NFC (Near Field Communications)
Going by the definitions, NFC is a short range, high frequency wireless communication technology, that enables the exchange of data between devices, typically requiring a distance of 4cm or less to initiate a connection. Okay, but why is it so interesting? Because of its various possibilities. We all are moving into a completely digitized world, where we can simply tap our phones on some tags and get our work done. Some of you might have already tried out sharing pictures from one phone to another by tapping your (NFC enabled) phone over another. Okay, you could do it with blue tooth, then why NFC? You don’t have to go through the burden of pairing your device. But that is not just it. NFC opens to you, an entire world of possibilities. Want to pay your bills, simply select your card information stored in your phone and tap your phone on the NFC tag. Want to lock your car, simply tap your phone on an already programmed NFC tag on your car. Want to get the restaurant’s menu list on your phone? Simply tap your phone on the NFC tag on the menu card. Want to configure your phone settings while going to sleep, to set the alarm, turn off the wifi, blue tooth, etc and too lazy to do that? Tap on the already programmed NFC tag you have placed near your bed and your work is done. Sounds cool, does it?
This is now possible and all you need is just an NFC enabled device and NFC tags to make it work. So what are NFC tags?
A small chip, with a bit of storage memory, along with a radio chip attached to an antenna. NFC tags can be programmed with just about any sort of information and then plopped in to almost any product, letting you read them with a smartphone or another NFC-capable device. Anyone can buy an NFC tag and program it according to their needs. It can be embedded in to posters promoting movies, tap your phone on it and you can get directed to the movie’s official URL with all its information. It could likewise be embedded almost everywhere like business cards, tickets, prescription bottles, etc. These smart tags don’t have any power source. Instead they draw power from the device that reads them. These tags are available in the market and are getting cheaper day by day. Although it is not so popular right now, it sure is going to be, as people have become lovers of the digitized world and of course because of its numerous possibilities.
