Near Field Communication
Julie Brown
Management of Computer Information Systems
CIS312
12/15/2015
Near field communication (NFC) is a current technology that is getting more and more popular. NFC is based off of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. There is a wireless connection between a device and a chip or between two chips when within four centimeters reach, that communicate information through encrypted messages. NFC chips are embedding in credit cards and share payment information with devices. Payments can be made to retailers by just tapping your card on their payment device. NFC chips have more recently been adapted to smart phones through applications. Samsung was the first company to enable this service with GoogleWallet. Samsung also provides Samsung Pay, while Apple has ApplePay. Apps like these make carrying a wallet for payment unnecessary, by merging credit card info, coupons, Paypal accounts, and loyalty cards. These payment functions of NFC chips make it easy for busy people to pay quickly and conveniently in seconds.
Near field communications are being used in increasing and interesting ways. Game pieces have characters with NFC chips and platforms, so characters can be used by placing them on the platform, and all the character information is saved. Bluetooth headsets and speakers can connect fast to items with an NFC chip as well, compared to manually linking devices. NFC tags are also used in smartwatch, where you can purchase items by tapping on the screen.
A big concern many people have with near field communications is the safety. NFC chips are more secure than people think. One of the basics of NFC chips is that the device has to be within four centimeter of the NFC chips and a secure signal has to be detected by the NFC chips, and still then the chips sends an encrypted message with payment information. So someone would have to get close enough to you, have the correct secured signal,...