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In recent TV ads for Samsung Galaxy smartphones, two actors exchange a music playlist simply by tapping their phones together. This quick and easy method for exchanging information is enabled by Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. It isn’t a particularly prevalent feature on smartphones yet. But given NFC’s functionality—it is particularly useful for applications like secure contactless payment—it seems likely to be a ubiquitous feature on smartphones in the future.
From magazines to signs at the local supermarket checkout line, QR codes, those little square boxes of dotted patterns, are everywhere these days. Here’s how you can use them in school.
As part of the preparation for the upcoming LJ Virtual Tech Summit on December 8, The Digital Shift has been featuring interviews with some of the panelists (including Darien Library’s Gretchen Caserotti and Brigham Young University’s Michael Whitchurch). Most recently, LJ touched base with Nate Hill, web librarian at San José Public Library, CA, to discuss mobile tech in libraries.
As part of the preparation for the upcoming LJ Virtual Tech Summit on December 8, The Digital Shift is featuring interviews with some of the panelists. First up is Michael Whitchurch, chair of the Learning Commons Department in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, who will take part in a panel on “Mobile Apps: What Do Users Need?” LJ asked Whitchurch a few questions about QR codes and other mobile trends in libraries.
