Here’s a classic example of unhelpful technology! This is a sign at a bus stop inside a Seniors Independent Living centre. Even I didn’t immemdiately know how to use it, and I’ve worked with computers and technology for the last 40 years!
What does it mean? At a glance, you read it as “Tap here” (even I missed that that meant “tap your PHONE” here). What should happen if I tap my phone there??? Nothing happens!
It turns out this only works if your phone is “NFC enabled” – and some aren’t. NFC means “near field communcation” – it allows two devices to talk to each other, without you having to do anything else – just move them within 4 cms of each other). A more familiar example of NFC is making payments with your phone or credit card, using “Tap and Go”.
This is how it SHOULD work, if your phone is NFC enabled. If it’s not, nothing at all will happen, and you can assume your phone is not NFC enabled.
