What's so important about an ATM?
Since the mid-1960s ATMs, or automated teller machines, have helped people safely (mostly) withdraw and deposit money in and out of their bank accounts no matter what day or time, and has allowed banks to increase their costumer bases. These machines are easy to use, allow banks to make money through transaction fees, and allow for shorter waiting times within the bank.
How does it work?
ATMs serve as data terminals that are connected to both a host computer, and a computer inside of the bank. These machines are connected to the host processor through a phone line, or internet line. The card reader takes the account information from the users card and sends the information to the host processor in order to route the current transaction to the cardholder's bank account (And to determine the balance of their account). The display screen prompts the user to select what kind of transaction they would like to make and the keypad allows the user to "tell" the computer which transaction they select, and to what amount, as well as their security PIN number. After processing the request, for withdrawals, the machine counts the correct amount of money from the safe within the ATM and dispenses it to the user, or uses an electric eye and sensor to count each bill entered during a deposit.
How does this relate to computer science?
In its most basic form ATMs contain two input devices, perform programmed algorithms based on user input, and contain four output devices. The input devices, where the user tells the computer which requests it would like filled, include the card reader and the keypad. The four main output devices include the speaker, display screen, receipt printer, and cash dispenser. The computer of the ATM is also programmed to take input from the sensors in order to determine the amount of bills entered, and newer ATMs have cameras for security that record input and send the data to other computers for human review when needed.
Info and Pictures from:
http://thehackernews.com/2014/06/ninth-grade-students-hack-into-atm.html
http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/banking/atm2.htm
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/03/a-brief-history-of-the-atm/388547/
This is such an interesting post. I didn't know ATMs had been around for that long. I always hear stories in the news about people hacking into ATMs or others getting their identities stolen at these machines, but by understanding how ATMs work it helps to understand the potential ways that these hacks have come about.
ReplyDeleteVery cool post. It's interesting how, even though this technology has been out for quite a long time, it hasn't really displaced human tellers. Though, it's most definitely because they can't take packages. It's also pretty interesting how our money is in a large part digital in banking nowadays. Imagine if those computers or servers crashed!
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