I'm still not convinced to what extent these ATMs will serve our needs when we blind folks are in dire need of cash. But I suppose this is the best jugaad available currently, unless the entire ATM communication network line could be IVR enabled so that one can operate ATM over a phone call. The very basic reason to install an maintain the ATM machines is to make the customers cash readily available anytime anywhere. It is for this reason that banks strategically place their ATM kiosks as much close as possible to the customers point of interests like shopping complexes, residential areas, offices, hospitels etc. The thing that I fear with placement of such ATMs is despite of their high accessibility standards, one may still not be able to use them during an unforeseen event. Let's say there's a medical emergency. The clinic only accepts cash and it's super urgent that you pay before the treatment commences. In such situations, you are invariably compelled to go to whichever ATM you can find your way to, not to mention increase the chances of getting shoulder-surfed.
-----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Mr. Banker Sent: 09 June 2013 20:13 To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: Re: [AI] Text from Union Bank of Indias website on talking ATM Hi Friends, On the completion of one year of talking ATM in India, we posted an article on our blog on 6th of June 2013, here is the article, hope you would like. Happy Birthday Talking ATM Exceeding the needs of the customers is the catchword of all the enterprises but the inference of those words does not seem to be more than a cliché. It rarely happens that this ambitious commitment is fulfilled, and by launching the first truly accessible Sampurna Talking ATM for the visually impaired on Jun. 6th, 2012 at Vastrapur, Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujrat the Union Bank of India has fulfilled this commitment in full letter and spirit. Proving that they stand by their motto "Good people to bank with" the bank also offers comprehensive instructions manuals in braille and DAISY formats to its visually impaired customers. How it works First and foremost, the designers of the Talking ATM have devoted adequate attention to the users privacy. Put on the headphone that remains hooked up to the ATM, and swipe the UBI ATM card (or an ATM card belonging to any other bank) to hear the instructions via a voice output. The instructions are available in Hindi and English (English in Indian accent); you can choose your preferred voice. The feature of turning off the screen makes the transaction secure thereby providing the visually challenged user the much-needed confidence and comfort to carry out the transaction. Says Ranjana Rana, Senior Project Officer at National Association for the Blind, Delhi, Now I can do the entire transaction on my own. Earlier I was dependent on a sighted assistance for everything and used to only key in the PIN. Is it all? There is more for those unfamiliar with the machine as they receive an audio description to orient themselves with the different parts of it and can also locate Clear, Cancel and Enter buttons. These three key buttons, which give a beep sound on being pressed, also have especially raised symbols so that the user can touch and understand the button he needs to press. Low vision users can increase the font size to operate the machine hassle-free. Is it a wonder then that due to the sensitivity and intelligence demonstrated in choreographing such a machine the UBI has had its name engraved in the Limca Book of World Records? But in the wider context the picture is not so perfect. There are a host of visually impaired people (including visually impaired bankers at key posts) who have not been able to use the Talking ATM. David Richards, of Tamil Nadu, laments, Majority of the blind have heard of Talking ATM systems but have never been able to use them because they are hardly available. Richards importantly highlights that more than most of the cities, particularly small ones, are deprived of the Talking ATMs. Despite the initiative shown by Union Bank of India and State Bank of India (SBI installed its first Talking ATM on Oct. 4, 2012), the pace of installing these ATMs is slow. However, points out Himanshu Sahu of Kolkata, we must appreciate these initiatives and cheer up a steady growth despite the slow pace." In its Circular issued on Apr. 13, 2009, the Reserve Bank of India has instructed that Banks should make at least one third of new ATMs installed as Talking ATMs with Braille keypads and place them strategically in consultation with other banks to ensure that at least one Talking ATM with Braille keypad is generally available in each locality for catering to needs of visually impaired persons. This instruction would have kindled hopes in the hearts of the visually impaired all over the country, but a great deal rests on its implementation. Beginning of the Talking ATM It began to brew in 1984 with the concerns kept forth by Chris and Marie Stark two blind customers of the Royal Bank of Canada. In 1991, it snowballed to a discrimination complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, resulting to the launch of the worlds first Talking ATM on Oct. 22, 1997 at a branch of RBC in Ottawa, Ontario. Important links: Demo of Talking ATM Talking ATM Location Handbook on Truly Accessible Talking ATM Download Accessible PDF format handbook (English) Source: http://visuallyimpairedbankers.blogspot.in/ On 6/9/13, Rahul Gambhir <rahul.gambhi...@gmail.com> wrote: > Dear Friends, > > Sharing text from Union Bank of Indias website on talking ATM. > > URL - http://www.unionbankofindia.co.in/personal_TalkingATMs.aspx > > Bank recently made available upgraded version of talking ATM manuals > in 3 accessible formats. > > Accessible and Talking ATM > > Union Bank of Indias Accessible and Talking ATM is one such example > of technology innovation and careful consideration in brining > financial independence to persons with disabilities. Our Talking ATM > solution has bset a benchmark on accessible banking in India and > provided financial access to blind persons in getting cash on their > own anytime. Talking ATM also provides greater banking usability for > the low vision, illiterate and aged population. > > On June 6th, 2012, we launched a Truly Accessible Talking ATM at > Blind People's Association, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad. Banks first > Talking ATM inaugurated by our Chairman & Managing Director Shri D. Sarkar. > > Photos - Shri D. Sarkar, CMD inaugurating our first Talking ATM for > the visually challenged and 4000th ATM in our ATM network