Saturday, June 30, 2007

Happy (Belated) Birthday to...

Happy (belated) birthday
Happy (belated) birthday,
originally uploaded by DavidDMuir
The cash machine is 40 years old. this year. The first machine was installed on 27 June 1967 (see this BBC report for more details) and now they are everywhere!.

I think the cash machine is a great way to introduce all sorts of issues related Computing and technology. For example, you can talk about the design of human computer interfaces (I think the Clydesdale Bank's machines have the best interface and I'm happy to bore passing strangers with my reasons why). They give you a familiar context to talk about commercial data processing, electronic funds transfer, computer security, identity theft, passwords, ... A cash machine even featured in my Flickr example of adding notes to a street scene.
Tonnes of educational possibilities... and they give you access to your money whenever you need it. :-) So, all together now:

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear cash machine
Happy birthday to you


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