Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Automatic Teller Machine, Automated Banking Machine (ABM), Cash Dispenser, Cash Machine, Cash Service, Cashpoint

Category

General Information, Commercial Facilities

Message / Function

To indicate the location of an automatic machine for dispensing bank notes

	Source	Description
	KSA	Human figure inserting card into ATM, slot with banknote on the right
	Ecuador	Human figure inserting card into ATM labeled with $ sign
	Barsha	Side view of human figure at ATM labeled with $ sign
*)	Schiphol	Hand, numeric keypad, slot with three banknotes
	PANYNJ	Hand, numeric keypad, slot with two banknotes
	Tern	Hand taking two banknotes from slot
1)	Foster & Afzalnia	Hand taking three banknotes from slot
2)	ISO 7001	Hand taking three banknotes from slot
3)	Foster & Afzalnia	Hand taking three banknotes from thick slot
	BS 8501:2002	Hand taking three banknotes with currency sign from slot
	HSSS	Slot, card, arrow pointing upwards, slot with banknote, arrow pointing downwards
	CNIS	Text ATM, three banknotes with currency sign in slot
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Two banknotes with currency sign in slot
	EJP	Two banknotes with currency sign in slot
4)	Foster & Afzalnia	Three banknotes next to slot
	France IISR	Rectangle with text ec, two banknotes below
	USGS	Dollar sign

Discussion

The multitude of images indicates that no single and clear visual stereotype exists for the message Automated Teller Machine or Cash Dispenser.

In our research we discovered that there is only very limited test data available for this referent:

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation proved to be insufficiently comprehensable with a comprehension score of 50.3 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001).

When comparing the four variants of a public information symbol for a cash machine marked 1) to 4) in the table above on basis of a Comprehensibility Judgement Test conducted in three countries (United Kingdom, Korea, and Iran), the pictogram labeled with 4) reached the lowest mean estimates in all countries (Foster & Afzalnia, 2005). Results indicate that showing a hand taking the banknotes might increase the chances of correctly comprehending pictograms for this referent.

Zwaga & Poppinga examined the pictogram variant labeled *) in their undated study Identification and Legibility of Graphic Symbols. In the comprehension task according to ISO 9186:1999 this variant from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport reached a comprehension score of 100. Even regarding that the respondents in this study were mostly persons with higher education, this pictogram seems to be well comprehensable.

Recommendations

PANYNJ Pictogram Cash Machine

We recommend to conduct a study including a Comprehension Test comparing all the concepts above to determine the image content working best.

Until then we recommend using a pictogram similar to variant TS0750 Cash or ATM from the Tern symbol set or the Schiphol resp. the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey variants.

Tests of pictograms of referent Automated Teller Machine / Cash Service

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

Foster, J.J. & Afzalnia, M.R. (2005): International assessment of judged symbol comprehensibility. International Journal of Psychology, 40(3), 169–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207590444000258

Zwaga, H.J.G. & Poppinga, J.: Identification and Legibility of Graphic Symbols; Towards a standard for public information symbols. Internal Report, Psychological Laboratory, University of Utrecht