Introduction
To continue my research about connecting digital to analogical I decided to try out NFC sticker (Near Field Communication). My goal was to see how NFC stickers could be used to bridge traditional and digital resources, in an efficient way. Here, I’ll share my experience, from purchasing and configuring NFC stickers to testing them and gathering feedback.
Purchasing and Configuring NFC Stickers
I started by purchasing a batch of NFC stickers, small adhesive tags that can store various types of information accessible via NFC-enabled devices. To configure these stickers, I needed to install an app, so I downloaded “NFC Tools” on my phone, a popular choice for reading and writing NFC tags.
Step-by-Step Configuration
1. Scanning the NFC Code: Using the NFC Tools app, I scanned the NFC sticker. This scan provided detailed information about the tag, including the type of tag, available technologies, and whether it was writable.
2. Writing to the Tag: I selected the „write a record“ option within the app. This feature offered several configuration possibilities. For my initial test, I decided to configure the tag with a URL linking to my portfolio. However, NFC Tools allows for various other types of records, such as: application records, social network links, search links, file links, contact information, email addresses, text messages.
This versatility makes NFC stickers incredibly useful for a wide range of applications.
Testing the Configured NFC Stickers
After configuring the NFC stickers with the URL to my portfolio, I tested them and then demonstrated their use to several people. Here’s what I discovered:
• User Confusion: Most people were initially confused about how to use the NFC stickers. They needed further instructions on how to activate the NFC feature on their phones and how to scan the stickers correctly.
• Device Compatibility: In one case, a person didn’t have an NFC-enabled phone. In another instance, the phone’s NFC functionality needed to be manually activated.
• Speed and Convenience: Once users understood how to use the NFC stickers, they found the process of accessing the linked URL quick and convenient. This indicated a clear potential for NFC technology, despite the initial learning curve.
Observations and Insights
While configuring and testing NFC stickers, I noticed several advantages:
• Ease of Configuration: Using the NFC Tools app to configure the stickers was straightforward and user-friendly.
• Variety of Uses: The ability to write different types of records to NFC stickers makes them highly versatile. Beyond URLs, they can be used for a multitude of purposes, enhancing both personal and professional applications.
•User Familiarity: A significant problem was users’ unfamiliarity with NFC technology. Many people are not used to using NFC and require guidance to understand its benefits and functionalities. However, when users try nfc once, it is easy to understand its function for next time, as not many steps are required
•Comparation to QR Codes: compared to QR Codes, the use of NFC stickers is faster and more efficient.
Conclusion
My initial experiments with NFC stickers revealed both opportunities and challenges. The main challenge lies in educating users on how to utilize NFC effectively. However, once this problem is overcome, the speed and convenience of NFC technology can greatly enhance the user experience.
