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My principal interest in mobile applications is to push the boundaries of innovation to create uniquely mobile experiences. I hope my blogs excite and challenge developers to think 'outside the box'.

Is the power of touch rising in the East?

coultonp | 24 August, 2006 18:40

I have been writing up a paper on the experiences of a number of users who have used the touch interface on RFID/NFC enabled mobile phones during three of my mixed reality games (thanks again to Nokia for the phones and SDK). As part of the background for the paper  I came across a news item from a couple of week ago saying that NTT DoCoMo in Japan has now shipped over 5 million RFID enabled mobile phones for use with the Train System. I see similar programs are afoot in Korea and I am told by one of my ex PhD students that the possibilties for RFID enabled phones is gaining considerable interest in China.  In the West we seem to be moving at a much slower pace in terms of the technology infiltrating the consciousness of the general public. This seems a pity given that Nokia released the first commercially available device and IMO this technology has enormous potential not only for payments and delivery systems but in partially realising the vision of the so-called internet of things. Is the West in some way more worried about security? Is it down to our greater use of the car than public transport? Is it simply lack of widespread handsets? Or do we just fear change? Thoughts anyone?

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Re: Is the power of touch rising in the East?

Nokia Ron | 24/08/2006, 19:11

Nokia Ron I think we have a mild paranoia in the West, especially in the US with taking our cash away and just having plastic. Perhaps it is the paper trail that plastic leaves, perhaps it is a fear of the end times prophesies

But like you I see a lot of promise in this technology, being able to download cash from your bank to use with vending machines and toll booths is a lot more secure than standing in a ATM line where anyone can look over your shoulder and see your PIN.

I had RFID/NFC chips put in my dogs as soon as they were large enough. Still they are not going to get a phone attached to them, no matter how much they howl. :)

Ron

Re: Is the power of touch rising in the East?

coultonp | 25/08/2006, 13:06

coultonp Ron

I think you are right about paranoia playing its part which seems a pity as I see having you phone charged up like a travel card which you could also make small purchases as very liberating and I am amazed when I visit Japan how far the use as gone and how integrated it is.

Perhaps it will just take time to reach this sort of acceptance in the West and with the growing acceptance for schemes like the oyster card in London for the tube this may speed the process.

Maybe it would be nice to be able to read youre dogs tag from the phone it could them phone home if it got lost!

Re: Is the power of touch rising in the East?

kevinauthor | 25/08/2006, 21:52

Paul,
There's a real privacy backlash against RFID in the West. It's one of the reasons the NFC folks are adamant about not calling their interface RFID. I've spent a lot of years in the supply chain space, and the transition of RFID from a back-office, carton-tracking technology to an item-level, consumer-carrying technology is a big problem. Partly because of paranoia -- what if some antenna could read my underwear size? Partly because of bad decisions of early adopters who just added the technology without informing their customers about it.

But I think most of it comes down to a concern about data aggregation, and I must say I share some of those concerns about privacy. To me, though, it's always been an issue of data management and regulation, not one of data acquisition technology. As the former employees of AOL can attest, even the most common of acquisition technologies can cause problems if the holders of the information aren't diligent.

BTW -- welcome back, I've missed your posts. Been out earning a living, or off having your summer holiday?

Re: Is the power of touch rising in the East?

coultonp | 29/08/2006, 14:38

coultonp Kevin

I agree that a lot of concerns are related to how the data is used and managed. I also think we need to better educate the populous about the realities of what information can be obtained and what is really at risk. There are a lot of scare stories that dont bear much in the way of reality for NFC and we need to get this across

I also find it amusing that that people are so concerned over a technology that would best be used in relation to micro-payments with fairly small credit limits but I regularly get requests from airlines and hotels to send my credit card number via email!

Glad to know I was missed! I have been on Holiday and unusually the west coast of Scotland was bathed in sunshine so I stayed a bit longer than planned. Also I have had a number of conferences to go to which has kept me occupied but I will get back to my postings.
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