[IxDA Discuss] ATM interaction design

[Katie Albers]

My biggest complaint with ATMs -- and most other
similar devices such as self-checkouts and the like --
is that the input locations move. For example, the
digits are input on a check screen but the "OK" button
(which they probably referred to as the "Enter"
button) is on a keypad to the right of the screen. And
these aren't instances of designed redundancy either.
The numerals must be entered on the touch screen and
there is no equivalent of the "Enter" button on the
screen.

That isn't the only instance...bizarre combinations of
data input methods are almost a standard in these
interfaces.

How hard is it to choose an input method and location,
for pity's sake.

Katie Albers

--- Paul Schreiber <shrub at mac.com> wrote:

> 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
> 
>           shad 96c / uw cs 2001
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> --Jewel Kilcher, "Foolish Games"
> 
>
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