Although the technology has been around for about 8 years, Near Field Communication (NFC) is only just becoming mainstream. The technology is being used in the US but there has been a delayed uptake in the UK and many of us aren’t sure what NFC is all about, so here’s how we see it.
In brief, NFC is a technology that makes life easier and more convenient for consumers and businesses. So what does this mean for you and I, the Anywhere Workers?
NFC is the exchange of digital content and connection between devices such as smart phones and tablets; it is contactless communications. The
technology is embedded into a chip that is then placed in your phone or part of your case. Then, through the use of very smart electromagnetic radio fields, it allows you to connect to and pass information between other chips.
This technology means you can tap your device against another chip that is embedded in phone, advertisement, brochure, street sign or shop window (to name a few) and the information will transfer directly to your phone. Cool huh?
The future of NFC
So how might this new technology fit into our everyday life? Here are a few ideas:
- Easier and quicker payments in shops, bars and restaurants
- Travel - replacing your travel card and ‘tapping in’ using NFC
- Social media such as checking into places linked to your social profiles
- Advertising - the consumer can gain more information with one tap
- Downloading and streaming audio and visual content
- Exchanging personal and business data, for example contacts or documents all at the tap of a phone
And so like magic, it makes life more simple and easy! You can read more of the benefits on the NFC Forum. But for the Anywhere Worker, it’ll
make business payments quicker, sharing data so much more accessible and the simple quick tasks that take up your day (paying for coffee, the taxi, sharing files etc.) so much quicker, allowing you to remain your awesome productive self.
What do you think of NFC? Does your phone have it already? If so, how are you using it?
