SmartTouch

Infobox Software
name = SmartTouch



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website = [http://www.smarttouch.org www.smarttouch.org]

SmartTouch is a project that developes and demonstrates new and innovative mobile services, which are as easy and intuitive use as touch.  

The user interface is based on Near Field Communication(NFC) technology and creates opportunities for new, user-friendly applications, transactions and communications. Examples of these appicationes could be to pay a soft drink simply by touching the vending machine with the mobile phone or to send a picture to television with the mere fact of touching the screenpaying with the camera.

SmartTouch has been funded under the European ITEA research program for the period of 2006 to 2008.

Introduction to SmartTouch

Mobility has become an essential part of our lives, and will remain so increasingly. The vision of the future of mobile equipment includes a natural interaction between people and digital devices in their daily lives. People will have all kinds of intelligent devices, and organizations that bring added value will present the possibility to seize opportunities to build new businesses.

SmartTouch project's vision is to prepare the way for businesses that use RFID (radio frequency identification ) and NFC . The objective is to conceive, design, build and test the key points that are needed to develop key concepts that bring value in each of the businesses.

SmartTouch members research and develop the technology, privacy and security features, and specifications and test systems for new services. In addition, the SmartTouch project will work to disseminate their results and the use of NFC technology.

NFC in SmartTouch

Touch to Connect

With NFC we will be able to pick up information from our environment. NFC allows mobile devices to read information stored in NFC-tags on everyday objects. For example posters, bus stop signs, street signs, medicines, certificates, food packaging and many more.

By adding NFC-tags to posters and magazine advertisements, readers can access existing mobile services like hotlines, sms and network or internet based content and services with their NFC phone.

Touch to Pay

NFC provides for contactless tickets and cards to be held in handsets like the Nokia 6131 NFC. Instead of carrying transport tickets, loyalty and credit cards separately, consumers can choose to store several cards in their NFC-enabled mobile phone. The Nokia 6131 NFC holds a similar functionality found in standard contactless smart cards that are used worldwide in credit cards and tickets for public transit systems.

Once an application, for example a credit card, has been securely provisioned to the NFC enabled phone, customers can pay by simply waving their phone at a point-of-sale reader. At the same time the NFC-handset offers enhanced security as each transaction requires a separate user confirmation. For additional convenience a transaction history is easily at hand and consumers can take part in several loyalty programs without sacrificing space in their wallet.

Payment and ticketing applications will be stored in a secure element in the NFC device. The secure element is a smart card chip capable of storing multiple applications, e.g. SIM card, secure memory card or an additional embedded smart card chip in the NFC device.

Touch to Ticket

Contactless tickets start a new era for transport and event ticketing with their speed and flexibility. With NFC-enabled mobile phones, consumers can buy tickets, receive them on their handset and then go through “fast track” turnstiles while others wait. A balance can be checked online or tickets can be updated remotely.

Additional information can be made readily available for consumers for instance by bringing an NFC-enabled phone close to a sign with NFC-tag to quickly download a public transport timetable.

Touch to trigger events

With NFC technology users can avoid the use of menus, uncomfortable keyboards, Bluetooth activation and deactivation, connection of devices...The user only need to touch the tag and the event will be triggered.

By touching tags, NFC devices can auto-configure its interface or synchronize the exchange of data between them.

SmartTouch scenarios

The scenarios proposed in SmartTouch can be divided in three areas:
* City life
* Home
* Wellness

Here are some of the scenarios proposed in each area

City life

martParking

The service allows the user to make parking payment by touching parking tags with a mobile phone.

Restaurant Pannu

In Restaurant Pannu you can order lunch meals with your NFC phone. With this functionality it is possible to realize fast-track ordering during the busy lunch hours. You have a Pannu application in your NFC phone, you touch a table tag first and then the menu list with tags to collect your order. Then you send this order to the mediator system, which will deliver the order to the restaurant cash system and kitchen.

Home

Infoposter for pupils

Touching the infoposter with an NFC phone, pupils get an individual daily school timetable and possible classroom changes. They are also able to receive updated location info, for example where physical education will be held, information from healthcare and homework.

Auto-Adaptive Remote Controller

The basic idea of the auto-adaptive remote controller is to use a high-portable device (mobile phone, PDA or Ultra mobile PC) as remote controller of a wide range of domestic appliances. The typical scenario would be a user wanting to manage a domestic appliance at home. He will only have to touch one appliance tag with the NFC-reader enabled mobile device and the touch-sensitive interface of the remote controller will be auto-configured. Then he will be able to interact with the selected appliance.

Family Pinboard

The “Family pinboard” instead of using paper and pins, uses the mobile phone to send notes, lists, appointments and pictures by touching a tag with the phone. Moreover, a new functionality is provided: each member of the family can exchange personal messages that will be written and read on his mobile phone.

Wellness

Meal service for elderly people

A touch-based user interface was embedded into a meal-menu, which was used by the elderly home-care clients to order meal for the following day.