This document contains links to mosaic sketches of our interface design. The sketches on this page are stored at 3/8 size in order to decrease file size and enable them to be easily displayed on standard mosaic screens. To see any picture in full size, simply click on the picture.
This picture shows the title screen for the ATM interface, which is displayed when no user is currently using the machine. Notice that the screen clearly labels the machine as an ATM machine. There is also the picture of a bank in one corner to help the user determine the function of this machine. Three blinking hands point to the slot where the user's banking card should be inserted. There is even a HELP button present to provide additional information on how to use the ATM machine.
This picture shows the main menu display screen for the ATM interface. The three most frequent ATM operations are presented on this menu so the user can quickly choose them if he desires. Less frequently used activities such as ordering checks and stopping payment on a check are handled in a sub-menu which is accessed by pressing the SERVICES button. There is also a QUIT button present in case the user wishes to end his session. Pressing the QUIT button will "logout" the user from the session.
A HELP button is present in case the user wants more information or is not sure which choice represents his desired transaction. Note that there is no CANCEL button on this screen because the user is at the top of the execution tree at this point. Whenever the user completes a task he will automatically be sent to this screen to select his next transaction or end his session.
One problem to consider is how to make the ATM interface usable by people who do not understand English. Data on the user's preferred language could be encoded on his banking card, which would automatically cause the ATM to display messages in the language the user is most familiar with. This would be very useful for a global ATM banking system, where the machines may be routinely used by persons of different ethnic background.
In this example, the main menu display screen has all instructions and buttons labeled in Klingon, for use by extraterrestrials who happen to be low on cash.
This picture shows the displayed screen for making withdrawals from the user's checking account. The instructions are clearly listed on the left, with a software-generated keypad on the right and three buttons in the lower part of the screen. The keypad is displayed on the right so that the user will not block the instructions when he is entering the amount to withdrawal, assuming he is right-handed. If the user is left- handed (which could be encoded on his banking card) the keypad could be displayed on the right side of the screen instead of the left.
The amount display automatically inserts commas and the decimal point where required, so that the user knows exactly how much money he is withdrawing. If he makes a mistake, he can hit the DELETE key at the top of the keypad to erase the last number. When he is satisfied with the amount, he presses the DONE button. Note that the HELP button is present if the user requires more information, and a CANCEL button is available if he does not wish to make a withdrawal.
This picture shows a pop-up warning message that is displayed when a withdrawal will reduce the account balance below a user-specified account. Since the user has sufficient funds to cover the transaction, he can either touch YES to perform the transaction or NO to cancel it. If the transaction would have reduced the user's balance to below $0.00, then the action would have been automatically canceled.
Note that the pop-up message is large enough to cover all the buttons on the previous screen. This prevents confusion by not allowing the user to press a button on the screen behind the message. The bright red colors call immediate attention to the screen, and the text clearly explains what is happening. If further explanation is necessary, the user can press the HELP button to call up a help message.
Should the user get confused or lost during the transaction, he can touch the help key to get more information at any time. This is an important improvement over current ATMs, providing on-line help for the user at every step to ensure that he can accomplish his goal.
In this example, the user may not understand why he got the Low Balance warning in the previous example, so he touches the HELP button to get more information. Another pop-up window appears explaining why the user got the warning and what his options are. When he is done, he can dismiss the help screen by touching the DONE button.
(NOTE: This example is actually a series of 4 pictures. Touch the screen above to see all four pictures in sequence.)
Another useful benefit of the dynamic display is the ability to lead the user through a complicated series of steps by prompting him for information and then giving him extra feedback to show what he has accomplished. In this example, the user is transferring money from his checking account to his savings account. The user is first prompted for what account to transfer money from. When he selects a button, the icon for his choice remains on screen, with an arrow pointing away from it. This further enforces the idea that the user is transferring money FROM Savings.
The user is then prompted to select where the money is going TO. Again, after he selects an account the icon remains on screen to graphically show where the money is coming from and going to. He then enters the amount of money to transfer. Once he is done, a screen pops up confirming to the user that the transaction was successful and the money has been transferred.
This picture shows the menu for updating information on the user when ordering new checks. This is a good example of several features not currently available on today's ATM machines. The ability to order checks is new, but the most unique feature is the ability to generate a tool specifically required by the task at hand; in this case, a keyboard for entering new information in the various fields. This shows the dynamic aspect of the new ATM interface. New tools can be created via software and displayed on the screen whenever required for new or less frequently used tasks, which saves the cost of including physical tools on the interface for seldom-used functions.