Ah, thanks for that. Could someone else use their smart phone to read your card if they got close enough, which isn't difficult with blind people? Cheers Barry -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of lsmithso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 4:51 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Accessible bank card NFC = Near Field Communications = The technology used to read contactless smart cards, payment cards etc. I believe that the card number, expiry date etc can be easily read by a smart phone. Its then a simple step to read those out loud using the 'phones TTS. It looks like contactless versions of credit/debit cards are available from a lot of banks, so this may be an alternative to adding Braille to credit cards. Barry Hill writes: > What's an NFC app, please? > > Cheers > > Barry > > > -----Original Message----- > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of > lsmithso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 10:13 AM > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [access-uk] Re: Accessible bank card > > > Can the card details be read from a contactless payment card by a NFC app on > a smart phone? Is there an app waiting to be written here? > > > goshawk on horseback writes: > > just my personal point of view, but I think it would have been a far > better idea to work out ways around what is almost certainly the hardest and > most frustrating thing with bank or credit cards, that of accessing the > details needed to actually use the card, such as card number, start and > expirey dates, and back security number, rather than prannying around with > all these fancy ideas that don't really do a lot to improve usability. > > > > Simon > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Barry Hill > > To: angie.matthews@xxxxxxx > > Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 8:01 AM > > Subject: [access-uk] Accessible bank card > > > > > > RBS and NatWest launch accessible cards for partially sighted and blind > customers > > > > > > > > 19 February 2015 > > > > > > > > > > > > In the UK alone there are over 2 million people living with sight loss > making lots of everyday tasks, including banking, difficult and frustrating. > Following feedback from a partially sighted customer, RBS and NatWest have > introduced a new accessible debit card. > > > > > > > > rnib card > > > > The new debit and savings cards feature braille, a notch to help > identify the card and a large print phone number. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > RBS and NatWest are now launching new accessible debit and savings > cards which have been specifically designed for blind and partially sighted > customers. > > > > > > > > To address some of the common problems that blind and partially sighted > customers face, the cards will: > > > > .feature braille markings to identify which card is savings and which > card is debit > > > > .have a notch cut out on the right hand side of the card to help > customers insert their card into ATMs and PIN pads correctly > > > > .show telephone numbers where they will be most clear > > > > .have large font on the back of the card to make the phone numbers > easier to read > > > > > > > > RBS and NatWest's new cards can initially help their 15,000 customers > registered as blind or partially sighted. All other features of the card > remain the same - this card can be used in ATMs, at point of sale and for > Contactless transactions home or abroad. The cards can be ordered in all RBS > and NatWest branches, online or through telephone banking and will be issued > within 48 hours. > > > > > > > > This is the first banking product designed especially for blind and > partially sighted people. RBS has worked closely with the Royal National > Institute of the Blind in the development of this card and in recognition of > this work the new debit and savings cards will be the first banking products > to be awarded the new national quality assurance mark 'RNIB approved'. > > > > > > > > Ross McEwan, CEO of RBS, said: "We want to be recognised as a bank that > listens to its customers and responds to their issues. It's really important > to me that we make banking as simple and easy as possible for all of our > customers and our accessible cards are another step towards us earning back > the trust of the public." > > > > > > > > Steve Tyler, Head of Solutions, Strategy and Planning at RNIB said, "We > are delighted to have worked with RBS on making savings and debit cards more > accessible. The very basic requirement of identifying the right card and > quickly determining which way the card slots in to a machine or payment > system has been solved by this development. Simple as it is, creating a card > with tactile indicators that identify the card type as well as the way in > which it should be used, is an engineering challenge, particularly to ensure > that it doesn't disrupt machinery. We look forward to working with RBS in > to the future and enhancing even more of the daily payment challenges that > blind and partially sighted customers experience." > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Disclaimer > > > > > > > > This information is for media use only and is not a financial promotion > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus > software. > > www.avast.com > > > > > > -- > Les Smithson > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > http://www.avast.com > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq -- Les Smithson ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq