[IxDA Discuss] ATM interaction design

[Paul Schreiber]

ATMs are a pretty common device, and they've been around a long time.  
I would have hoped we would have this optimized by now, but it seems  
interfaces are still (a) wildly inconsistent and (b) inefficient.

Most ATMs appear to (still) be designed for the first-time user,  
which is frustrating for most people.

Here are two good things I've noticed recently:
* PC Financial (Canada): when depositing checks, you are presented  
with a small ledger, where you can enter check amounts one at a time,  
and let the ATM do the adding. This eliminates addition errors, which  
I suspect are more common than potential transcription errors.

* Wells Fargo: you deposit checks and cash directly into the machine  
(but only separate). It scans and OCRs the amounts, and adds them up  
for. Bonus: no more envelopes, which reduces waste.

And some things that still bothers me:
* Wells Fargo: the machine always prompts me to choose an account,  
even though I only have one account.

Example interaction
(1) Main menu appears.
	-> Press "account balances"
(2) Select account screen appears.
	-> Press Checking
(3) See balance

This occurs for deposits as well. Step (2) can be eliminated for  
users (people!) with one account.

* The new deposit process asks me if I want a receipt ... every time.  
It doesn't remember my last choice. (The withdrawal process does --  
they call this "MyATM preferences).



Paul

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