The Hidden Technology Of The Atm}

The Hidden Technology of the ATM

by

Harvey McEwan

When you use an ATM, have you ever wondered how it works? As you push your card through the slot and enter your PIN have you ever considered how it the chip and PIN can help you access your hard-earned cash in seconds? If the answer is no, then you probably aren’t alone, in fact, the ATM is probably one of our most used, yet most overlooked pieces of technology. But because ATMs or cash machines as some people call them, are everywhere these days, they are very easy to take for granted, so, just what does go on inside them whilst we wait for it to give us our money?

The ATM was originally invented in the 1960s, as a way to make withdrawing cash much easier for the public, and to also lessen the strain on bank tellers, who until that point, had always handled cash withdrawals over the counter. The first cash machines didn’t use cards, but special cheques that allowed the public to withdraw set amounts of cash from their bank account with minimal fuss. But the advent of credit and debit card technology, with the magnetic strip, and later, the chip and pin, has allowed people much faster access to their money, at any time of the day and night, so how does it work?

The entire system has evolved considerably since the invention of the very first ATM in the late 20th century, and ATM management technology in the 21st century is a fast-moving an expensive business, where the customer and the customer’s needs are paramount to the industry. For example, the advent of remote ATM management technology has meant that controlling a number of ATMs in one area is now less costly, and much easier as managing a cash machine remotely means the number of costly maintenance visits on a single ATM will be reduced. This means that the company operating the ATM saves money, and can pass that saving onto their customers.

When an ATM is remotely managed, this means that a company will monitor the status of ATMs and other cash machines in its network which means that they can get real-time updates on every part of the machine, from the keypad, to the printer, to the screen, to the cash dispenser, and keep on top of any faults or problems that may arise. They can also perform repairs, such as reboots, updating, distributing and running software packages, upload certain data, report on hardware activity in real time and provide early alerts on rogue or unscheduled activities.

While ATMs have changed so much in the last few years, they have evolved to become so much more efficient for customers and ATM Management

companies, who work to make them safer, more innovative and much more useful to consumers. So, next time you’re at the ATM, why not have a think about just how much work goes into the machine, and how far technology has come.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com

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