NFC: Revolutionary with a potential to change the way we live.
Near field communication (NFC) the recent buzz word in technology domain is going to keep CIOs on toes to manage the opportunities it will bring. A smart phone is now everyone’s best friend. And all the more NFC technology is blessed to be used easily with a smart phone, using a set of standards to communicate via radio communication (RFID) while being in close proximity, making the bond even stronger.
However, before that many questions have to be answered. Is real NFC use too far in future? Will people accept it? What infrastructure changes we need? What will be the impacts and on whom? What Technology challenges will NFC struggle with? Let’s not ponder on these questions for now and see what NFC is bringing to us.
NFC is a solution to many ‘problems’ which are yet to be explored! Technical experts and intellectuals are yet to find a killer idea to exploit the real potential of NFC, though on the other side NFC is showing a lot of potential in making people’s life easier, better and can save their lot of time that goes in making payments, travelling, sharing information and a lot more.
With so much on the anvil that you already do using your smart phone’s such as web browsing, chat and email, soon your phone will be the master key to open all doors. While you unlock and start your car, you would not need a key, just tap your phone on the dash to ignite up the engine, tap it while you enter your house or office premises. The NFC access point at your office will read from your phone as to who you are and will decide to unlock the doors for you. No more searching in your bag for your access badge, car keys or house keys. Just tap it.
Through NFC you can get rid of numerous credit cards, loyalty cards, membership cards and coupons as you will be able to store all that information on a digital wallet. So if you forgot to withdraw cash or pick up your credit cards, don’t worry, just tap, but remember all you just can’t forget back home is your phone.
What interests’ people more is the technology that has the capability to make their life simple, and that’s where NFC has pot its potential in the right pocket. Travel is the most time taking and painful part, almost everyone visualizes a day when they can just reach somewhere with a wink. That might not be possible for now, but NFC can offer great ease while you travel. It can help you get away with parking cards, metro cards, boarding passes, etc. while you use your NFC enabled device to carry all kinds of authentications instead of cards or passes. On a business trip just use your NFC enabled phone to pay the cab expense, airline tickets, while boarding the plane, redeeming reward points and while checking out of the hotel. Many countries have started using an NFC ticketing system for public transport already.
Imagine another scenario where you wake in the morning and don’t have time to open your laptop but you need few important prints. Don’t worry, just open the attachment and tap your phone at the printer and take the prints in just few seconds. If you have gone out of your favorite flavored protein shake, just tap your phone and add it to your shopping list. Unlock and start your car using your smart phone, pay for the parking slot by tapping at an NFC enabled device. Enter your office by tapping your phone on the NFC access point and connect the NFC enabled projector with your phone to start your presentation in a short span of time. Now you just simply tap for everything.
It is never ending lists of ways NFC can help us live a better tech enabled life.
However, every revolutionary idea has faced a lot of challenges. That day has come when our infrastructure becomes NFC enabled; people adopt it and change their habits. Keep watching this space for a continued blog talking about challenges with NFC.
XavThought 
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