Developer Creators and Online Communities Summit and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the NFC Tag
I had the privilege of attending the Developer Creators and Online Communities Summit held in Singapore from January 24th to January 27th. This event brought together tech enthusiasts and creative individuals from all around the world. Being a part of this summit was more than just a learning experience; it offered a unique platform to forge connections with people from Vietnam, Mongolia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Mauritius, among others.
A big shoutout to the organizing team for their outstanding efforts in making this summit a reality. Initially, I wondered, "Why do we even need an agenda when so many content creators and community organizers are gathered together?" However, it became evident that countless hours were invested to ensure the event was not only exceptional but also inclusive and joyful.
One night this week, my wife asked me, "After a busy day, how do you still seem to be full of energy?" I replied, "I guess I overcharged myself last week. So much energy." 🔋
To make our meeting more memorable, I've prepared some small gifts — NFC Tags (officially known as NTAG215. You can buy it on Amazon). Although these cards are not widely known by the public, mainstream iOS and Android smartphones can both read and write information to them through an app. This enables sharing of contact cards, URLs, sending text messages, and even launching iOS Shortcuts to perform complex tasks, perfectly demonstrating the fusion of technology and creativity.
NFC Tags, based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, can store information and interact with devices equipped with NFC capabilities. These cards utilize NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format) to store up to 504 bytes of data, and they are rewritable, making them akin to tiny flash drives. For gamers, an exciting feature of NTAG215 cards is their compatibility with Nintendo Switch Amiibo figures. This allows for the creation of custom Amiibo cards that store favorite game characters and data, eliminating the need to carry physical figures.
I use an iOS app named NFC.cool Tools for writing information to them. My knowledge of the Android ecosystem is limited, but I'm confident you can find a suitable tool. Once you've written the information to an NFC card, you can read it with your smartphone. Check out the demo video:
If you're looking to dive deeper into NFC or Bluetooth technology, I think the Flipper Zero is an insanely cool gadget worth considering!
Last but not least, I use Insta360 to record the Gardens by the Bay and the Light & Water Show. You can check out the videos: