Near Field Communication (NFC)

 

 What does NFC stand for?

NFC stands for Near Field Communication.

What is NFC?

NFC is a short-range wireless technology that allows communication between NFC enabled objects over a distance of less than 10cm.

NFC is is based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) standards

It is a technology that is designed to make an easier and more convenient world for us, enhancing the way we make transactions, exchange content and connect devices.

The tags you see or create include contacts, URLs, map locations, text and much more.

How does it work?

Without getting bogged down in technical talk, NFC operates in two modes

  • Active Mode: In this mode, both devices are generating their own RF fields. This would be in the case that two mobile devices are being used to exchange data.
  • Passive Mode: In this mode, one of the devices generates the RF field and the other device uses the field to power itself and communicate. The active device is usually the “reader” and the passive device is the “tag”.

The active device or reader (this could be your smartphone) generally polls/looks for nearby NFC devices. The passive device or ‘tag’ begins to listen when it comes within a few centimetres of an active NFC device. The reader will then communicate with the tag.

The reader deciphers the signals and is then prompted to do something. Some tags are re-writable so readers can actually update data.

In a real life scenario an NFC equipped phone can act in an active or passive mode. As a payment method in a shop, the NFC equipped phone would act in the passive mode with the equipment at the checkout acting in the active mode. In an alternative scenario an NFC enabled phone might be used to scan a tag on a brochure or a card to retrieve more information, here the phone is acting in a active mode.

3 words you may hear or read about in relation to NFC are:

  • Sharing – Data, photos, web links
  • Pairing – Making a connection between equipment no need for passwords.
  • Transaction – Paying for goods

What are the main uses of NFC?

There are many potential used of NFC, but some of the main uses are:

  • Access control
  • Consumer electronics
  • Healthcare
  • Information collection and exchange
  • Loyalty and coupons
  • Payments
  • Transport

For you and me this could be anything from using an NFC enabled product to pay for the bus fare, paying for our milk in the corner shop, sharing our contact details with someone or finding out more about a particular advertised product to name just a few.

The scope of the NFC is limited to the developers and those implementing NFC as to how far it goes and how much it can do.

Is NFC like Bluetooth or WiFi?

Kind of. It transmits data, but the amount of data transmitted is generally considerably less and the power needed to transfer the data is too a lot less.

NFC offers more security than Bluetooth and there is no need to ‘pair’ devices. NFC is just a tap.

Is NFC like a QR code?

Yes and No.

It is like a QR code that once scanned it tells your reader to do something. From opening a web page to adding contact details to your phone.

NFC tags seen in public places are too often roughly the same size as QR codes.

However unlike a QR code you do not need to always switch on or open a reader. NFC is often an always on technology. Simply tap the two NFC products and your away.

What are NFC Tags/NFC Stickers?

NFC tags or stickers are thin simple electronic devices (no batteries or moving components) that contain an antenna and a small amount of memory. Is is passive and powered by a magnetic field. When read with an NFC reader, it provides instruction to our phone or NFC reader to do something.

NFC stickers are simply a NFC tag with the ability to be stuck to something. Most prevalent in term’s of tags are Sony’s SmartTags although many un-branded ones exist.

NFC Tags on a product or in a store are often pre-programmed and do one thing only when scanned.

However there are many different types of NFC stickers or tags which can be purchased by yourself and written to once or multiple times. Therefore allowing you to change the use of the tag.

They also come in various sizes, from a simple 25x25mm sticker to a business card to a wristband.

Benefits of NFC?

NFC provides a range of benefits to consumers and businesses, much depends upon the installation of NFC, but the main benefits are:

  • Intuitive – NFC interactions require no more than a simple touch
  • Versatile – NFC is ideally suited to the broadest range of industries, environments, and uses
  • Open and standards-based – The underlying layers of NFC technology follow universally implemented standards
  • Technology-enabling – NFC facilitates fast and simple setup of wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.
  • Inherently secure – NFC transmissions are short range (from a touch to a few centimetres)
  • Interoperable – NFC works with existing contactless card technologies
  • Security-ready – NFC has built-in capabilities to support secure applications