Training older adults to use automatic teller machines.

The present study assessed the success of several instructional programs in teaching the use of automatic teller machines (ATMs). Fifty-six older adults (aged 61 to 81) participated in the study, randomly assigned to each of four, 14-member groups. The description group received only a general overview of an ATM; the text guide group received written instructions for performing various transactions on an ATM; the pictorial guide group received written instructions accompanied by pictures of corresponding ATM screens; and the online tutorial group completed a step-by-step tutorial on a simulated ATM. Participants practiced on an ATM simulator. They were tested after a 24-h interval on their ability to perform familiar transactions on an unfamiliar ATM simulator and to perform completely novel transactions. Accuracy was best for the online tutorial group, intermediate for the text and pictorial guide groups, and worst for the description group. These data demonstrate both the importance of providing older adults with ATM training and the fact that the type of training influences the level of performance. The online tutorial, which provided specific practice on the task components, best facilitated acquisition and transfer performance

Interacting with technology in an ever more complex World: Designing for an all-inclusive society

In a recent study we undertook we analyzed a relatively simple day-to-day technology namely the use of automatic teller machines (ATMs) by older adults. Our results alert to the fact that for an aging population Worldwide, even seemingly simple technological products (such as ATMs) have to be in future more carefully designed to be all-inclusive (e.g. intuitively usable by all) so that individuals do not feel marginalized by financially-oriented [as well as other] technology. This will enable obvious immediate benefits for people, including increased productivity, quality of life and independence. Recent studies have proven that belonging to social groups and networks – in sum, feeling included through one’s relationships in society – can be just as important for one’s health as diet and exercise – social isolation can be a health hazard comparable to that of smoking, high blood pressure and obesity (Jetten et al. 2009). Computers and technology, on the other hand, are to become ever more present in society (Challenger 2009). We thus believe that steps have to be taken to prevent the elderly and other groups with limitations from feeling disconnected in an increasingly technological World. Otherwise we will incur hidden costs at a growing rate (U.S. Census Bureau)

The design with intent method: A design tool for influencing user behaviour

The official published version can be found at the link below.Using product and system design to influence user behaviour offers potential for improving performance and reducing user error, yet little guidance is available at the concept generation stage for design teams briefed with influencing user behaviour. This article presents the Design with Intent Method, an innovation tool for designers working in this area, illustrated via application to an everyday human–technology interaction problem: reducing the likelihood of a customer leaving his or her card in an automatic teller machine. The example application results in a range of feasible design concepts which are comparable to existing developments in ATM design, demonstrating that the method has potential for development and application as part of a user-centred design process

Meeting the Challenge: Training an Aging Population to Use Computers

Older adults present a special challenge to libraries offering computer training. Many of those seeking training have little, if any, prior experience with the concepts and skills necessary to use computers, yet their ability to learn those concepts and skills is hampered by the aging process. This article summarizes the factors in aging which most affect learning computer skills, and how those factors can be mitigated

Financial services for the urban poor : South Africa's E Plan

Much of the research on financial services in low-income countries has focused on micro-credit programs. Much less attention has been paid to the design of depository services, although many more low-income people use depository services than get access to credit. Having access to depository services is important for household well-being: to safeguard funds, to save for large purchases, and as insurance against unexpected expenditures. Economic reform programs in recent years have encouraged banks to push up nominal interest rates to keep deposit rates positive in real terms, and to motivate savings in financial assets. But once deposit rates are positive in real terms, banks typically increase minimum deposit size or find other ways to discourage small depositors because of the high costs of maintaining and servicing low-balance accounts. Traditional passbook savings accounts, the main product used by low-income households, are being phased out because of high costs. After South Africa's move to democracy in 1994, it was politically imperative that the country's major financial institutions help redress the historically weak system of services for low-income people. The authors describe one of the more interesting experiments. In 1993 Standard Bank of South Africa created an affiliate, called E Bank, to deliver basic banking services to the urban poor. E Bank provides a package of financial services designed specifically for low-income clients, offering greater convenience for the user while keeping under control the costs to the bank of providing services. E Bank combines the innovative technology of modified ATM services with staff available to help all clients. By rethinking the needs of the basic banking customer, E Bank was able to bundle services valued by poorer clients to justify a fee high enough to cover costs.Fiscal&Monetary Policy,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Banks&Banking Reform,Health Economics&Finance,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Health Economics&Finance,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research

Customers’ Perception on Trust in the use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Services in Sokoto State, Nigeria

The growth and development of automated teller machine (ATM) in the banking sector contribute tremendously in shaping the perception of customers towards its usage. The usage of the services render by the banking sector through ATM depends on how much trust customers perceived towards it. But, research on customers’ perception on trust in the use of ATM services is scarce, most especially in Sokoto state of Nigeria. However, highlight on different perspectives of the factors that affects customers’ usage of electronic banking, their trust on ATM and how it influence their usage are given. Moreover, this paper reviewed literature that could be use in the study of customers’ perception on trust in the use of ATM banking. Also, this paper recommends the use of Giddens and Simmel perspectives on trust to support the findings. Therefore, this explanation is relevant to researchers and academician who have interest in furthering study on this area of interest. Keywords: electronic banking, customers’ perception on electronic banking, automated teller machine, determinants of automated teller machine usag

