Audio-enabled ATMs (cash machines) offer independent use of banking services for blind and partially sighted persons. The success of Barclays’ Talking ATMs has led to the development of other accessible services, aspiring to make banking accessible to all.

Talking ATMs not only provide ease-of-use for visually impaired users, but also for people with dyslexia or people who are illiterate. The success of Talking ATMs has led Barclays to develop other accessible services, amongst other things high visibility debit cards and sign language interpretation via webcam.

Talking ATMs not only provide ease-of-use for visually impaired users; people with dyslexia, people who are illiterate, and people who can understand spoken but not written English may also benefit from this technology. The success of Talking ATMs has led Barclays to develop other accessible services, amongst other things high visibility debit cards and sign language interpretation via webcam. Barclays will shortly be launching mobile instant messaging, which may benefit those who are unable to use Telephone Banking.

Problems Targeted

Research commissioned by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in 2011 confirmed that only 11 per cent of blind and partially sighted people in the UK can use cash machines unaided, compared to 80 per cent of sighted users.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Talking ATMs and other accessible services

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