A Librarian’s Field Guide to Near Field Communication

Sheli McHugh Cataloging & Metadata Librarian, University of Scranton Kristen Yarmey 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.

Why do we need this?

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) ISIS Visa Wallet

Access Control Now Yale Locks KEyLink smart car keys KEyLink smart car keys Pilots Arizona State U Clarion Stockholm

Mobile marketing Now Proxama smart posters Proxama Google Places kits Google Places Pilots thinaire/Radiant Outdoor billboard thinaire/Radiant Outdoor

Social media Now FourSquare at Google I/O FourSquare at Google I/O Google+ Prototype NFriendConnector

Gaming Now Angry Birds Magic Places Angry Birds Fruit Ninja blades Fruit Ninja

What else? Public transportation Publictransportation Parking meters and passes Parking Concert and event ticketstickets Health care and accessibility Health careaccessibility Restaurants & grocery stores Restaurantsgrocery stores Cemeteries

Rosetta Stone

When is it coming? If ever?

When is it coming? Already popular in Asia Some phones are already NFC enabled Some phones By 2014, 1 in 5 cell phones will be NFC- enabled (Juniper)Juniper By 2015, 1 in 2 cell phones will be NFC- enabled (Sy Choudhury, Qualcomm)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! Bibliotecha

The dark side NFC may change the way our patrons interact with information Awareness and education

Security and privacy Mobile payment – Can be more secure than a magnetic strip on a credit card User responsibilities Vulnerabilities at all levels: phone, app, OS, tag…

Thank you!

Resources

Introductions to NFC – Near Field Communications: A Technology Primer (ars technica) Near Field Communications: A Technology Primer – What’s NFC, and Why do I Care? (ReadWriteWeb) What’s NFC, and Why do I Care? – Near Field Communication Quick Guide (Mashable) Near Field Communication Quick Guide

NFC Forum – Specs Specs – White Paper on Smart Posters (pdf) White Paper on Smart Posters (pdf) NFC World: NFC World – List of Trials and Pilots List of Trials and Pilots – List of NFC Enabled Phones List of NFC Enabled Phones Apple Patents referring to NFC Apple Patents

Security and privacy – FTC December 2010 Staff ReportStaff Report – Collin Mulliner’s NFC security research web page and NinjaCon presentationweb pageNinjaCon presentation – Intrepidus Group webinar “NFC for N00bs” (Oct 21!)“NFC for N00bs” – MasterCard statement on Google Wallet securitystatement