All about the ATM
Who invented the ATM? Take the Rediff Business Quiz and find out how much you know about the world of Automated Teller Machines.
Biz Quiz is best viewed in Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape above version 6.0.
1. Who invented the ATM? a) Luther George Simjian b) Donald C Wetzel c) John Shepherd-Barron
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is Donald C Wetzel. The first use of ATM magstripe cards is said to have been made in 1969 when Docutel installed its Docuteller machine at New York's Chemical Bank. This is the first recorded use of magnetically encoded plastic. Donald C Wetzel is given credit for developing the machine for Docutel. Docutel was the first to apply for a patent and is credited by the Smithsonian Museum as inventor of the ATM, even though some say it was Luther George Simjian who invented it. Simjian's had patented a similar machine in 1939, but it was not a very successful version of the ATM.
Correct! The first use of ATM magstripe cards is said to have been made in 1969 when Docutel installed its Docuteller machine at New York's Chemical Bank. This is the first recorded use of magnetically encoded plastic. Donald C Wetzel is given credit for developing the machine for Docutel. Docutel was the first to apply for a patent and is credited by the Smithsonian Museum as inventor of the ATM, even though some say it was Luther George Simjian who invented it. Simjian's had patented a similar machine in 1939, but it was not a very successful version of the ATM.
2. Who invented the first automatic cash dispenser? a) Luther George Simjian b) John Shepherd-Barron c) Frederick Powell-Bowles
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is John Shepherd-Barron. Inventor John Shepherd-Barron installed the world's first automatic cash dispenser at a Barclays Bank branch near London in 1967. The machine was made by De La Rue Instruments and it used paper vouchers that had to be purchased from tellers in advance. The machine was called the De La Rue Automatic Cash System, or DACS. John Shepherd-Barron, 79, was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to banking on December 30, 2004.
Correct! Inventor John Shepherd-Barron installed the world's first automatic cash dispenser at a Barclays Bank branch near London in 1967. The machine was made by De La Rue Instruments and it used paper vouchers that had to be purchased from tellers in advance. The machine was called the De La Rue Automatic Cash System, or DACS. John Shepherd-Barron, 79, was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to banking on December 30, 2004.
3. Who set up the world's first floating ATM? a) Bank of America b) State Bank of India c) Barclays Bank
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Wrong! The correct answer is State Bank of India . India's banking behemoth -- the State Bank of India -- has set up the world's first-ever floating ATM on a boat in Kerala. The boat with the ATM on board will berth at jetties in Kerala's huge backwaters through which thousands of people travel daily.
Correct! India's banking behemoth -- the State Bank of India -- has set up the world's first-ever floating ATM on a boat in Kerala. The boat with the ATM on board will berth at jetties in Kerala's huge backwaters through which thousands of people travel daily.
4. Who first introduced ATMs in India? a) HSBC b) Citibank c) Standard Chartered Bank
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Wrong! The correct answer is HSBC. HSBC -- the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation -- was the first bank to introduce the ATM concept in India way back in 1987. Now, most of the banks have their ATM outlets in India. The ATMs installed were from Diebold.
Correct! HSBC -- the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation -- was the first bank to introduce the ATM concept in India way back in 1987. Now, most of the banks have their ATM outlets in India. The ATMs installed were from Diebold.
5. Where is the world's highest ATM? a) Siachen b) Lhasa c) Sikkim
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is Sikkim. On December 12, 2003, UTI Bank inaugurated its ATM at Thegu, near the Nathu-la Pass in Sikkim, which is at 13,200 feet above sea level. That makes it an ATM at the highest location in India. NCR Corporation provided the technology to build this heat-generating ATM, which is capable of handling rough weather and sub-zero temperatures. The ATM caters to Indian army personnel -- especially of the 63rd Mountain Brigade, which has its headquarters there and tourists.
Correct! On December 12, 2003, UTI Bank inaugurated its ATM at Thegu, near the Nathu-la Pass in Sikkim, which is at 13,200 feet above sea level. That makes it an ATM at the highest location in India. NCR Corporation provided the technology to build this heat-generating ATM, which is capable of handling rough weather and sub-zero temperatures. The ATM caters to Indian army personnel -- especially of the 63rd Mountain Brigade, which has its headquarters there and tourists.