Exploring methods to repurpose items within your household is consistently a beneficial practice. There is a rationale behind why individuals retain gadgets long after they have ceased to be functional. I am certain I am not alone in possessing an outdated phone that has remained unused for years, tucked away in a drawer, or a collection of cords and chargers that are incompatible with any of my current devices.
A similar observation can be made regarding your expired credit cards. Typically, when a credit card reaches its expiration date, it is advisable to cut it up and dispose of it. For many, it becomes redundant as it can no longer facilitate purchases. However, due to advancements in technology, your old expired credit card can be revitalized. All it requires is a bit of creativity to repurpose it within your smart home.
Your credit cards use NFC technology
It's one of the best ways to use a credit card
You may have recently visited a store and used your credit card to make a payment by tapping it on the machine. This method is arguably the most prevalent way to pay in person nowadays. The necessity to swipe your card has largely disappeared in most retail locations, making this method of payment more convenient than even withdrawing cash from your wallet.
This convenience is attributed to Near Field Communication, commonly known as NFC. This technology facilitates the tap-to-pay functionality between your credit card and the payment terminal. A microchip embedded within the credit card emits a signal via a small antenna, transmitting your encrypted payment information to the terminal. You will notice a contactless symbol, which consists of curved lines that resemble waves being transmitted.
The payment terminal at the store or merchant captures the radio waves emitted by your card, processing your purchase and advancing the transaction. The same principle applies when you utilize a stored credit or debit card on your smartphone, tapping it on a terminal, utilizing services such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. This feature is available on most modern smartphones, including both Android and iPhone devices.
The entire process operates seamlessly due to the robust encryption of the transferred data. The act of tapping generates a unique tag that is exchanged between the devices. This tag is non-reusable, ensuring that your transaction is recorded with that specific identifier.
Using NFC technology in other ways
Setting up smart home automations is a fun one
Another application of NFC technology is the establishment of home automations within your residence. Utilizing an application such as the Shortcuts app on an iPhone allows you to configure automations for your smart home devices.
An NFC tag can act as a trigger for these smart home automations. Most of these automations follow an If/Then structure, indicating that when one event occurs, another will follow. This is the primary function of devices like motion sensors, which detect movement and subsequently initiate another action.
Similarly, tapping your phone on an NFC tag can activate another event. Whether you have smart plugs, lights, locks, or simply wish to enhance the functionality of an app on your phone, tapping an NFC tag can facilitate this.
Purchasing NFC tags is an effective method to establish various actions throughout your home. You can position different tags in various locations and assign each one a unique action.
A practical approach would be to place one near your bed to switch your phone to Do Not Disturb mode before sleeping. By tapping your phone on a light switch while ascending the stairs, you can illuminate the bedroom at the end of the hallway, thus avoiding the need to navigate the stairs in darkness.
There are countless ways to integrate your NFC tags, as these relatively inexpensive accessories offer limitless possibilities. However, if you prefer not to invest in them, your old credit cards can fulfill the same function.
Set up your credit cards for home automations
ust a simple tap can get the same result
Given that an NFC tag operates using the same technology as your phone when utilizing tap-to-pay, you can repurpose an old credit card as a tag for your smart home. I had an expired Visa card that I no longer needed. Therefore, I decided to repurpose it for automation.
During the setup of a New Automation in Shortcuts on an iPhone, you can choose NFC as the trigger for your action. The system will prompt you to Scan, indicating that you should tap your phone's reader (located at the top of your device) against an NFC tag. By tapping it on the credit card, the NFC technology is activated, establishing a connection between your phone and the credit card for the trigger.
I configured it to Run Immediately whenever my phone tapped this credit card. Subsequently, I programmed it so that a tap on the credit card would activate a smart light situated in the corner of my room. I positioned the credit card on my desk so that when my office began to dim due to the setting sun, I could tap my phone on that card, causing the lamp in the corner to illuminate. Since I do not have a smart speaker in my office, my options were either to manually turn the light on or to access the manufacturer's app to do so.
Tapping my phone on the credit card provides a significantly quicker method to brighten the room as it darkens. This approach is also preferable to using a smart plug with that lamp.
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