Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to draw attention for the evaluation of the accessibility and usability of
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) systems from the point of view of visually impaired persons. It suggests that
there is a need for a more precise application of assistive technologies in order to develop user friendly ATMs
that will aid effective accessibility without the requirement of assistance by ordinary people who may take
advantage of their visual challenges and project them to all odds of insecurity for their cash. The paper suggests
that, while ATMs, as opposed to across the counter services, are now a widely accepted means of easing long
queues in the banks and as a time saving factor for the banking services to the consumers. An accepted feature
of the ATMs is to incorporate assistive technologies which still remain a challenge even with the formative years
of ATM applications. It proposes possible contexts that may benefit the visually impaired from far-reaching
exploration and incorporation of relevant assistive technologies. The paper should be of interest to financial
institutions whose passion is to render better services to their customers in this era of technology considering
that there are those customers who wish to transact with them and even need privacy with the ATMs but cannot
access such benefits because of their cognitive challenges and specifically the visually impaired. Finally the
paper offers a snap-shot of some of the widely-used assistive technologies for the visually impaired when using
ATMs and their associated procedures and potential pitfalls.
