How Near Field Communication is changing our lives
For those of you who don’t know what NFC is, let me define it for you. Near Field Communication is a form of contactless communication between devices, like your smartphone or tablet. Have you ever used Apple Pay, Android Pay, or something similar? You can use these apps at any checkout where you see this logo.
How many times have you seen someone with their hands full, trying to wrangle their kids and get their wallet out at the same time? Thanks to NFC this may become a thing of the past.
Currently, more and more stores have updated point of sale stations that accept NFC technology. I enjoy using Apple Pay at my local Food Lion grocery store as well as a bevy of other places around my town. It’s been years since I’ve regularly carried cash, and these days I rarely have to have more than my driver’s license and phone when I leave to run errands.
If you can’t already, you’ll soon be able to use NFC at work. Getting into your parking garage, letting you in the building, and paying for treats from a vending machine are all ways in which NFC can help make your day a little easier.
Hospitals can now use NFC in ID bracelets that can include a lot more than just identification. Among other things, insurance and payment information can be stored as well. Imagine being able to go to the doctor, wave your phone and all of your information is transmitted without having to fill out any forms.
Transportation is another area where NFC is making a huge difference. Smart parking meters now can take payment via apps equipped with NFC. Until parking is free, this is probably the most exciting parking news you’ll ever hear. If you take the bus, you’ll see more and more companies using NFC technology to read tickets with smartphones instead of bulky handheld devices.
Near field communication is so much more than a payment technology, and over the next few years I think we’ll see it in use more and more in our everyday lives.
