DE29512254U1 - Plastic card for the visually impaired and blind with user information - Google Patents

Description

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Plastic card for visually impaired people
and blind people with user information

The invention relates to a plastic card for the visually impaired and blind, preferably with a storage medium that can be read by an evaluation unit, for identification and/or legitimation of the user and/or transmission of information, in particular for the processing of transactions or the use of services or as a substitute for money.

Plastic cards, which are easy to handle due to their small size and are also very robust even when used regularly, are becoming increasingly important in everyday life. They are used in particular for identification, legitimation of the user or transmission of information, for example when conducting business or claiming services. Examples are insurance cards, check cards, ID cards for direct or discounted use of public transport or cards that are used as a replacement for keys. There are also plastic cards that can be used as a substitute for money, such as credit, telephone or Euro check cards. The plastic cards are provided with a print that is applied to their surface or to a carrier molded into the card, for example a strip of paper, and that identifies the distributor.

and indicates its use, i.e. for example, the type or purpose of the card or instructions for use. To make it more difficult to forge, the print is often supplemented with special features, such as a hologram or a photo of the user.

A large proportion of the plastic cards in circulation are equipped with a storage medium that can be evaluated by a reading device. Common storage media are those that can only be read and are primarily used for quick identification or information transfer, such as a user number encrypted as a barcode on a library card or the insurance data on the memory chip of a health insurance card, as well as data that can be changed by the evaluation unit, such as a credit that is reduced when a device is used (e.g.

with a telephone card).

The great appeal of plastic cards for users, manufacturers and distributors is largely due to their 5 uniform size, which makes storage easier, enables standardization of the evaluation units and allows the inexpensive production of different types of cards without the need for laborious conversion of the production facilities. However, it is precisely the uniform size of the cards that makes them considerably more difficult for visually impaired and blind people to use. The cards have at most a microchip that can be touched, but this is not

for example, on a health insurance card and a telephone card, in exactly the same size and arrangement, and occasionally in raised font. The latter, however, is only common on credit or bank cards and is also applied in conventional letters that are difficult to feel. The vast majority of cards, on the other hand, have no tactile features, particularly since magnetic strips are usually located inside the card beneath a flat plastic surface. A large proportion of cards are intended for use with machines, into which they must be inserted in a certain orientation. If the card does not have suitable features, a visually impaired person will not only be unable to identify it, but will only be able to insert the card in the correct orientation after several attempts. In view of many defective or poorly maintained machines, which only accept a correctly inserted card after several attempts, this can make successful use almost impossible. Another problem is that many machines, such as cash machines, explain how to use them to the user via a screen that is not visible to the visually impaired or can only be seen in outline. Finally, it is also desirable for the visually impaired to be able to identify other cards that cannot be inserted into a machine and that are used, for example, to identify the user, so that they do not have to expose the entire contents of their wallet to a sighted assistant in order to find them.

which is to be considered disadvantageous both for reasons of independence, data protection and because of the risk of theft.
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Against this background, the invention has set itself the task of modifying the known plastic cards in such a way that they can also be used by visually impaired people without any problems. 10

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the card has a tactile user instruction in Braille.

In this way, a visually impaired user can identify the cards, even if they have no other individual, tactile features and are of a uniform size. In contrast to raised letters in normal writing, the information in Braille is clear and much quicker to read for a visually impaired person. The location of the writing on the card is in principle arbitrary, but must not hinder the function of the storage element. The user information, which is easily recognizable for the visually impaired, allows the card to be inserted into a machine in a clear orientation, so that successful use is possible even with a partially defective or poorly maintained machine that repeatedly rejects a correctly inserted card.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the user information identifies the distributor (e.g. "XY Insurance") or the type or purpose of the card (e.g. "phone card"). The corresponding design is particularly useful for cards that serve to identify the user to other people. Examples are a health insurance card that is given to the staff in a doctor's office or a library user card. The aim of the user information in this case is in particular to enable the visually impaired person to use the card independently, so that they do not have to reveal the entire contents of their wallet to a helper or even tempt them to steal it.

