Near Field Communication (NFC), WTF???

In the world of technology, companies are always looking to discover that next big thing.  You know, that invention or technology that will either keep their company on top or perhaps help it to ascend to new heights.  These new technologies though are not always the easiest things to discover but when they are found, they can be the things that turn the fortunes of a company around.  Remember back when people thought Apple was in trouble awhile back.  The iPhone emerged and boom, back on top.  Well the next great thing is now being touted, and that is near field communication (NFC) technology.

Near field communication technology sounds much like what it is.  To put it in a nutshell, Near Field Communication is a new technology that is based on short-range wireless connectivity technology.  Where did it come from you might ask? Well it emerged from a grouping of various technologies that already existed, including those found in contactless identification and interconnection technologies.  If it works the way it is being talked about, it will make the life of the consumer much easier, at least from a technology perspective.

For the techie heads among us for whom these numbers mean something, NFC operates at 13.56 MHz and has the ability to exchange or transfer data with another device at speeds of up to 424 Kbits/second.  These numbers sound great, but what does it actually mean for the common user who has no such need for this technical jargon.  Well to put it simply, NFC will produce communication that is simple as well as secure between two electronic devices.  Does not sound like much until you realize how this communication takes place.  Due to the fact that NFC can be both a read as well as write technology, communication is as simply as taking your communication device and waving in front of the other thing you want to transfer to.  As long as your within four centimeters of the other device, NFC basically provides you with a "magic wand" if you will!

Sounds great doesn't it?  Well it seemingly gets better.  This technology is also compatible with Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi. I can hear some of the naysayers though spouting off that due to the nature of the transmission method, it cannot be safe and easy to intercept.  You naysayers would be wrong though my friends.  Due to the fact that the transmissions are being done from such close proximity, it is probably one of the most secure types of transactions that a consumer can undertake.  

Just think of the possibilities of what this kind of technology can do and you realize they are limitless.  Suppose you take some pictures with your mobile phone and want to show them on your TV to all in the room.  Simply swipe the phone close to the TV and there you go, instant gallery.  Maybe you’re on one of those long drives where you run into endless tolls.  How about swiping your phone through at the booth and your on your way.  It certainly makes things look a lot quicker and easier for consumers that will use it.

You can see the endless things that will be able to be accomplished with this technology.   Making payments will become as quick as a simple swipe.  The time that it takes to get information from one place to the other will be seconds instead of minutes.  It will be interesting to see how this technology progresses and is received by the ever changing world.  You can only imagine that it will change a great many things down the road.