Near Field Communication (NFC) may sound unexciting until you apply it to real-life situations. It simplifies activities and makes life better in many ways.
If you’ve been hearing about NFC tags but have no idea where to apply them, then this article is for you. We highlight some of the best NFC tags’ uses that will make your life interesting!
How to Use NFC Tags
Are you wondering how you can apply NFC tags? Well, all you need is an NFC tag and an NFC-enabled device!
Once you buy your tag, you should program it. Programming an NFC tag involves writing the actions that you intend to perform with it.
After programming the tag, you will be able to undertake various actions by bringing the reader close to the tag. The action is executed within seconds, thus saving you time and ensuring convenience.
Top 7 NFC Tag Uses
While there are myriad applications of NFC tags, we’ve carefully selected the most transformational ones. They include:
- Contactless Payments
If you have gone to a store and checked out by simply waving a card to a reader, then you’ve experienced the magic of NFC-enabled contactless payments. This is, by far, the most common application of NFC technology.
The technology uses 13.56 MHz radio waves (similar to HF RFID devices) to exchange data between the readers and payment devices such as Pay e-wallets (in smartphones &smart watches), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other tap-to-pay credit and debit cards.
The technology is ISO/IEC 14443 standard certified. For it to work, the two NFC-enabled devices must be less than 4 cm apart. The payments are contactless and encrypted for guaranteed security and ease of checkout.
- Connect to Wi-Fi Network
While it’s advisable to use a lengthy and complicated password, the hassle of giving it to every visitor can be overwhelming.
If you’ve found yourself in such pain, you should consider using NFC technology. All that you will need is an NFC tag (readily available at your favorite tech retail store) and an NFC-enabled smartphone.
When you get an NFC tag, you should write your Wi-Fi password on it. Afterward, you will place it at a strategic place where your visitors can access it with ease. Bringing an NFC-enabled phone close to the tag will automatically activate the Wi-Fi.
If you find writing an NFC tag too much work, then you can consider a Wi-Fi porter that uses the same concept. The porter is designed with a pre-programmed NFC tag and a simple tap will link your device to the Wi-Fi.
- Launching a Website
What happens when you want to direct someone to a website but you cannot remember the URL? Well, this is not an unusual occurrence, especially when the website address is long and complicated.
However, you can now direct your friends to your URL without having to vocalize it! Yes, all you need is to get an NFC tag and write the URL on it.
Whenever someone taps on it, it will open the web browser and direct them to the website in a few seconds!
- Share Information/ Media
In this technology era, sharing information using smartphones is common. However, the traditional approach of pairing Bluetooth was a bit hectic. Fortunately, NFC technology saved the situation!
The technology allows you to share videos, images, data, and music with ease. However, both the sender and the recipient must have NFC-enabled devices.
When you want to share data, you should switch on NFC from the settings, bring the phone close to the recipient device, select the file, and share! This process is short and efficient.
- Set an Alarm Using NFC
If you’re struggling to get out of bed, then NFC could rescue you! The technology can help you to set an alarm that can only be silenced by scanning an NFC tag.
That way, you will not be able to snooze or switch off your alarm when enjoying the warmth of your blanket.
All you need is an NFC sticker and an app such as Sleep as Android. Integrate the NFC sticker to the app to ensure that the alarm on your phone cannot go off unless you tap your phone against the sticker.
However, you should be honest with yourself and place the NFC sticker away from your bed (preferably stuck on the wall). In that case, you will have no option but to wake up.
Additionally, you can customize it to include a function such as completing an action before the alarm goes off.For example, you can set it to let you complete a few questions before it goes off. This feature ensures that you activate your brain, thus reducing the chances of going back to sleep.
- Activate Driving Mode
If you like calm rides, you can deactivate various systems using NFC to allow you to concentrate on driving.
To achieve this, you will need to write various actions on an NFC tag. Such actions may include “Turn on Flight Mode”, “Switchoff Phone Data”, and “Turn on Navigation Map” among others.
When you enter your vehicle, you will simply tap your phone with the NFC tag and it will set the right driving atmosphere.
- Use NFC Tags to Lock/Unlock Your Door
Unlocking your door using NFC is convenient and ensures safety. When you use it, you can be sure that nobody can access your home unless they have the corresponding NFC tag.
To achieve this, you need to write your access code on an NFC tag. Also ensure that you install a reader on the door. Whenever you approach the entrance, the tag will receive the signal and send the data to the reader! Upon reception, the reader will authenticate the data. If there is a match, the door will open in seconds.
That’s it!
You can use NFC technology in many other activities that require automation. The uses range from business, home, and driving among others. It is a sure way of making your life easier and interesting.