ATM for the visually impaired opens in UAE

Good news for the visually impaired who need to transact with an automated teller machine (ATM) in the Middle East: the first ATM for them has been opened in the United Arab Emirates. The new ATM, opened by the Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) near University City in Sharjah, allows the visually impaired to complete a transaction unassisted. A report on the Gulf News said the new ATM features a large Braille keypad in both Arabic and English, a high resolution screen, and voice-assisted interface in both languages, which could be heard through speakers or headphones. It also has three security cameras to ensure the user’s safety, the report added. “The ATM is very effective and it enables me to be completely independent and complete my money transaction alone without any assistance and so provides me with privacy and security,” Gulf News quoted Awatef Ahmad Akbari, head of internal operations at Tamkeen, a training center for the visually impaired in Dubai, as saying. Akbari is visually impaired, the report said. Adel Al Zamar, Vice Chairman of Emirates Association for the Blind, said banking services had been a long-standing need for the visually-impaired. He said the new ATM is “very accessible and easy to use,” adding the Association’s 150 to 200 expect to benefit from the new ATM. Gulf News said the new ATM is so far the first and only blind-friendly one in the region. Abdullah said they are planning to put more machines across the UAE after they get feedback from visually impaired users so they can refine it. Security Computer Network Systems (CNS), Wincor Nixdorf’s agent in the UAE. Ayman Basha, a representative for Computer Network Systems – the UAE agent of Wincor Nixdorf - assured the ATM had the same security measures dictated by the Central Bank and followed by regular ATMs worldwide. Basha said that while there are similar ATMs in the US and Germany, this one has the latest technology. “The ATM provides the visually impaired user with speed, security, privacy and ease,” he said. Phone call SIB CEO Mohammad Abdullah said the project stemmed from a phone call from renowned visually-impared Emirati Lawyer Manar Al Hammadi to Sharjah radio and TV’s “Direct Line” program. The lawyer had complained that banks do not have facilities for the blind. — TJD, GMA News

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