Librarian Christopher M. Jimenez shares his experience implementing Near Field Communication technology in an academic library. He discusses some of the literature available on the topic, current and future use of NFC in the public sphere, and the specific implementation strategy employed at Florida International University Libraries.
9. A Definition
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range,
wireless communication technology that establishes a
temporary peer-to-peer network to complete a small
data transfer.
12. ...a small data
transfer.
● BIT
● NIBBLE
● BYTE
● KILOBYTE
● MEGABYTE
● GIGABYTE
● TERABYTE
● PETABYTE
● EXABYTE
● ZETTABYTE
● YOTTABYT
E
13. Where might you see this tech?
● Parking Meters
● Public Transportation & Ticket Gates
● Your Car
● Hotels
● Wireless Chargers
● The Grocery Store
14. Problem
Until late 2017, wide application of this technology has been
available only to those persons who own and operate certain
Android phones...
15. Solution
During Summer 2017, Apple announced at their developer’s
conference that the NFC Controller is now open for development.
17. - Guevarra, 2012
NFC has the potential to alter the way
information is delivered.
18. - Hoy, 2013
Value in self-service operations that
allow patrons to receive immediate
assistance wherever they are and
whenever they need it.
19. - Yusof, 2015
High satisfaction with their application in
user acceptance tests.
The implementation of NFC technology
has a number of technical advantages
over other implementation methods
20. - Abram, 2017
This technology provides a newfound
ability to transfer library resources
conveniently into every pocket from
physical locations
22. Tech Fee
NFC @ the Library
http://libguides.fiu.edu/nfc
“This would allow librarians
to marry digital objects to
physical manifestations and
allow students or other
library patrons to quickly
access digital objects or
digital information with very
little hassle.”
23. How?
What are some ways we are
using this tech now?
● Smart Posters
● eBook Cards
35. Creating more
Consumable
Content
What are some future
implementations?
● Course Reserves
● Room Reservation
Posters
● Orientation Posters
● Nicer eBook Cards
● [Insert your idea here]
36. References
Introducing core NFC. 2017 [cited March 1, 2018]. Available from
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/718/
Abram, Stephen. 2017. What's in the pipeline? part 2.
what I watch. Internet@Schools 24 (3).
Guevara, Sophia. 2012. A beginner's guide to near field
communication. Library Outlook 16 (6): 24-25.
Hoy, Matthew B. 2013. Near field communication: Getting in
touch with mobile users. Medical Reference Services Quarterly
32 (3): 351-7.
Yusof, Mohd Kamir, Andrew Abel, Md Yazid Saman, and Mohd
Nordin Abdul Rahman. 2015. Adoption of near field
communication in S-Library application for information science.
New Library World 116 (11/12): 728-47. doi:10.1108/nlw-02-2015-
0014.
What is NFC? Before we get to a definition, let’s consider a couple scenarios…
Your friend treats you to his favorite restaurant...
You’re driving to ALA in New Orleans and need a hotel...
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RFID & NFC
NFC is a newer development of RFID technology
NFC is always an RFID technology, but not all RFID technology is NFC
DEFINITION:
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range, wireless communication technology that establishes a temporary peer-to-peer network to complete a small data transfer.
FOUR INCHES
RFID range is measured in meters & feet while NFC is measured in inches
While this limits usability based on proximity, it increases security
NO WIRES
Users expect to use wireless tech, it has become ubiquitous.
Nobody wants to plug into a cable for a data transfer.
COMMUNICATION (SEND/RECEIVE)
Before programming, the device is the active agent (sends data) and the tag becomes the passive agent (receives data)
After programming, this order is reversed, when the device (passive) receives data from the tag (active).
It’s not a dialog
LOCAL COMMUNICATION
The information is static. There is no device serving up new information to the tag.
However the tag is programmed to function is how it will behave until it is reprogrammed.
TERMINATION
Once the tags have been activated and completed the transaction, this connection is terminated.
There is no memory involved, each time the tag is tapped again a new P2P connection is formed and the transaction will occur again.
The tag doesn’t remember you.
The tag won’t give you something different.
What if you swiped a hotel key and got a different response every time? You don’t want that. You want the door to unlock EVERY TIME.
Measured in Bytes & Kilobyte:
Bit - Nibble - Byte - Kilobyte - Megabyte - Gigabyte - Terabyte - Petabyte - Exabyte - Zettabyte - Yottabyte
Bit (1 or 0), Nibble (4 Bits), Byte (8 Bits), KB (1,024 Bytes), MB (1,024 KB)... etc
TRANSFERS
Text
URL
PARKING METERS
San Francisco already has this implemented
TRANSPORTATION & TICKETS
Busses / Trains (NYC Metro Card)
Miami Heat Games - Digital Tickets Only (not NFC yet, but could implement this tech in the future)
CAR
BMW & Hotels
Hyundai Connectivity Concept
NFC would allow you to open your door using NFC from your phone & set infotainment settings
HOTELS
Tap card to enter your room
WIRELESS CHARGERS
For sale at Amazon.com
The Store
Android Pay & Apple Pay, Credit Cards
PROBLEM
Until late 2017, wide application of this technology has been available only to those persons who own and operate certain Android phones...
SOLUTION:
During Summer 2017, Apple announced at their developer’s conference that the NFC Controller is now open for development.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Developers can now write apps that access Apple’s CORE NFC! It is no longer restricted to Apple Pay.
Apps developed for iPhone 7, 8 and X will now have access to use NFC Technology.
