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NFC Tags Ideas – All You Need To Know

While lots of people believe, the use of these NFC tags is restricted to Android Pay and small automation tasks such as modifying your mobile settings, I believe that it depends on everyone’s creativity. Therefore in this guide, I have made a list of some amazing uses of NFC Tags.

Before We Start:

If you know about NFC and NFC tags, you can avoid this section, but if you don’t know anything else about it, then you must know them in order to use them effectively.

NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It is a technology that is used to share data between two NFC compatible devices. It’s quite similar to Bluetooth, however, besides Bluetooth, there is no pairing process and you can then use NFC for Mobile Payments.

Another amazing app of this tech is NFC Tags. They are also available in different sizes, shapes, and memory. However, these Tags are not bigger than a coin and it can hold around some kilobytes of data. Also, they are rewritable which means that you can use the same tags for various purposes by removing the earlier content.

Amazing NFC Tags Ideas:

Automate Sleep Mode With NFC

Automate Sleep Mode With NFC

Using Apps such as NFC Tools, you can then program the NFC Tags to disable Wi-Fi, disable Bluetooth, enable silent profile, and then open the alarm app for the sleep mode. And then put the ‘NFC tag’ near your bed.

I use this for two main reasons, at first, it saves the battery, and then it ensures a sound night’s sleep. If you want, you can then program the NFC tag to toggle the setting in the morning. So whenever you wake up, you can reverse the changes with a single tap.

Connect Bluetooth Device With NFC

Bluetooth accessories become very common. But the issue with Bluetooth devices is the hard pairing process, which often spoils the mood. While lots of Bluetooth devices these days, have inbuilt NFC, in case yours don’t, you can resolve that with NFC tags.

Apps such as BT tag writer can save the pairing information in NFC tags and then put the tags near speakers. Now when you like to play music just click the tags and you are easily connected within seconds.

Pay Bills Using NFC

Pay Bills Using NFC

Although bill payment is a huge function of NFC it also deserves to be added to this list, as it’s useful. You don’t want to carry your purse, with NFC PayPass you can then pay directly from your NFC turned on mobile. And the best thing is the merchant has no access to your bank account or credit card.  If you have NFC turned on a credit card, it’s also better, just take the wallet out, wave the wallet over the pad put the wallet back in the pocket.

There are lots of saves in Japan, the US, and even India, that are now accepting NFC payment.

Track Your Car mileage

You can keep a record of your car mileage and then calculate your budget with the help of MyLog mileage logbook. However, the app work with NFC tags, which you can put in your car and then calculate your daily cost and your vehicle mileage.

Use NFC in Your Car

Program NFC tags to open Google Maps, enable the Bluetooth, plug your mobile to your entertainment system while disabling the Wi-Fi. And similarly, revert back the modification before you leave the car.

Set Smart Alarm Via NFC

Set Smart Alarm Via NFC

If you fight to get out of your bed, then try this. Using apps such as Sleep as Android you can then set an alarm that will only go OFF whenever you scan an NFC tag.  Of course, it’s the best idea to put NFC tags away from your bed like in the washroom or living area. In case, when the alarm goes off, just get up from your bed and then walk all the way to the NFC tag to disable it. Another benefit of using the app is a smart alarm, which wakes you up whenever you are in your lightest sleep phase.

Emergency Call/Text

If you have kids who can’t type or if you just like to know if your kids reached home safely, while you are in the office. You can then program NFC tags to share with you a Mail/SMS on your number and then teach your kids to just click their home phone on the NFC tag. There are many apps that you can use to program NFC tags.

Use NFC To Call Mom

call mom

Well, all love our parents but often forget to call her. But you don’t need to wait till mother days to call her. Just program NFC tags to make your calls to your loved ones and then keep the tag near the Fridge or Photo Stand or something. So the next time whenever you view their picture, just wave your mobile over it, and there you go.

Foursquare checking

Wouldn’t it seems cool when your customer can update foursquare check-ins by just clicking their mobiles to your menu card or the reception desk? On the other hand, if you have a small business, you can then use NFC tags to ask your customers for Google Maps reviews.

