Terminal contactless and audio accessibility
Improved contactless and audio accessibility at self-service terminals (SST) is provided for visually impaired and dexterity-limited customers. Raised tactile features, light patterns, and/or haptic feedback help customer locate and interact with contactless readers at the SSTs during self-service transactions. Contactless tokens are used as distance-based input devices with enhanced audio control features. These improvements make SSTs more accessible to users with various disabilities while maintaining the convenience benefits of contactless technology.
1 . A method, comprising:
providing a contactless reader with a target area for reading contactless token at a self-service terminal (SST);
incorporating tactile features on or around the target area to enable location by touch;
implementing a feedback system that provides at least one of visual feedback through light pattern feedback or haptic feedback through vibration patterns;
detecting a contactless token within a predetermined distance range from the target area;
determining a position of the contactless token relative to the target area in at least one dimension; and
interpreting changes in the position of the contactless token as input commands for controlling terminal functions associated with accessibility.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tactile features comprise at least one of raised radiating lines in a logo, a raised border around the target area, and raised patterns that allow blind users to locate the target area.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual feedback comprises different light patterns to indicate at least one of: guidance to the target area, successful reading of the contactless token, or failed reading of the contactless token.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic feedback comprises different vibration patterns to indicate at least one of: guidance to the target area, successful reading of the contactless token, or failed reading of the contactless token.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein interpreting changes in the position of the contactless token comprises:
detecting movement in an X-axis at a fixed distance from the contactless reader as a first input stream;
detecting movement in a Y-axis at a fixed distance from the contactless reader as a second input stream; and
detecting movement in a Z-axis representing distance from the contactless reader as a third input stream.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
establishing a wireless audio connection between the SST and a user device; and
controlling audio parameters of the wireless audio connection based on interpreted changes in position of the contactless token.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the audio parameters comprise at least one of: volume, playback navigation, pause, repeat, playback speed, and pitch.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing audio guidance through a private audio channel to assist a user in locating the target area.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a dedicated physical controller for controlling terminal functions;
wherein the dedicated physical controller comprises:
a control that allows rotation around a central Y-axis;
a pivoting control that allows partial rotation around an X-axis and a Z-axis; and
a touch-sensitive surface that accepts gestural input.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the SST is an automated teller machine (ATM), and wherein the contactless token is one of: a contactless card, a near field communication-enabled mobile phone, or a wearable device.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting mid-air gestural input through an optical sensor; and
controlling terminal functions based on detected mid-air gestural input.
12 . A self-service terminal (SST), comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
a display; and
a contactless reader with a target area enabled to read contactless tokens, the contactless reader comprising:
tactile features on or around the target area to enable location by touch; and
a feedback system configured to provide at least one of visual feedback through light patterns and haptic feedback through vibration patterns;
wherein the processor is configured to:
detect a contactless token within a predetermined distance range from the target area;
determine a position of the contactless token relative to the target area in at least one dimension; and
interpret changes in the position of the contactless token as input commands for controlling terminal functions.
13 . The SST of claim 12 , further comprising a wireless audio interface configured to establish a wireless connection with a user device for providing audio feedback.
14 . The SST of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify audio parameters of the audio feedback based on interpreted changes in position of the contactless token, the audio parameters including at least one of: pitch, speed, and volume.
15 . The SST of claim 12 , wherein the contactless reader further comprises:
a dedicated physical controller comprising:
a control element that rotates in multiple axes; and
capacitive touch sensors on a surface of the control element;
wherein the processor is configured to interpret input from the dedicated physical controller to control audio parameters.
16 . The SST of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
detect when a user is having difficulty locating the target area; and
activate enhanced feedback to guide the user to the target area.
17 . The SST of claim 12 , wherein the contactless reader is configured to:
detect a distance of the contactless token from the target area; and
provide graduated feedback that changes as the contactless token moves closer to or farther from the target area.
18 . The SST of claim 12 , further comprising:
an optical sensor configured to detect mid-air gestures;
wherein the processor is configured to interpret detected mid-air gestures as input commands for controlling terminal functions.
19 . A contactless reader, comprising:
a target area configured to read contactless tokens;
tactile features incorporated on or around the target area to enable location by touch;
a feedback system configured to provide at least one of visual feedback through light patterns and haptic feedback through vibration patterns;
a detection system configured to detect a contactless token within a predetermined distance range from the target area and determine a position of the contactless token relative to the target area in at least one dimension; and
a processor configured to interpret changes in the position of the contactless token as input commands for controlling terminal functions.
20 . The contactless reader of claim 19 , wherein the feedback system is configured to:
detect when the contactless token is approaching the target area;
increase intensity of a feedback as the contactless token gets closer to an optimal reading position;
decreasing intensity of the feedback as the contactless token gets farther away from the target area; and
provide confirmation feedback when the contactless token is successfully read.