Touch screen ticket machines

[Waddon]

Hi,
I've never had any problems with the touch screen machines at Southern stations, but I always find the ones used by Southeastern to be really hard to operate - the machines just don't seem to be touch sensitive, despite trying various techniques from a gentle tap to a sustained hold. Sometimes I have had to abandon the transaction and start all over again on another machine, and it gets very frustrating.

I was wondering, is there some knack to using these machines? And, out of curiosity, why is it that some operators machines work so well, and others just don't seem to function at all? Does anyone else experience these problems or is it just me being non-technology compatible?

 

[Ivo]

The FGW ones seem to work really well (unlike most of their operations), but the SWT ones are a bit unrealiable, from what I've seen.

 

[Dai.]

I've never had issues with these myself but a friend who has long nails has, try pressing the base of your finger on the screen instead of your tip as many people without realising use the tips of their fingers

 

[thefab444]

Most of the SWT ones are fine, but the one at Ashust is rubbish. Not only is the sun shining on the screen for most of the day, the screen is also extremely insensitive, you have to fairly hit it to get it to take notice of you!

 

[wintonian]

I find it's the ones that SWT use with that protective film that you actually have to thump with you thumb to get them to work and get a rather sore thumb afterwards.

 

[surreysprite]

The SWT ones seem to be generally ok, however there is one at Woking which has a dodgy confirm button, it has been like it for ages. Not sure whether it is a question of calibration or the actual screen is defective.

 

[Oswyntail]

What bugs me with all these machines is the height at which the card payment bits are set. I am medium height, but there is no way I can see the instruction screen without crouching - which actually makes me off balance and more vulnerable to a mugger, IMHO. I would say they are set at the ideal height for anyone who is 4' 2" tall

 

[Bill Badger]

The FGW ones seem to work really well (unlike most of their operations), but the SWT ones are a bit unrealiable, from what I've seen.

Strange how we all have different perceptions isn't it; I would have said the exact opposite.

Tried to use the FGW machine at Farnborough North twice last week; first time it was out of service, second time got through the whole transaction apart from not letting me push the buy ticket 'button. I have never seen a guard on this line refuse to sell a discounted ticket on the train despite Farnborough North being a penalty fare station, which strongly suggests the ticket machine aren't that reliable.

 

[royaloak]

I would say they are set at the ideal height for anyone who is 4' 2" tall

Or somebody in a wheel chair!

 

[SWT Driver]

Or you...

SWT's TVM's are pretty dire actually, they've missed loads of stations out, by rights you should be able to buy a ticket to any station in the UK, should you so wish, but SWT's short-sighted & inept retail department obviously seem to think that people in the SWT patch don't want to go to Middlesbrough or numerous locations in the NE, NW, Wales, WoE & Scotland.

 

[Pumbaa]

What bugs me with all these machines is the height at which the card payment bits are set. I am medium height, but there is no way I can see the instruction screen without crouching - which actually makes me off balance and more vulnerable to a mugger, IMHO. I would say they are set at the ideal height for anyone who is 4' 2" tall

There is a blog around written by an IT developer (I think) who rips TVMs to shreds on this very issue. In my eyes, it's their biggest shortcoming.