NFC demo gains consumer spotlight

Near field communication is set to reach mass audiences at the largest consumer electronics show on earth - CES in Las Vegas.

For the first time, NFC - or near field communication - is set to reach mass audiences at the largest consumer electronics show on earth, CES in Las Vegas (8th to 11th January 2007).

UK firm, Innovision Research and Technology, which is leading the NFC charge with one of the fastest growing dedicated NFC engineering design teams in the industry, will use the popularity of the event to demonstrate the unique capabilities of a technology which will enable two devices to communicate wirelessly - simply by touch.

Part of the NFC Forum TechZone in the Sands Exhibit Hall (Booth 70628) and a participant in the Showstopper's Event, Innovision, which is a principal member of the NFC Forum and chairs the NFC Tags and Formats Working Group, will allow visitors to see the latest NFC working demos, including the so-called smart poster.

According to Innovision's Business Development Director, Marc Borrett, the smart poster application, more than any other, will really bring the capabilities of NFC to life, showing how communication using technology will become as intuitive as touch.

"Touch is the new click".

"Its beauty lies in its simplicity and flexibility - by integrating an NFC tag into an everyday object, like a bus-stop timetable for example, individuals can simply touch their NFC-enabled device, such as a mobile phone, against the tag and receive the latest bus times for their chosen destination".

"This demonstrates the specificity of NFC - specific information, where you need it, when you need it".

Innovision is also planning to demonstrate its "tag in a box" application with an NFC-enabled mobile phone and range of NFC tags, showing multiple user benefits, but without significantly higher costs.

The first tag will be preprogrammed with the user manual; the second with partner information (such as a ring tone or wallpaper).

The third tag will be programmable, allowing the user to programme the tag themselves with their own phone number or other personal information.

The company's Topaz is one of only three proprietary tag types to be mandated by the NFC Forum.

According to Borrett: "Straightforward applications like the smart poster and 'tag in box' are likely to be popular with visitors to the Innovision booth, because they really highlight the simplicity and relevance of this exciting technology".

But, he adds: "The opportunities are endless".

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