Drive through ATMs, vending machines . . .

Why?

18 responses total.

I recall once being told of a person who drove his blind back-seat
passenger up to one of those braille drive-up ATM's.

Perhaps it's a subtle hint to those who are poor drivers for reasons 
lying a few inches behind the retina.

I'd been told at some point by a quasireliable source that it's because ATM
manufacturers make ATMs, they don't make a "drive through" model and a "walk
up model" (although they do make "stand alone" models).

Besides, there's nothing that precludes someone from walking up to a
drivethrough ATM.

As for vending machines, the products tend to be put in the same slot, day
after day... the M&Ms are always C5, for instance, and the Jujubes are always
E3. Coke is always button 4. Once the blind employee or habitual visitor knows
where the M&Ms are, they don't have to ask for further assistance. Now, they
might get screwed out of the money if the vending machine is poorly stocked,
but most vending machines owners are honest about giving the money back.

One advantage to American coinage (as opposed to paper money) is that it's
distinguishable by the blind. [small, no serations = penny; small, serated
= dime; medium, no serations = nickel; large, serations = quarter; large, no
serations = dollar; <and, in Canada:> large, second smaller circle = two
dollars]

I have walked up to restaurant drive-thru windows and been told that they
can't serve me unless I'm in a car.  I suppose at least some drive-thru ATM's
don't have a person inside to object, though.

The restaurant already has a "walk up" window - inside. This separates
cars and pedestrians - a worthwhile safety policy. 

I've never seen a drive-through ATM with a person inside it to object. >=}

#4> However, the "drive-thru" windows at fast food places won't allow people
to walk through even after hours, when the only window open is the drive-thru.

No matter how you *get* to the ATM, you _still_ need to be able to read,
and thus see, the CRT display.  So Braille on the buttons is *still* useless.

My guess is that someone was trying to comply with the ADA, without actually
thinking.  Or, having thought, realised that their efforts were going to be
judged by someone who wouldn't/couldn't think.  So the Braille is there for
input, e'en the output is unusable.

Stupid.

I disagree. Assuming a normal transaction, one could easily memorize the
series of buttons that are required. The only real inconsistency I've noticed
between ATMs is whether they give that "fee notice" before or after you put
in the amount you want to withdraw.

Besides, a blind person could be accompanied by a sighted person, but still
want to do certain things -- including putting in their PIN -- by themselves.
Yes, that may seem silly to a sighted person, but many of the handicapped
would prefer not to have every detail of their lives done by someone else.
Giving the blind a way to do most of the steps of the ATM with minimal
assistance, instead of having to completely rely on a sighted person, gives
them that much more feeling of autonomy.

Also, some ATMs DO talk. Having the Braille in those cases isn't stupid, it's
complementary.

I thought about having someone near to hand to read the output.  (Does this
one ask about paper receipts?  Is this denominated in dollars or tens of
dollars?  Does this one need zeros for the cents?)  But if they are doing
that, they may as well punch the buttons.  And you don't need Braille to
enter your PIN: the keypad arrangement is standard.  (Note to self: Is there
a nub on the 5 key?)

It *looks* accommodating and smart and useful, but it really isn't.

I agree that it's redundant, if the keypad is standard (and especially if
there's a nub on the 5). The only real facility to it would be to allow a
blind person who's not particularly keypad-knowledgeable to be able to enter
their PIN, and in the grand scheme of things, tha probably doesn't arise
often.

However far short they fall, those braille buttons say that someone
cares, at least a little, and encourage blind persons to try to do
a bit more for themselves.

They're also a quiet reminder of overlooked blessings to sighted 
folks who are feeling sorry for themselves. 

Ok, but what about on vending machines?  Unless you have sighted person 
on hand or a talking machine, how are they going to know what's 
available in the vending machine?

I already explained that: If the vending machine is well stocked, the M&Ms
are always at C5.

The particular vending machine on the second floor of the BE building 
doesn't designate position by the letter then number code.  Instead it 
goes by a 3 digit number.

Creepy.  Forget about the braille on drive-thrus -- _that's_ strange.

How is a 3-digit number different from a letter-number combo? It's the same
concept, no?

Sure, but how do you know which you are facing if you can't see it?
The number-pad may be labelled in Braille, but what about the choices?
What happens when the vending company changes machines some weekend?

(I've mentioned about the choices. A co-worker tells you where the M&Ms are.)
When the candy gets moved around, you get the wrong thing, eat it, and go get
a coworker to tell you where the M&Ms are now.

I guess since some ATMs speak the question is rather moot at this point.

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