There could be a whole new wave of innovation & implementation of this tech.
How have other libraries leveraged this technology?
What are some of the things they have learned?
What are some of their challenges?
What are some of their reasons for optimism?
While NFC is not a new concept, it is still sometimes viewed as a novelty.
As early as 2012, anticipation and excitement for the budding potential carried by NFC technology was evident, such as Sofia Guevara’s (2012) belief that NFC had the potential to alter the way information is delivered
MATTHEW HOY described basic NFC operations in 2013, uniting several concrete applications under the banner of self-service operations (checkout, supplemental information, access control eg. enter study room) that allow patrons to receive immediate assistance wherever they are and whenever they need it.
In a 2015 paper describing the first functioning and tested Android and NFC-based library transaction system, Yusof & Associates (2015) reported high satisfaction with their application in user acceptance tests.
They concluded the implementation of NFC technology has a number of technical advantages over other implementation methods such as QR codes, radio-frequency identification (RFID), and barcode scanning, which are often hampered by issues ranging from poor lighting impeding camera use to the use of proprietary applications and specialized equipment.
Consequently, if NFC becomes an ubiquitous standard in smartphones, it carries tantalizing potential.
It is this potential that has driven recent researchers (e.g., Stephen Abram 2017) to embrace NFC technology and claim this technology provides the newfound ability to transfer library resources conveniently into every pocket from physical locations.
What are we currently doing with NFC technology?
How is it being received?
What are some of the advantages of implementing NFC in our library?
What are some of the challenges we have faced or continue to face in our implementation?
2016-17 Tech Fee Proposal:
NFC is a technology which helps bridge the gap between physical and digital objects. By tapping a compatible phone or tablet against an NFC tag, the user will get a notification that will lead them to a link to a book, or movie, or more information about a subject. The library could place posters on the walls of books. Each book would have an NFC tag. When someone places their phone against the tag, a notification will pop up on their phone allowing them to download that book to their device. This would allow librarians to marry digital objects to physical manifestations and allow students or other library patrons to quickly access digital objects or digital information with very little hassle. Currently, it is extremely difficult to place a digital book or movie into the hands of someone without explaining the long and circuitous route to get there. With this technology, handing someone digital information in person will be as easy as passing a book between hands.
Smart posters that are more permanently displayed
eBook Cards that are associated with rotated displays:
Happee Birthdae Harry
Banned Books
Next, we will go over some NFC Enabled Material that we currently have up in the library.
Paired with the Lonely Planet Guides on the Second Floor outside the I&RS suite.
Ideally, if someone was looking for a travel guide, they may end up at that shelf where they may be apt to download an electronic copy from Frommer’s
STATS
2 Posters (Domestic / International)
Up since April 2017
68 Interactions
Single topic poster - search for audiobooks on our EBSCOhost Audiobook platform. (36 titles)
Located on a shelf in the New Book Lounge by the Access Services Desk
Beneficiary of rotating displays and content.
STATS
1 Posters
Up since April 2017
88 Interactions
Posters with content curated by subject librarians for their target audience.
SUBJECT PAGE & HELP are standardized. The other two boxes are left to Librarian discretion
The example is currently in the stacks.
PRIMARY SOURCES leads to a guide on finding primary source material.
EBOOKS performs an EDS subject heading search for “History”, limited to eBooks.
STATS
4 Posters (4 Forthcoming)
Oldest: September 2017
197 Interactions
Single purpose card - permalink directly to the eBook content. No extra clicks
First major project undertaken using NFC technology, coordinated by Barbara M. Sorondo (content curation)
Goes with the video cards….
Single purpose card - Link opens SWANK APP
First major project undertaken using NFC technology, coordinated by Barbara M. Sorondo (content curation)
STATS
2 Displays (HP / Banned Books)
Displays ran for 5 months (HP:4 / BB:1)
128 Interactions
In general, all the single-purpose cards have the same text on the back.
Short, simple description of how to use the technology
Link to the libguide (.../nfc) for more information
TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY
Low tech graphical display
While NFC is technically advanced, the display is not.
No expensive screen. The tags cost about a quarter each.
Maintenance is minimal
Physical browsing of digital resources
How do we show users our digital content?
Fast delivery
Designed using a permalink that immediately gets users into the content without having to click-click-click...
Need a device
While the display is “low tech”, users must still own a compatible device. No screen in the display means users must have their own screen.
Tried to make the cards accessible using the short link / QR Code
Learning to find resources
The content is delivered to them and that’s awesome, but can they find it later when the session expires?
What users think they need (need it quick) versus what they actually need (need to learn where it is).
What are some reasons to be optimistic about this technology?
What are some next steps? (Smart Posters outside the library)
What are some other implementations? ( … )
The A, B, C ’s...
ANALYTICS DATA
Almost 25% of our traffic comes from a mobile device
1 out of every 4
Of those mobile interactions, for every phone/tablet running Android’s OS there are three iPhones/iPads/iPods.
Now that Apple is in the game, we can expect to see…
More development that leverages NFC tech.
More consumer interest in the capabilities of NFC technology
Extending the library’s reach beyond the turnstiles..
I was able to get a smart poster put up in the History Department’s student help area.
Holly got a poster up in the Global Learning offices
Working with the writing center to share information… perhaps we have an opportunity to put some NFC-Enhanced signage there…
Since this technology is not dependent on physical presence in GL, we can put it anywhere on campus!
Ideas? Let’s talk!
Introduction
Set the mood
Disney’s use of RFID/NFC Technologies