NFC technology being used for more than commerce
There are many uses for NFC technology that extend beyond the world of commerce. Before the technology became the backbone of mobile commerce, for instance, it was used in marketing to provide consumers with engaging experiences. Now, the technology is becoming more popular in the world of security because of its uses in access control. Ironically, NFC technology is currently surrounded by controversy concerning its security and how it can be easily exploited. The security industry has only ever seen these concerns justified in regards to commerce, however, meaning that the technology may be well suited for other purposes.
NFC-enabled sleeves serve as new form of access control
Both the University of San Francisco and the Villanova University have launched pilot projects concerning NFC technology and access control. These projects make use of NFC-enabled sleeves for an iPhone, developed by Ingresoll Rand. These sleeves are meant to provide students with access to certain areas of a campus as well as allow them to make use of some of the amenities that can be found therein. Thus far, students have shown a great deal of support for the NFC-sleeves now donning their smart phones and want to see more NFC services pop up around campus.
Sleeves currently only available for iPhone device
The sleeves contain an NFC chip that facilitates wireless data transfer between a mobile device and an NFC terminal. Currently, the sleeves are only available for iPhones, which is somewhat ironic due to Apple’s abandonment of NFC technology announced earlier this month. The reaction toward the project coming from students has been overwhelmingly positive, which may mean Ingresoll Rand will develop NFC-enabled sleeves for other mobile devices in the future.
Response from students has been positive
Students from both universities reportedly “love” the system. NFC has offered them a way to access areas in a more efficient manner and has removed the need for ID cards that had been used for access control for several years. The NFC sleeves are also more easily attained than the typical ID cards, as students do not have to wait for the card itself to be fabricated and linked to their information.
