It's called a forcing function, similar to when you need to confirm emptying your trash, or get a prompt when attempting to closing a file without saving. It's practical in that it works across several applications, all you need to do is confirm.
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It's called a forcing function, similar to when you need to confirm emptying your trash, or get a prompt when attempting to closing a file without saving. It's practical in that it works across several applications, all you need to do is confirm.
But does it really need that. IE - on some automated phone systems - like when you call AMEX, etc - they don't require a button to be pressed. It either listens for a pause and/or repeats it back and asks you to confirm with a yes or no.
Yes, but automated phone systems don't pick up sound that is not part of the conversation. You confirm your intention by calling it in the first place, at the very least you would have to enable/disable the system, or you will have to be quiet. Anyway it's an off topic discussion and I think it's usefulness will become clearer when there is actual hands on experience of it.
NFC could be useful for small things that the normal person might not care about, like towel tracking as you suggested.
But the vast majority of consumers interested in NFC has been for payment systems.
This is an example of what everybody fears (another proof-of-concept NFC encryption crack):
http://www.emsec.rub.de/media/crypto/veroeffentlichungen/2011/10/10/desfire_2011_extended_1.pdf
NFC is more than payments for a consumer. Imagine not having to use red laser - but instead just hold your phone up to an item to get a list of vendors/prices that sell the same item. Or book reviews. Or being able to immediately see if the clothing item you see at the store comes in your size, other colors, etc.
Then there's also walking into a store and being offered discounts/coupons based on what aisle you're in.
Lots of uses for the consumer aside from JUST payments.
You act like NFC is some new untested technology. It's not. Its proven and been in use for a long time in places like Japan.
Correct, but how many generic items ship with chips installed? Not many.
How many have bar codes that do the same thing? Almost everything. And our phones can already read these.
I'm fully aware of what NFC is and can be used for, but shipping 10 million phones with NFC readers won't magically make every box contain a rfid tag.
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Since you didn't read earlier, I'm fully aware of what NFC is. And how old it is.
I've been to Japan. And last time I was there for 2 weeks, I almost bought a Suica too. And I have a Nexus S. And I've even compiled several of the NFC demo apps for it.
NFC has proven itself in Japan as a payment method. NFC on phones has not yet.
Well duh, its only on one phone. NFC works great especially when you have to stand in line anyways.
One phone? No. One Android phone now, perhaps.
Here's a press release marking 1 million NFC enabled handsets in 2004.
http://www.nttdocomo.com/pr/2004/001228.html
Of which there are 5 in 2004. I believe the SH506iC was the one I rented in 2009.
In 2008, NFC Forum says 74 million NFC capable handsets in Japan. 100+ models of phones.
http://www.nfc-forum.org/resources/white_papers/NFC_Forum_Mobile_NFC_Ecosystem_White_Paper.pdf
Given the number of deployed handsets, I'm quite surprised the usage of NFC on phones, appears to me as nonexistent. On the other hand, QRCode usage is totally off the charts.