What Are NFC Readers Used For?
NFC Readers are used to read (and sometimes write) NFC tags and smart cards using a PC, Mac or smartphone. They are commonly found in contactless payment, access control, consumer electronics, transport and other applications.
Contactless payment and public transport access are the most familiar uses of NFC. Other common uses include quick pairing for wireless speakers and headphones and storing digital keys to your home, office or hotel room.
Peer-to-Peer Communication
NFC enables users to quickly and easily connect devices. Unlike Bluetooth that requires pairing with a specific app, NFC automatically creates a connection between two devices that can be used for file transfer or device pairing.
NFC-enabled smartphones can communicate with each other using load modulation to generate an RF field for data exchange. This enables them to establish contact with another NFC-enabled device within about 20 cm, depending on interferences or obstacles in the way.
Alternatively, NFC-enabled smartphones can read NFC tags or chips—known as smart posters—to display a variety of information. This enables consumers to access content such as movie times, reviews and location information without needing an internet connection.
In addition, NFC can be used for healthcare applications. Hospital staff can use NFC-enabled phones RFID Reader to record how long they spent with a patient, what treatment they administered or which medication they administered—instead of filling out paperwork and then manually entering the data into a computer system.
NFC is also an important part of UbiComp, which stands for “ubiquitous computing” and refers to technology that is embedded into the world around us so that it becomes a seamless, effortless interaction. NFC enables such technologies as AmI (Ambient Intelligence), smart homes and intelligent transport systems. AmI is a response to the growing public need for easy-to-use, user-friendly technology that is responsive to the context of our daily lives.
Mobile Payments
Providing mobile payments to your customers is a great way to boost your business’s bottom line and make the shopping experience more enjoyable. It also offers a safe and convenient alternative to traditional card swiping. If you want to start accepting mobile payments, then you need a specialized NFC reader. NFC readers typically have an NTAG or MIFARE chip that complies with the ISO 14443 (type A or type B) or ICODE standards.
Besides being widely used in contactless payment terminals, NFC is also popular in the security industry as a form of access control. NFC readers can be used to read ID cards or tokens that grant users access to secure doors and locations. They can be installed on a wall or in a door lock to let people in without having to use their key or phone app.
NFC readers are also useful for a variety of other applications that can help businesses save time and money. For instance, NFC tags can be used to identify inventory in retail stores, as well as to track the location of equipment or vehicles. NFC is also known for its low power consumption, which means that devices can operate on less battery. This is beneficial for wearables and smartphones that may run out of power quickly after numerous transactions.
Smart Locks
Smart locks have become a part of our lives, as they provide more control over accessing information and physical space. With these locks, users can track who is coming and going, and grant or deny them access. They use low-power NFC, Bluetooth(r), or Ultra Wideband (UWB) to communicate with a smartphone.
They also come with a variety of features, which makes them more functional and user-friendly. One of these features is voice controls, which allows the user to lock and unlock the door by simply using their phone’s microphone. This feature is especially useful for those who have hands full, or if they are not comfortable standing in front of the door with their key.
Another benefit of these locks is their ability to protect against eavesdropping. This is because they limit the range of the signal to a few inches, which means that an eavesdropping machine would need to be within that distance in order to intercept the data.
As the number of smart locks grows, it is important to keep security in mind. These locks should have high-quality material and be secure against hacking and unauthorized access. The best smart locks use a combination of technologies, including NFC readers, to provide the ultimate level of security and ease-of-use. The EEOO RFID Cabinet Lock is a good example of this, as it can be used with NFC cards and smart phones to unlock the door.
Access Control
NFC Readers allow for a quick and easily integrated approach to access control, allowing users to use their smartphones as a key to the building, instead of the traditional ID card or key fob. Users can tap their phones on the reader, which will transmit the data to the door system and unlock the lock. This makes the system easier to use, but also much more secure, as the user’s smartphone is usually always with them.
Using NFC technology reduces the amount of time and effort required for access control systems, making it more cost-efficient. Additionally, the low-maintenance energy requirements make it ideal for incorporating into cloud-based access NFC Readers control systems. This enables organisations to scale their access control and integrate new users on an ad hoc basis.
Under the hood, NFC works in two different ways based on whether the tag is passive or active. Passive NFC tags don’t have their own power source, so rely on the NFC reader to supply them with power by energizing them with an electromagnetic field. In this mode, the reader determines the data encoded on the tag by detecting how the electromagnetic field is modulated.
Active NFC devices like smartphones can be used as both a reader and a tag, so that they can transmit data to each other. This mode can be useful for a number of applications such as Time & Attendance, where the device’s NFC sensor can record real-time employee attendance and working hours.