A New Zealand woman has come up with a novel low-cost solution to shoulder-surfing at ATMs. Beach Haven-based Sharon Stamper is the brains behind the yellow lines that are now a standard fixture in all Taranaki Savings Bank ATMs.
The former "fulltime mother" told the
Stuff Web site that the security line creates a "comfort or security zone" for people using the automated machines.
"The idea behind the security lines around ATMs came from my insecurity and annoyance at being ‘shoulder surfed’ while using the machine," she told the site.
She has set up her own company, Security Lines Ltd, and is in talks with other major banks about having their ATMs ring-fenced.
Not sure whether it's possible to patent such an idea, and also wonder if there are issues relating to ownership of the pavement around the bank cash machines, but why hasn't anybody thought of this before?