Those inaccessible pin pads
A few weeks ago, I encountered a very interesting situation when I went to use my credit card to pay my bill at a medical professional’s office. Lo and behold! The pin pad that I needed to use in order to enter my credit card pin was sadly inaccessible and why?
It was a touch screen pad which I could not navigate because there were no raised buttons to guide me and when I asked the receptionist for an explanation she smugly responded that her boss had to get this type of pin pad because the previous one with raised buttons was too expensive.
On further interaction with this lady, I said that this type of pin pad was taking away my ability to independently and privately enter my info. That I had to ask my friend to assist me and as a result she now had direct access to my pin number and to the amount that I was paying.
The receptionist’s response was that there was nothing wrong with that, that I only came infrequently and if I had a problem I should take it up with her boss.
Yes; she was partially correct in her response but also yes; she was quite discourteous to me and once again those who are unable to interact with touch screen pin pads are being shut out and forced to give up their independence and privacy because these manufacturers have somehow conveniently forgotten to consider our needs.
This is a very common problem across the board and extends far and wide to not just include inaccessible pin pads but also self service terminals, inaccessible point of sale terminals and the list continues.
I can only appeal for manufacturers along with agencies for and of persons with disabilities to please increase their efforts to find meaningful solutions. This dilemma also affects seniors and the technically disabled.
The rapidly aging population is only going to increase pressure on manufacturers to change their attitude and to take more positive action so they might as well get used to it.
The image here may be a futuristic one but it does not appear to include groups of consumers as mentioned above.
My final thoughts: There also needs to be a concerted effort to educate everyone; from the top to the bottom!
From manufacturers and developers to managers, and those who are responsible for the implementation of pin pads into their businesses.
Lastly, staff need to be given a lesson in sensitivity and understanding.
Just my two cents for today.
Image = Smart retail. Futuristic concept. Tablet uses augmented reality to show inventory as an eye-tracking heat map.
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