With regard to use in vending machines, cards that are provided with instructions for use are useful. They can, for example, inform the user of special features of the machine, such as unusually arranged operating elements, a special use of the card, for example that it must be inserted into the machine in a certain orientation, or inform the visually impaired about an optical menu that they cannot recognize. In the latter case, it would be conceivable, for example, that important keywords for use are printed on the card.

Preferably, the user information is placed in whole or in part on the card in a defined arrangement, for example on the top of the front. This means that it is always in the same position

to the storage medium. If the instructions for use are sufficiently short, a one-sided arrangement on the card is preferable so that at least the front side can be recognized at first touch. If detailed instructions for use are required, at least one heading on the card should be placed at a defined location relative to the storage medium. This ensures that the card can be used immediately and without errors even when a large number of different cards are used, or when new, unfamiliar cards are used for the first time.

In the case of cards that have a storage medium that can be evaluated by a reading device, placing the user information in the same place would disrupt the function of conventional card readers and thus limit usability. The user information should therefore be placed outside the medium, such as the magnetic strip. A minimum distance is preferably maintained so that manufacturing tolerances do not affect functional reliability.

There are various options for applying the user information, which differ in terms of the effort required and their durability, especially when the card is used continuously. Stamped or embossed markings are durable and can be felt even after long-term use without significant signs of wear, but these are particularly useful when individually marked, for example with the user name.

drawn maps are comparatively difficult to apply. Glued or printed notices are cheaper, but often less durable. Printing processes must change the surface of the map in a clearly perceptible way, for example by using such a large amount of the printing substance that it dries raised on the surface.

Especially if a uniform note, such as the intended use, is to be applied to all cards in a production series, a cost-effective alternative is to add the Braille when the card is cast by providing the appropriate recesses in the mold. This creates particularly durable user information, and no additional effort is required other than changing the mold.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention can be found in the following description, in which an embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail using the drawing. The drawing shows a plastic card according to the invention in a schematic representation.

The card (1) according to the invention consists of a conventional plastic, for example PVC.

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In some cases it is provided with a storage medium, such as a microchip (2) or an inserted magnetic strip, which can be read and possibly written to by an evaluation unit when the card (1) is inserted in a certain way, which is indicated by the arrow (3). Since different cards (1) have uniform sizes due to extensive standardization and are generally not provided with other tactile features, a user note (4) in Braille ensures that the card (1) can also be identified and used by visually impaired people. Due to a defined arrangement of the user note (4) relative to the microchip (2), it is also possible for visually impaired people to insert the card into a machine in the required orientation, especially if the arrow (3) is also raised. Further markings (5) can be applied in conventional writing as required, so that the card can also be identified by people who are not visually impaired, or they can contain instructions for use in Braille, such as that a certain button must be pressed to remove the card from a machine.

The result is that plastic cards, which are becoming increasingly important in everyday life, can also be used without any problems by blind and visually impaired people, despite the increasing and desirable standardization of their external appearance.

Claims (7)

Däpl.-Phys. Dr. W. Pöliiiei European Patent Attorney ■ European Patent Representative · Mandataire en Brevets Europeens Postfach 63 23 · D-97013 Würzburg · Kaiserstr. 27 · Sf 09 31 /145 66 · Fax 09 31 /185 66 CLAIMS 1. Plastic card for the visually impaired and blind, preferably with a storage medium readable by an evaluation unit, for identification and/or legitimation of the user and/or transmission of information, in particular for the processing of transactions or the use of services or as a substitute for money, characterized in that the card (1) has a tactile user instruction (4) in Braille. 2. Card according to claim 1, characterized in that the name of the distributor or the purpose of the card (1) is printed in Braille. 3. Card according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that instructions for use are printed on the card (1) in Braille. 4. Card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user information (4) is applied wholly or partly in a defined arrangement on the card (1). 5. Card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user information (4) is arranged at a distance from the storage medium. 6. Card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user information (4) is punched, embossed, printed or glued on. 7. Card according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the user information (4) is cast into the card.