I'm sure by now everyone has heard of NFC technology. With 30 million NFC equipped phones shipped in 2011, and an expected 700 million phone equipped with NFC to be shipped by 2016, NFC technology is proving to be here to stay. With companies, such as Google, Samsung and (eventually) Apple, backing NFC technology with chips within their handsets, it's becoming seemingly obvious that this technology is just getting started. More importantly is that these companies are giving consumers a way to use the NFC chips built into their phones.
With the release of the Galaxy S III, Samsung has shipped a pack of TecTiles (Samsung branded NFC chips) with its new flagship phone. They are pushing consumers to use these tiles with their companion app creatively named TecTiles app. What this application allows you to do is set certain functions to each tag that will help you automate tasks in your normal day such as, reminders, alarms, setting your phone to 'car mode' or 'office mode', as well as allowing you to program Facebook and Foursquare check-ins to your tiles.
The Unlimited Possibilities Of NFC
Daily Usage
Alarms - Place NFC tags on your nightstand where you put your phone at night. You can set that tag to go into "Bedtime Mode". Bedtime mode tells your phone to turn the ringer off, dim the screen, and set your alarm for 6:30 am. You'll never be disturbed by a late night phone call or forget to set your alarm for work again.
Car Mode - It takes me over 3 minutes to set up my situation when I get in to my car. I need to set up my GPS on my phone, put it in bluetooth mode for audio, and fire up Pandora for some music. Programming a NFC chip for these actions and placing it in my car would save me at least a few minutes a day and the hassle of having to do all of those actions when all I really need to do is tap it against a NFC chip.
Businesses - Place an NFC tag at the entrance of your business and program it to preform a Facebook check-in or like. It's cool to have and also some free social media advertising!
Parents - Place an NFC tag at home that, when your child uses it, will send you a text message from your child saying that they are home. The tags are reprogrammable so you could put a new message each day so that you know your children aren't trying to pull a fast one on you!
An NFC Fictional Case Study - The Movie Theater
Imagine going to the movie theater to go catch a flick. Upon walking in, their is a small stand that says "Check in here with your NFC enabled phone". You place your phone against the sign and it immediately checks you into the XYZ Movie Theater. Now that you're at the movie theater and all checked in, you really are unsure of what you want to see. You see all of the movie poster with cool action shots or a bunch of stars faces on them, but there really isn't a movie that really stands out to you. Something that does stand out to you is the NFC chip at the bottom of each of the posters. As you press your NFC equipped smartphone against the chip on each poster, your phone springs into action. It opens a webpage that goes directly to the IMDB page for each movie with ratings, videos, and synopsis'. You realize you really like the trailer for the action movie and it received a great review, so that's the one that you decide on.
The purchasing of tickets couldn't be made any easier. Google Wallet holds all of your major credit card accounts and is NFC capable. You order your tickets, press your phone against the NFC payment receiver and you're good to enjoy your flick. But wait! What about concessions! Mmmm excessively buttered popcorn. Again, you order what you want, swipe your phone with Google Wallet, and now you're ready for the movie. While walking in to the theater, you notice a sign at the door saying:
More importantly, you notice the NFC chip that is attached to the bottom of the poster. Upon pressing your phone against the chip, your phone quickly goes into low screen brightness and ringer off mode. Now it's time to sit, relax and enjoy your show.
I enjoy thinking of different ideas on unique ways to use NFC capabilities in my everyday life. Do you have any ideas on cool ways to use the technology? Throw it in the comment area!
