[access-uk] Barclays got it right! Re internet banking security
- From: "Amro Bilal" <amro_bilal@xxxxxxx>
- To: "Access-UK" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 16:46:39 +0100
Hello people,
To all who are interested. Following the recent discussion about upcoming
online banking security measures, I phoned my bank Barclays inquiring and they
said.
In November, they are introducing a new device called (Pin Sentry) for
customers to use at home with internet banking. Pin Sentry is akin to Chip and
Pin devices that are used in shops. You slot in your card, key in your pin code
and then the Pin Sentry displays a code that you type into your computer. For
low vision or blind customers, Barclays said that they are providing Pin Sentry
devices with high contrast and high resolution displays, as well as speech
output that is provided through a built in speaker! The device will have a
headphone socket for total privacy too. Reasonable adjustment, wouldn't you
say? So, I think that Barclays alike some other banks that's been talked about
has got this one right! And if anyone is interested, I didn't ask about Brail
output I'm afraid.
I think I'll send them an email of encouragement. It's good to let companies
know that they're doing the right thing when they do.
Now what I'm about to say is just a rant :)
What I can't understand about implementing accessibility measures is this. I'd
like to have a self driven car that saves me the hassle of using busses, taxis
and bumping into people now and then when travelling on foot. I'd like music to
be low in nightclubs so I don't lose orientation. But this is either
technologically challenging, or just an unreasonable demand. But, in this day
and age, is it really technologically challenging and very costly to make
almost every device and appliance in the market accessible through added on
speech output? a speaker and couple of pre-recorded messages or a basic TTS
engine all what it takes. That's the same technology that is used in a £5
talking clock for heavens sake. Is it really unreasonable in this day and age
to demand that all newly printed material to be available in electronic format?
I'm not asking for audio format, some e-format that one can read using their
own computer and screen reader. All printed materiel is produced electronically
on a computer in the first place these days aren't they?
Sorry folks, but boy I wanted to take that off my chest :)
All the best,
Amro
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