The document discusses the history and development of automated teller machines (ATMs). It notes that ATMs were invented 40 years ago by John Shepherd-Barrron and introduced by Barclays Bank in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Currently, there are over 1.6 million ATMs worldwide, though their popularity peaked in the late 1990s. The document also outlines some of the key card systems used, security measures implemented, technological advancements made to ATMs over time, and potential future developments in the area of digital payments and a cashless society.