2 posts tagged “simplexity”

Credit and Debit cards have become so much part of our lives now that we almost take for granted the safety issues involved. We don't realize that if our PIN is leaked anyone who gets their hands on your debit card can withdraw money from our accounts.

Recently when I was entering my PIN code  and I realized a fundamental thing about the buttons on 'PIN Pads' (the terminal that is handed to you to enter the PIN after your card has been swiped). Currently in the market there are two kinds of pads with regard to the way the buttons are -

Pin-pad-types

1. Extruded rubber buttons
2. Flush plastic buttons

Which one are you more comfortable with?

I realized that both the buttons offered different levels of safety (although they might have not been designed from that point of view). Lets take each one at a time:

Extruded buttons definitely offered the user better tactile feedback when it came to entering the digits of the PIN code. However what one doesn't realize is that atleast in the Indian environment, the representative of the shop, petrol bunk, etc. is standing right there and can easily know what you PIN code is by observing where your finger goes to press the buttons and hence the design of the pin pad compromises on the privacy of the users information. The user needs to lift his finger from the button of the device to move the the next number in the sequence of his/her PIN and press it. This press can be visually identified and is another cue for the person who wants to steal your number that you have pressed a particular number.

Flush buttons have less tactile feedback compared to the extruded variety. This compromise is made up for by triggering electronic beeps for feedback along with each key press. However, in my opinion it provides far greater privacy due to its flush design. In this case the user can hold the console with two hands, place his fingers over multiple buttons, but provide slight pressure only on one button at a time and slide to the next button smoothly moving to the next button in the sequence of the PIN number without taking his hands off the console.

Pin-pad_illustrated

The concept is illustrated in this image.
Look at the movement for the extruded design as opposed to the flush design.
I think the flush design is safer, what do you think?