RFID and mobile technology in learning

We have got numerous and various examples of social softwares, groupwares, mobile and digital television medias already available in front of us. Some have been used for learning while others only for fun. I do not think that we should add by creating another similar one, instead we should consider combine or hybrid them into a new one.

Designing a mobile learning system that incorporates RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, social software and digital television for both formal and informal learning sounds very challenging.

The use of RFID and mobile technology has opened up different possibilities how to make business better and life easier and more comfortable. The potentials for learning are certainly there. Yet, they just need to be investigated further.

In Tokyo, people can use their “wallet phone”, an RFID-enabled mobile phone, as a train pass, as their money to make a transaction, as a means to get updated information and discount coupons from the “bookmarked” local stores in the neighborhood.

In Korea, people have a possibility to read a book in a futuristic apartment without flipping it from a large screen equipped with RFID.

RFID and mobile technology has also been investigated for edutainment in the Museum of Natural History in Denmark.

Nokia has launched its first product that supports Near Field Communication (NFC), an emerging RFID technology, which was claimed to be the first in the world, in 2004. There are nowadays more RFID phone product lines being launched. This fact certainly contributes to a greater worldwide opportunity of new media learning.