Leave Secret Message

Leave Secret Message

Useful when you like to leave a note to your friend but don’t like to make it public simply by writing it on a piece of paper. However, program your NFC tags using your ‘secret message’ via applications such as NFC Writer and then share the NFC tag, to your friend or hide it someplace private. You can then record your voice message and save it in your NFC tags.

Organize Or Manage Junks Via NFC tags

If you have lots of boxes in your house and you don’t need to open each one of them to view what’s inside, you can then use NFC tags to save its index and stick it on the box. However, you can then write it down on a paper, but then everyone can view it and it won’t be as much fun. Overall, this can be very helpful whenever you are moving your houses.

Connect Or Disconnect Wi-Fi Connection

Connect Or Disconnect Wi-Fi Connection

I can use it while working on projects that need good focus, and I don’t want to get distracted by Facebook or WhatsApp notification.

However, I have programmed my NFC tags to toggle Wi-Fi so when I want to focus on some tasks, I put my mobile over the NFC tag to disable Wi-Fi and when I complete my tasks, I put it back again to come back to normal mode.

Share Wi-Fi without sharing Password

Quite identical to iOS, the newest Android Q will allow you to share your WiFi without sharing any password. But until then, you can then use NFC tags for your guests.

Applications such as InstaWiFi allows you to share your Wi-Fi password via NFC. Or if you don’t like to ask your friend to install or download an app then you can just write down your Wi-Fi password on the NFC tag and put it near your Router.

Start Tasker task

Start Tasker task

Tasker is an Android app that allows you to automate Android’s task-based on location, apps, or profile. It’s very powerful that it allows you to create your own app with Tasker without doing any coding. And later you can trigger these tasks using NFC tags via trigger application.

For instance, just create a tasker task, to push your recent tab in chrome to your PC. And set the trigger with the NFC tags. So, here’s how it gonna seems like, just walk to your PC, click the tag, and resume whatever you were searching for your mobile to the bigger screen.

Unlock your door

NFC can be put to best use for tasks like unlocking or locking your door. For instance, you can then use Lockitron to unlock your door by just clicking your device on it. The best part is, it doesn’t want wiring your door and works with home Wi-Fi and want an AA battery for power.

Start PC With Your Smartphone

Another amazing app of NFC is booting your computer using NFC (Wake on LAN). Just, wave your mobile on your laptop both under the same network. This is done by sharing data packets from mobile to laptop via NFC over the LAN.

NFC Turns On Loyalty Cards

NFC Turns On Loyalty Cards

NFC is not limited to mobiles or phones payment. There is a limitless possibility using NFC, one is loyalty cards. These cards can be used to track or record customer preference, offer him discounts.

And since they can understand customer’s purchasing schedules, we can then use this to serve the best promotional offers or Advertisements. This technology not just makes customer life better but also advantages the advertisers.

How NFC Control Your Surrounding

Some NFC tags, automation hardware such as WeMo you can simply hack your room light. You can enable or disable light from anywhere using the same Wi-Fi network. Another best example is the Philips Hue system that uses its own HTTP server executing.

NFC in Smart posters

NFC in Smart posters

Smart posters are the integration of movie posters or NFC tags to make it more attractive for users. A user can just watch the trailer simply by adding his mobile to the smart movie poster and it will redirect them directly to the YouTube trailer or to their Fb page where he can leave his review.

NFC In Smart Cards

It can make life easier or simpler for those who forget to take their business card with them. Using NFC smart cards you don’t have to fret about carrying your cards with you. You can also share your Card, name, website URL, or company Fb page with a single tap.

A company can also provide you smart cards to their employer which contains access codes or personal data. You can also use the free app known as NFC by MOO for writing information on your smart card.

Conclusion:

Like I said at the start of this guide, with NFC possibilities are endless. After using a microcontroller such as Arduino, you can just control any electrically operate machines such as a heater, toaster, also your coffee maker using an NFC radio shield.

For further queries and questions let us know below!

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Alex Joshua

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