John Shepherd-Barron, 84; devised ancestor of modern ATM

From Staff and News Services ^ | May 21, 2010

[ConservativeStatement]

John Shepherd-Barron, 84, the Scotsman often credited with devising an ancestor of the modern automated teller machine, died May 15 at a hospital in Inverness, Scotland. No cause of death was reported.

ATMs had been attempted for decades before Mr. Shepherd-Barron, then an employee of a company that specialized in printing technology, came up with his idea for a workable machine while taking a bath.

[Paleo Conservative]

According to the London Daily Telegraph, Mr. Shepherd-Barron did not patent his system and made no money from his invention. But in 2004, he was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire decoration for his services to banking.

[SatinDoll]

Note to self: take more baths rather than showers.