Telegrammed by Bulldog Drummond
The Person who Helps Test the Fast Track Ticket Machines
Although most Railway Eye readers, being lucky recipients of concessionary travel, do not use ticket machines they may want to pause for a moment to think about the extraordinary person who helps test the Fast Track ticket machines.
The main screen is ideally designed for someone around 5 feet tall and the module where payment is made is clearly designed for someone around 3 foot six inches (this screen is also very hard to read with anyone possessing normal eyesight).
To add to the challenge the main screen and payment module are so far apart that the traditionally shaped human being does not have sufficient reach.
So where do they find a five foot high individual with a double length right arm and the matching rubber neck required to read the small screen?
UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...
Might I add to the list of Desiderata, the ability to touch type on credit card key pays with the numbers worn away.
Alternatively, infra-red vision able to see the outline where the numbers were.
UPDATE: This from The Major...
The Major suspects that that Fast Ticket machines have been designed to be suitable for those in wheelchairs.
He's not yet in one (the day cannot be too far ahead...) so would welcome views from anyone who is and has used these machines.
Before then doing battle with barriers and all the other impediments train operators put before their passengers...
UPDATE: Bulldog Drummond responds...
I note the Major's comments but the TfL ticket machines (the big ones are very similar to Fast Ticket) are much better laid out.
I cannot believe that TfL would do anything that is not DDA compliant.
