ATM inventor passes away

[Aussie Willy]

The man who invented the ATM has passed away.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/atm-i...0520-vodq.html

Pretty important invention when you think about it and one that we all take for granted these days.

[Buzz]

I wonder if this guy had any idea how big his invention was going to be.

Rest in peace.

[deltask8er]

The 40th anniversary of the first ATM was a couple of years ago. I remember the BBC interviewing him about it.

In an interview with the BBC in 2007, Mr Shepherd-Barron said: "It struck me there must be a way I could get my own money, anywhere in the world or the UK.

"I hit upon the idea of a chocolate bar dispenser, but replacing chocolate with cash."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/s...ds/8691747.stm

Mr Shepherd-Barron's wife influenced his thoughts on the Pin, used to operate the machines.

The inventor could remember his six-figure Army number but he ran the idea by his wife Caroline.

Mr Shepherd-Barron said: "Over the kitchen table, she said she could only remember four figures, so because of her, four figures became the world standard."

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Monday, 25 June 2007, 05:35 GMT 06:35 UK


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6230194.stm

"Money costs money to transport. I am therefore predicting the demise of cash within three to five years."

He believes fervently that we will soon be swiping our mobile phones at till points, even for small transactions.

[Snowflake3939]

LOL! I remember my Gran going to that first bank machine mentioned in the article in 1968 and getting money out. It came out in this white plastic container that looked kinda like a floppy disk. I remember her giving the container to my brother to play with and when we moved to Canada, the container came along too and was in my brother's possession for many years after. LOL, probably got thrown out when he was a teenager.

[bardtoob]

Pretty important invention when you think about it and one that we all take for granted these days.

I vaguely remember "banker's hours" and would die if I had to live by them today.

[Aussie Willy]

I vaguely remember "banker's hours" and would die if I had to live by them today.

Thankfully by the time I moved out of home ATMs were pretty common. Still I do remember Mum having to go the bank before closing time.

I also remember the days when my Dad got paid in cash.