When a friend in the property industry approached us and explained that he had problems with tracking keys, we were pretty certain we could help. He explained that he was looking for simple software that used barcodes to quickly identify keys, and yet he was surprised to discover the software was not available.
Our first stop was traditional barcodes. Yes, they could be printed on keyfobs, and yes they would allow quick identification of keys. But, was there a better solution? We knew that web-based software that required nothing more than a web browser and internet connection would offer the busy staff in a lettings or estate office the best possible solution, but we couldn’t do this if we were using traditional barcodes.
Our next stop was 3D barcodes, or QR codes. These slightly odd grids of black squares are popping up all over the place on posters and flyers, and they can contain much more information than traditional 2D barcodes. Importantly, they can contain a web address, so we could use them for web-based software. The advantage of QR codes is also their downfall – they can be scanned by any mobile phone with a camera, but this means they take a little bit longer to scan as the mobile phone is moved around until the QR code comes into focus. Waving keyfobs in front of cameras would be possible, but still a little frustrating. The alternative of buying a dedicated scanner, like the ones on supermarket tills, was an expensive alternative.
Then came our Eureka moment – there was a new technology kid on the block, called NFC or Near Field Communication. Not a very cool name admittedly, but still a very clever technology. Small objects like credit cards or keyfobs could send information simply by holding them close to a reader. The information could be a web address. More and more devices were being built with NFC readers, from mobile phones and tablets to readers that could be plugged into a desktop or laptop. This was exactly what we needed – a quick and simple way to identify a keyring, simply by holding the keyfob over a reader. Or, as we liked to explain it, tracking keys by ‘zapping’ keys.
So, then all we had to do was build the Keyzapp software and work out a way to produce keyfobs with NFC…