille on them. The 90° thing is a good idea though.

protomyth3• 16 years ago

The 90 degree thing probably isn't too friendly to the people in wheelchairs.

SlowOnTheUptake• 16 years ago

I wonder if the 90° orientation really does make people feel more secure as the narrator claimed. Did they conduct some kind of research or just declare it to be so?

Personally, I'd think it would make me more aware that I'm being watched by a line of impatient people waiting to use the ATM.

ajtaylor• 16 years ago

While I tend to use electronic transactions, I love the idea of a smarter ATM. Now I can't wait for my next holiday to Spain so I can try out one of these machines.

abalashov• 16 years ago

I do think "further automation of the teller" is the most important step to pursue to make ATMs more useful, at least in the US.

It's 2010, why can't I transfer money to one of my other accounts instantly using an ATM? Why can't I wire or ACH money to anyone else's account anywhere--why do I have to physically come into the branch, or pay for an expanded array of online business access services to do this? Security concern? Fine, use biometrics or something else clever to deal with it. Why can't I deposit checks and cash 24/7 and have them credited to the account instantly? Handwriting recognition? Why are we still using written checks?

Admittedly, many of my problems in terms of limitations of online interfaces stem from using a small regional bank, which outsources different parts of its offering (business vs. personal online access) to different third-party vendors with disparate systems that don't communicate, and where most things (including transfers) can't be done outside normal 9-to-5 business hours. I could probably solve some of these by banking with some of the bigger players, there is still room for improvement in ATMs. The amount of overdraft & late fees I pay because I can't move money to the right account at the right time, as the owner of a very small business with a very high cash velocity and low transaction volume, is staggering. It would be nice to be able to do most of the things I need to physically hoof my way to a branch for on an ATM, and I'm sure the banks would be delighted in reduced personnel costs too.

gcb2• 16 years ago

Only living in the USA anyone will not laugh at those "banking innovations "...

I can't even pay my credit card in the usa on the day it's due. And both accounts are at the same branch.

IDEO re-thinks the ATM

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