at Blind > People's Association, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad on June 6th, 2012. > > The advent of our Truly Accessible ATM made persons with > disabilities independent in respect of personal financial matters. It > provides complete accessibility to a wheelchair as well as to a visually challenged ATM user. > Our Accessible and Talking ATM meets standards of an Accessible and > Talking ATM as per RBI guidelines. The launch of truly accessible > solution of our Talking ATMs clearly shows our serious commitment to > cater the needs of all customers across segments. Inclusive design of > Accessible and Talking ATM provides access to general public as well > as to persons with disabilities. This ATM is part of our ATM brand > Sampurna ATM. Many of our Talking ATM users who are persons with > disabilities given us feedback as they consider our Accessible and > Talking ATM as an excellent model which is very user friendly as they > can do ATM transactions independently. > > Photos a wheelchair and a visually challenged user using our > Talking ATM > > Union Bank of Indias Accessible and Talking ATM has brought in many > initiatives first time in a Talking ATM in India. For example use of > bilingual Indian accent Text-To-Speech (TTS) voices in English and > Hindi, accessible infrastructure for physically disabled, complete > voice guidance support for ATM operation for our bank as well as other > banks ATM card transaction, IVR type very user friendly keypad based > operation, verbal orientation at the start, braille labels, etc. User > can use regular ATM card issued by banks. No special ATM card needed > to enable talking mode. We have also taken care of security and > privacy of ATM operation for a visually challenged person as voice > prompts will be heard privately through a headphone and user has a choice to hide ATM screen. > > We have made a small demo video wherein a blind user is doing an ATM > transaction with hidden screen and giving explanation on what he is > doing according to voice prompts. > > Download Talking ATM video clip > > Continuing our work on Talking ATMs we have done similar development > of solution with other global ATM manufacturers. We have developed > two fully accessible ATM sites in the premises of national > organizations working for persons with disabilities - Blind Peoples > Association (BPA), Ahmedabad and National Association for the Blind, > Delhi. ATM next to NAB Workshop for the Blind, Worli, Mumbai is also upgraded as Talking ATM. > > Testimonials > > The first Talking bilingual accessible ATM that has been installed > by the Union Bank of India at the BPA, Vastrapur, Ahmadabad is one > such example of what true accessibility in an ATM really is. We > commend the efforts of Union Bank of India in taking this step forward > which will impact the banking industry and how it views accessibility > and the lives of persons with disabilities. - Dr. Sam Taraporevala, Director, XRCVC and Head, Dept. > of Sociology, St. Xaviers College, Mumbai. (Dr. Taraporevala is > advocating for Talking ATMs in India since 2009. He visited our > Talking ATM site on June 9, 2012). > > I was very impressed indeed by your 'Talking' ATM and can certify > that I undertook a number of operations successfully. - Kevin Carey, > Chair, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), UK. (On 23 > April 2013 Mr. Carey visited our Talking ATM situated at our banks head office building.) > Recognitions > Union Bank of Indias Truly Accessible Bilingual ATM which uses TTS > technology and has many innovative features is recognized by the > Indian Banks Association (IBA) as "MODEL TALKING ATM which other > banks can follow and replicate. IBA circulated Union Bank of Indias > Talking ATM workflow in February 2013. > > Computer Society of India (CSI) announced National Awards for > Excellence in IT to Union Bank of India for our Talking ATM project > as winner under the "Business Collaboration Solutions : Banking & Finance" category. > > Bank received appreciation from the DAISY Forum of India (DFI), which > is an umbrella body of over 96 organizations from India working for > print disabled, on our adoption of DAISY standards and spreading > information on the use of Talking ATMs through accessible version of manuals. > > Awareness > > We are also spreading awareness and sensitizing society which is one > of the key need along with the developing accessible solutions and products. > We have produced high quality Audio-Visual on Talking ATM FOR ALL > which is uploaded on Youtube. In September 2012, we collaborated with > an NGO in a mega sensitization event at St. Xaviers College, Mumbai > where over 1500 people experienced live talking ATM. We have published > articles and given presentations on Talking ATM concept and its usage. > > Bank is playing a leadership role in the financial services for > visually challenged customers and set a standard on Talking ATMs in > India. We are constantly engage in spreading awareness and positively > impacting lives of persons with disabilities in many ways through our > Talking ATM for All initiative. > > Handbook on Truly Accessible Talking ATM > > Union Bank of India took another pioneering step in July 2012. We > published handbook on Talking ATM designed with accessibility in mind > for guiding visually challenged ATM users on Talking ATM usage. This > user guide has detailed instructions to guide and train visually > challenged users on the usage of Talking ATM. A visually challenged > ATM user will learn about Talking ATM functionality before its actual > use and will understand about Dos and Donts. In April 2013, we > prepared second edition of our accessible Talking ATM user guide which > is published in English as well as Hindi language and produced in three accessible formats. > > Download DAISY format book (English) > > Download DAISY format book (Hindi) > > Download Braille brf format book (English) > > Download Braille .brf format book (Hindi) > > Download Accessible PDF format book (English) > > > Thanks > Rahul Gambhir > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing > accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_acc > essindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org > .in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking > of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its > veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails sent through this mailing list.. > -- Looking for banking material? http://visuallyimpairedbankers.blogspot.in/ Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessind ia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
