NFCs and Smart Campuses on Biteable.
Exploring the ‘explainer video’ format and Biteable as a production tool
Explainer videos are short (1-2 minutes) and typically have a strong call-to-action, perfect for mobile media digestion and this project. My first attempt was with Adobe Spark, but I found the timings and layouts restrictive. Video clips were 30 seconds or less, too short to break down a concept as complex as NFCs.
I checked out the free version of Biteable, as an alternative and was pleasantly surprised by its library of animations and ease of use. As a web developer, I’m more comfortable with front-end code than with video timelines and frames. The interface was intuitive and responsive; I didn’t find the added watermark (that comes with free plans) intrusive to the viewing experience. Each clip is limited to 80 characters, so you need to plan your content ahead of time. I created a rough storyboard and outline, which helped keep production moving.
Why the interest in near field technology and smart campuses?
I think of near field communications (NFCs) as the understated member of the mobile technology family. Yet, I was surprised by how saturated NFC is in our existing technological ecosystem.
According to the NFC Forum (2019):
Two billion NFC-enabled devices like a smartphone are in use today (IHS). In other words, 20%+ of the world’s population have access to NFC.
The technology may not be as flashy as augmented reality or games, but they enhance the connection between physical objects, spaces and virtual experiences. We’ve already seen evidence of NFCs in retail, with contactless payment transactions such as Apple Wallet or Google Pay. I wanted to dig deeper into how NFCs could change the student experience, when integrated into a larger smart community, or in this case, a connected, smart campus.
References
Bhattacharya, R. (2014). Near Field Communications: How NFC Can Assist the Visually Impaired. User Experience Magazine, 14(1). Retrieved from http://uxpamagazine.org/near-field-communications/
Center for Digital Education. (2018). The Connected Campus Has Arrived [White paper]. Retrieved from https://media.erepublic.com/document/CDE18_WHITE_PAPER_Cisco-HigherEd_V.pdf
Deloitte. (2019). Smart campus: The next-generation connected campus [White paper] Retrieved from https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/strategy/the-next-generation-connected-campus-deloitte.pdf
Jimena Medina, I., Gómez-Luque, M. A., Peña Amaro, J., Luque Ruiz, I., & Gómez-Nieto, M. A. (2019). HistoNFC: An innovative tool for the practical teaching of histology using NFC technology. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, 2019. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1291364
Koczera, P. (2019, August 28). Smart City and Smart Campus Collaborations Move Communities Forward. EdTech: Focus on Higher Education. Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2019/08/smart-city-and-smart-campus-collaborations-move-communities-forward
Blue Bite. (2020, June 4). The State of NFC in 2020. The Complete Guide to NFC. Retrieved from https://www.bluebite.com/nfc/the-state-of-nfc-in-2020
Zimmerman, E. (2019, March 29). Higher Education Invests in Wi–Fi Technology for Smart Campus Projects. EdTech: Focus on Higher Education. Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2019/03/higher-education-invests-wi-fi-technology-smart-campus-projects-perfcon
Zimmerman, E. (2018, December 21). Near-Field Communication Technology Supports Contactless Student ID at Universities. EdTech: Focus on Higher Education. Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2018/12/near-field-communication-technology-supports-contactless-student-id-universities-perfcon
Note: this video was designed and produced, as a student assignment for the UBC Master of Educational Technology program, ETEC523: Mobile and Open Learning course.