Accessible tactile features for blind and partially sighted PIN entry and touchscreen usage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10429930-B2
Application number	US-201514610697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of a tactile strip and systems including a tactile strip are generally described herein. A tactile strip may include a back side configured to be coupled to a touchscreen display and a front side opposite the back side. The tactile strip may include a plurality of tactile features on the front side, the plurality of tactile features corresponding to a plurality of displayed inputs on the touchscreen display. A user touch may be used to register contact with the touchscreen via tactile feature guidance. A selected input may be confirmed by a long press, double touch, secondary touch, or other gesture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tactile strip comprising:
a back side of the tactile strip configured to be coupled to a Self-Service Terminal (SST), the SST including a touchscreen display;
a front side of the tactile strip located opposite of the back side;
a plurality of tactile features including a fixed geometric path located on the front side, the plurality of tactile features corresponding to locations of a plurality of displayed inputs, wherein the displayed inputs are selectable by a user on the touchscreen display, wherein the plurality of tactile features include a plurality of grooves separated by a plurality of raised tactile features, and each groove having a smooth surface and each groove corresponding to one of: a particular menu entry presented on the touchscreen display or a particular number of a number pad, wherein a first set of grooves corresponding to menu entries are shorter than a second set of grooves corresponding to numbers on the number pad, and wherein a particular groove of the second set of grooves includes a reference nub that corresponds to a predetermined number selected from the numbers; and
wherein a respective tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features physically guides a finger of the user along a length of the fixed geometric path from a location outside the periphery of the touchscreen display to a location on the touchscreen display to select a respective displayed input of the plurality of displayed inputs.

2. The tactile strip of claim 1 , wherein the back side further comprises an adhesive layer.

3. The tactile strip of claim 1 , wherein the back side is coupled to the touchscreen display using double-sided tape.

4. The tactile strip of claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen display is enclosed in a housing of a Self-Service Terminal (SST) and the tactile strip is configured to attach to the housing.

5. The tactile strip of claim 4 , wherein the SST is an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

6. The tactile strip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tactile features are arranged on a longitudinal axis of the front side.

7. The tactile strip of claim 1 , wherein the fixed geometric path is continuous.

8. The tactile strip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tactile features include a first geometry to identify a corresponding first displayed input and a second geometry to identify a corresponding second displayed input.

9. A Self-Service Terminal (SST) comprising:
a housing;
a touchscreen display supported within the housing, the touchscreen display comprising a plurality of displayed inputs for selection by a user;
a tactile strip, including a front side and a back side, the back side coupled to the housing, the tactile strip comprising:
a plurality of tactile features located at least partially on the front side, the plurality of tactile features including a fixed geometric path;
wherein a tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features corresponds to a displayed input of the plurality of displayed inputs, wherein the plurality of tactile features include a plurality of grooves separated by a plurality of raised tactile features, and each groove having a smooth surface and each groove corresponding to one of: a particular menu entry presented on the touchscreen display or a particular number of a number pad, wherein a first set of grooves corresponding to menu entries are shorter than a second set of grooves corresponding to numbers on the number pad, and wherein the first set of grooves are aligned as a first angle with respect to the touchscreen display and the second set of grooves are aligned at a second different angle with respect to the touchscreen display; and
wherein the tactile feature physically guides a finger of the user along a length of the fixed geometric path from a start point of the tactile feature, located on the front side and outside the periphery of the touchscreen display, to an end point located on the touchscreen to select the displayed input of the plurality of displayed inputs.

10. The SST of claim 9 , wherein the touchscreen display is enclosed in a housing of the SST and the tactile strip is attached to the housing.

11. The SST of claim 9 , wherein the SST is an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

12. The SST of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of tactile features are arranged on a longitudinal axis of a front side of the tactile strip.

13. A method of receiving secure information using a tactile strip comprising:
receiving, at a processor of a Self-Service Terminal (SST), a first indication of a user touch of an on-screen input from a touchscreen, the user touch guided via a tactile feature, wherein a finger of the user is guidable along a length of a fixed geometric path of the tactile feature from a start point on a portion of the tactile feature to an end point on the on-screen input, wherein the start point is located outside the periphery of the touchscreen display and the end point is located on the touchscreen, wherein the tactile feature is selected from a plurality of raised tactile features separated by smooth groove tactile features, each groove corresponding to one of: a particular menu entry presented on the touchscreen display or a particular number of a number pad, wherein a first set of grooves corresponding to menu entries are shorter than a second set of grooves corresponding to numbers on the number pad, wherein each groove of the first set of grooves includes a label tactile feature located beneath that groove;
receiving, at the processor, a second indication selecting the on-screen input; and
confirming, at the processor, the selection by outputting feedback.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the feedback is an audible tone.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the feedback is haptic feedback.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tactile feature is on a tactile strip coupled to a display screen of the SST.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tactile feature includes an etched glass tactile feature on a touchscreen display of the SST.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein second indication includes a second user touch of the on-screen input.

Assignees

• Ncr Corp

Inventors

• Day Philip N
• Birnie Steven
• Jokisuu Elina
• Mckenna Michael
• Smith Andrew W D

Classifications

• G06F2203/0339

  Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06Q20/4012

  Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN] · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title