The Foundation of Asset Building: Financial Services for Lower-Income Consumers

As many as 22.2 million U.S. households comprising about 56 million adults are unbanked. Thisstaggering figure points to a crisis in the bifurcated financial services world where some consumers do not have access to mainstream financial institutions. These households are disproportionately lower-income and minority. Households that do not have bank accounts are disadvantaged in several ways. They spend up to three times as much for basic services using check cashers than consumers with accounts at mainstream financial institutions. Unbanked consumers also lack access to instruments like savings accounts that encourage modest savings. Further, the unbanked may not be able to establish a credit history, which has implications for future credit applications and for employment and insurance coverage. This report, "The Foundation of Asset Building: Financial Services for Lower-Income Consumers", describes some of the best practices in the banking industry to reach low-income, unbanked consumers. These practices include affordable checking or lifeline accounts with account opening criteria and other features that are appropriate for lower-income consumers, innovative financial literacy programs, and creative outreach and marketing strategies. This report explores the financial sustainability of these account products and observations from the bankers on strategic factors of success. An inventory of lifeline banking resources comprises the last section of this report. This report profiles the Acceso Popular Account at Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Cash and Save Program of Union Bank of California, First Bank of the Americas in Chicago, First Interstate Bank in Montana and Wyoming, and Wells Fargo Bank Wisconsin's participation in the Get Checking Program. The case studies reveal that lifeline banking does more than reduce the number of unbanked consumers; it can also be financially sustainable for the bank. Our basic finding is that banks with a commitment to reach unbanked or under-banked households can do so effectively and efficiently. Some financial institutions claim that it is not financial sustainable to serve such consumers and communities. However, the banks profiled here have demonstrated that with energy and creativity, it is possible to provide retail banking services to people previously considered unprofitable customers

Factors Predicting the Use of Technology: Findings From the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE)

The successful adoption of technology is becoming increasingly important to functional independence. The present article reports findings from the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) on the use of technology among community-dwelling adults. The sample included 1,204 individuals ranging in age from 18 -91 years. All participants completed a battery that included measures of demographic characteristics, self-rated health, experience with technology, attitudes toward computers, and component cognitive abilities. Findings indicate that the older adults were less likely than younger adults to use technology in general, computers, and the World Wide Web. The results also indicate that computer anxiety, fluid intelligence, and crystallized intelligence were important predictors of the use of technology. The relationship between age and adoption of technology was mediated by cognitive abilities, computer self-efficacy, and computer anxiety. These findings are discussed in terms of training strategies to promote technology adoption. Keywords: aging, technology adoption, cognition, attitudes Technology, which is broadly defined as the application of scientific knowledge (including tools, techniques, products, processes, and methods) to practical tasks (United States National Library of Medicine, 2004), is ubiquitous in most societal contexts within the United States and most other industrialized countries. Use of technology has become an integral component of work, education, communication, and entertainment. Technology is also being used increasingly within the health care arena for service delivery, in-home monitoring, interactive communication (e.g., between patient and physician), transfer of health information, and peer support. Although older adults in the United States are increasingly using technology, data indicate that they typically have more difficulty than do younger people in learning to use and operate current technologies such as computers, the Internet, videocassette recorders, automatic teller machines, and telephone menu systems (e.g., Further, seniors who use the Internet perform online activities such as e-mail and information searches at lower rates than do younger Internet users (Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2004). Results from a recent survey also suggest that computer users over the age of 65 have less confidence in their ability to use computers than do younger people and have fewer computer skills (American Association of Retired Persons [AARP], 2002). Not being able to use technology such as computers or the Internet puts older adults at a disadvantage in terms of their ability to live and function independently and successfully perform everyday tasks. Further, older populations may not realize the ful

Financial Inclusion, Poverty, and Income Inequality: Evidence from European Countries

This study contributes to the existing literature on financial inclusion by examining the determinants of financial inclusion and studying the impact of financial inclusion on poverty reduction and income inequality in European countries. We investigate the impact of financial inclusion on poverty and income inequality in 30 European countries during 2004-2019 based on a composite financial inclusion index (FII) constructed by using principal component analysis (PCA). Then we assess the impact of financial inclusion, on poverty and income inequality, by employing the fixed effect method. The estimates reveal that, for the European countries, GNI per capita, population density, inflation, and internet users have a positive and significant impact on financial inclusion across all the regressions. Rule of law has a positive impact on financial inclusion, and the age dependency ratio has a negative impact on financial inclusion. The findings also indicate that financial inclusion is significantly correlated with lower poverty for the full sample. Lastly, the present study supports the role of financial inclusion in reducing income inequality in European countries