ATM inventor John Shepherd-Barron passes away

LONDON, UK: John Shepherd-Barron, who invented the world's first automatic cash dispensing machine, better known as ATM, is dead. He had come up with the idea after wondering why banks couldn't operate a system like a chocolate-vending machine.

John had also thought of the four-digit Pin number.

He died in a hospital in Inverness Saturday after a short illness, Daily Express reported Thursday. He was 84.

John had reached his bank a little late and then thought as why there could not be a system to get cash on the lines of the chocolate-vending machines.

The first product was installed at Barclays Enfield branch in London June 27, 1967.

He then realised that he could still remember his six-figure Army number, and decided to test his wife Caroline's memory. But, she could only recall four digits, so that became the world standard for Pin number.