The challenge
Brief · 01Standard ATMs assume sight, fine motor control, and screen-driven interaction, which excludes a large portion of visually impaired and Divyang users. Banking access for this group depends on assistance from strangers, raising safety, dignity, and fraud concerns. Any practical solution had to plug into existing ATM hardware, work with regulated banking flows, and deliver a non-visual user experience that is reliable, secure, and easy to deploy at scale.
The solution
Brief · 02We designed Divyang ATM as a retrofittable accessibility ecosystem. A handheld device sits over the ATM keypad with a solenoid-driven key-pressing mechanism, microphone, camera, speaker, and Braille interface. A companion mobile app, DivyaDristi, communicates with the ATM through a dynamic QR code, voice commands, and speech-synthesizer prompts. Voice and face recognition handle authentication; geotagging confirms ATM location; Braille printing produces a tactile receipt. The whole system has been demonstrated, made live, and iterated through multiple versions with continuous user feedback.
Milestones
From early concepts through validation and iteration.
Designed and conceptualized the idea of a Blind ATM at IIT Bhilai with the IBITF team.
Demonstrated v1 to TIPS, IIT Kanpur using voice recognition and QR scanning.
Demonstrated and made it live at Blind Asharam, Raipur, where real users tested the system and provided feedback that drove the next iteration.
Showcased the product nationally, received positive feedback, and unlocked international support from Germany including a Braille printer contribution.
Implemented geotagging, Braille printing, face and voice recognition, and location-based insights for stronger authentication and accessibility.
In-process for marketing, productization, and scaled deployment with RBI-aligned banking workflows.
03 / Outcomes
Client / Partner
A banking-sector partnership with SBI and RBI, incubated at IBITF, IIT Bhilai. Together we built an accessibility-first ATM ecosystem that lets visually impaired and Divyang users transact independently.
By the Numbers
01
Patent Filed
Filed under Prof. Santosh Biswas, IIT Bhilai, in collaboration with RBI.
02
Hardware Versions
v1 with voice + QR shipped May 2023; v2 added geotagging, Braille and biometrics in Aug 2024.
03
Retrofit Design
Built to plug onto existing ATM hardware — no machine replacement required.
04
Accessibility Modes
Voice, Braille, QR, NFC, face recognition and geotagged ATM identification.
Stakeholders
The primary user — performs ATM transactions independently and with dignity.
Provides regulated banking flows and validates real-world transaction safety.
Incubation, mentorship and engineering support for the prototype and patent.
Real users at Blind Asharam, Raipur and TIPS, IIT Kanpur who tested and shaped the product.
Core Capabilities
A handheld retrofit device that mechanically presses the existing ATM keypad.
Companion app that talks to the ATM via dynamic QR, voice prompts and a speech synthesiser.
Hands-free, screen-free transaction navigation for visually impaired users.
Adds a biometric authentication layer on top of standard PIN-based banking flows.
Tactile receipts let users verify every transaction independently.
The mobile app confirms the user is at a genuine ATM location before transacting.
Multiple secure handshake options between phone and ATM module.
Language selection at the start of every transaction for inclusive access.
The Workflow
User opens DivyaDristi and the app geotags the ATM to confirm a genuine banking endpoint.
A dynamic QR code on the ATM is scanned by the app to establish a one-time secure session.
Voice prompts plus face recognition verify the user without needing screen interaction.
User says what they need — withdraw, balance, mini-statement — and the speech synthesiser confirms each step.
The handheld device presses the corresponding ATM keys to drive the regulated banking flow.
A Braille receipt is printed so the user can independently verify the transaction.
Project journey for Divyang ATM, from ideation in April 2023 to v2 launch and the current marketing & production phase.
Front and back views of the deployed Divyang ATM prototype showing the camera, NFC card reader, receipt printer, cash dispenser shutter, Braille printer base, and security lock.
Hardware diagram showing the core components — solenoid, microcontroller, microphone, camera, and speaker — that power the retrofittable Divyang ATM module.
CAD model of the over-keypad handheld device, designed for tactile alignment with standard ATM keypads and reliable solenoid actuation.
End-to-end interaction flow: language selection, network and biometric authentication, bank/ATM selection, card insertion, voice-driven transaction, and cash collection.
Mobile experience for end users — idle screen, dynamic QR scanning from the ATM, speech synthesizer for voice queries, and the final transaction confirmation screen.
Additional on-ground project capture showing the Divyang ATM setup and presentation context.
Field image from the working station setup used for demonstration and validation.
Alternate visual angle of the deployed hardware and interaction environment.
Extended setup view highlighting supporting modules around the ATM prototype.
Detailed hardware capture of the assistive module and mounted interface components.
Additional close view of the mechanical/electronic assembly in the prototype unit.
Real-user validation context illustrating accessibility-focused interaction testing.
On-site deployment photograph from field presentation and live environment setup.
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