EP 201 - Tap, Pay, and Play: The NFC Forum's Guide to Contactless Technology
In this episode of the Industrial IoT Spotlight podcast, Erik Walenza of IoT ONE hosts Mike McCamon from the NFC Forum to explore the future of NFC technology. We explore how IoT device manufacturers are collaborating to drive the rapid development of NFC standards and technical capabilities. These efforts led to the NFC Forum’s recent release of its next gen technology development roadmap, which includes power harvesting, range extension, device-to- device connectivity, multi-tap use cases, and digital product passports for sustainability. Mike shares his vision for the potential of NFC beyond payments, such as in access control for building and data sharing between IoT devices. He also shares critical challenges yet to overcome, such as the need for improved user experience and range to simplify the design process for OEMs. Five elements of the NFC Forum's technology development roadmap: power harvesting, range extension, device-to-device connectivity, multi-tap use cases, and digital product passports Potential applications of NFC technology beyond payment transactions, including access control, digital keys, and business card exchanges NFC's role in car connectivity and potential use in tracking high-value items through blockchain technology Disruption of QR code-based payment systems by NFC technology in retail environments About Mike McCamon Mike McCamon is a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience in the tech industry. He is currently the Executive Director of the NFC Forum, an industry association dedicated to advancing NFC, standards and use cases. Under his leadership, the NFC Forum has grown to include over 300 member companies from all over the world. Demonstrating a wide range of skills and passions he has been both the inaugural executive director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and later on the executive team that launched Water.org. He also led high-growth teams at Apple, Iomega, Intel and several startups. He is a frequent speaker and author on technology and social impact topics. About the NFC Forum The NFC Forum, established in 2004, is a non-profit industry association comprised of leading mobile communications, semiconductor, and consumer electronics companies. Its mission is to advance the use of Near Field Communication technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability, and educating the market about NFC technology. The NFC Forum's global member companies share skills, technical expertise and industry knowledge to develop specifications and protocols for interoperable data exchange, device-independent service delivery, and device capability. Forum’s supporting certification program and user marks enhance and promote a consistent, reliable, seamless and secure NFC user experience. To learn more about joining the Forum, visit https://nfc-forum.org/