A Librarian’s Field Guide to
Near Field Communication
Sheli McHugh (@shelitwits) Cataloging & Metadata Librarian, University of Scranton
Kristen Yarmey (@kristenyt) Digital Services Librarian, University of Scranton
What this presentation is not: based in experience
What this presentation is: an introduction
What is NFC? (Near Field Communication)
What is NFC?
A way for devices to transmit and receive
information wirelessly
at close range
How does it work?
Initiator (read/write mode)
Target
How does it work?
Initiator Target (card emulator mode)
How does it work?
Initiator/target (peer-to-peer mode)
Target/initiator (peer-to-peer mode)
Why do we need this? We already have Bluetooth. And WiFi. And QR codes.
Maybe we do need this.
“a game changer”
“the biggest shift in technology since the iPhone”
“from smartphones to to superphones”
How is it being used?
Mobile payment
Now • Google Wallet Coming • ISIS (AT&T, Verizon,
T-Mobile) • Visa Wallet
Access Control
Now • Yale Locks • KEyLink smart car
keys
Pilots • Arizona State U • Clarion Stockholm
Mobile marketing
Now • Proxama smart posters • Google Places kits
Pilots • thinaire/Radiant
Outdoor billboard
Social media
Now • FourSquare at Google
I/O • Google+ Prototype • NFriendConnector
Gaming
Now • Angry Birds Magic
Places • Fruit Ninja blades
What else?
• Public transportation • Parking meters and passes • Concert and event tickets • Health care and accessibility • Restaurants & grocery stores • Cemeteries
Rosetta Stone
When is it coming? If ever?
When is it coming?
• Already popular in Asia • Some phones are already NFC enabled • By 2014, 1 in 5 cell phones will be NFC-
enabled (Juniper)
• By 2015, 1 in 2 cell phones will be NFC-enabled (Sy Choudhury, Qualcomm)
The naysayers
• PayPal • Square • eBay
• …do users really want this?
Who to watch
What does it mean for us ?
Easy applications
• Mobile library cards • Mobile payment of library fines • Authentication for library computers &
printers • Marketing with smart posters • Gaming (libraries are magic places, after all!)
The importance of place
• Celebrating a neighborhood or campus
A truly mobile collection
• NFC tags on books or media resources could contain: – Bibliographic information – Reviews – Author biography – Link to similar resources – Social media integration – Self check out! – Due date for a checked-out book
A truly mobile collection
• Off-the-shelf self-checkout? – Bibliotecha has a prototype app!
The dark side
• NFC may change the way our patrons interact with information
• Awareness and education
Security and privacy
• Mobile payment – Can be secure than a magnetic strip on a
credit card
• User responsibilities • Vulnerabilities at all levels: phone, app,
OS, tag…
Thank you! www.slideshare.net/kristenyt
Resources
• Introductions to NFC – Near Field Communications: A Technology
Primer (ars technica) – What’s NFC, and Why do I Care?
(ReadWriteWeb) – Near Field Communication Quick Guide
(Mashable)
• NFC Forum – Specs – White Paper on Smart Posters (pdf)
• NFC World:
– List of Trials and Pilots – List of NFC Enabled Phones
• Apple Patents referring to NFC
• Security and privacy – FTC December 2010 Staff Report – Collin Mulliner’s NFC security research web
page and NinjaCon presentation – Intrepidus Group webinar “NFC for N00bs”
(Oct 21!) – MasterCard statement on Google Wallet
security
