Apple has announced details relating to IOS 11 will have support to allow iPhones to read NFC tags and NDEF messages! This means that all iPhone 7 and newer will be able to read NFC tags just like Android.

Since 2010 Android devices have had the ability to read NFC tags but Apple have been resilient in blocking any advance in this area. The iPhone 6 was the first iPhone to incorporate a NFC scanner but this was specifically tied down so it would only work with ApplePay. But now there is a seachange at Apple HQ where they have now opened up their operating system to allow for the potential to scan a growing range of NFC enabled services.

At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, Apple gave their first hint that the use of the iPhone chip was being extended beyond ApplePay when it showed the Apple Watch syncing data with gym equipment. But a new developer document says that third-party apps will be able to use it too.

The document was first highlighted by Engadget.

"The new framework appears to let the chip in the latest iPhones read any tags – not just Apple Pay tags – and take action on them based on the phone’s location. NFC could open up more ways for iOS apps to communicate with connected devices and iPhones could also replace NFC-based keycards or transit passes like London’s Oyster card and the Bay Area’s Clipper card."

Although this is a great step forward for the NFC industry, Apple are still holding back on some of the extensive functionality offered by this technology. It appears that iPhones will only be able to read NFC tags when they are open on the phone so they will not be able to "pop up" notifications automatically when a tag is detected.

What does this mean for Tap2Tag?

So it appears that, without an app running on the iPhone, it will still not work as effectively with a Tap2Tag device as it currently does with Android phones. However it does mean that we can now start planning for a IOS Tap2Tag app as part of our development plans.

Android still represents the most popular operating system in the world. In the last quarter of 2016, 81.7% of all phones sold worldwide were Android compared to just 17.9% for iOS.

When will this be available?

You can download the new iOS 11 beta right now for iPhone 7 and later devices. The final iOS 11 release date is expected to be released this autumn.

Sources

GoToTags.com

Engadget.com

9to5Mac.com

Apple.com

On 1 June 2017 an article was published on the TechSpark news site all about Tap2Tag. It followed an initial conversation with Sam Downie, an epilepsy advocate based in Bristol, UK.

You can read the full article here.

Yorkshire based Kiroco Technology have signed an agreement with Bristol based company Tap2Tag to produce exclusive NFC wearables that have the potential to save lives.

Tap2Tag is leading the field in medical wearables producing a medical alert device that is designed to help first-responders and paramedics gain instant access to critical medical information in an emergency.

Kiroco Technology have designed and manufactured, under their patents, an exclusive NFC bracelet that Tap2Tag are now selling worldwide.

Chris Ford of Tap2Tag said “We approached Kiroco Technology as whilst we offer silicone bracelets to our customers we were looking for a more elegant piece of jewellery that people would want to wear whether just out and about or at a formal event. Also with Kiroco having the relevant patents we knew that we were working with the right people’.

Of the design and manufacture, Fiona Cartwright of Kiroco Technology said “Our design had to encompass a unisex market, be durable to withstand being worn 24/7 and have a versatile fit for varying wrist sizes.   Continuing Fiona said “Working with Chris in the medical sector highlights the importance that wearables can have in our lives and we are glad to be working together.”

Having previously appeared on Dragon’s Den, without gaining any backing, Chris has now signed up distribution in a number of countries including Canada, Australia and South Africa and will be looking to provide a choice of more elegant jewellery styles to the market place in the coming months.

CONTACT

For further information please contact:-

Kiroco             Fiona Cartwright, UK Sales & Marketing Director on 07850 641461 or email fiona@kiroco.co.uk

Tag2Tag          Chris Ford, Managing Director on 07816 822028 or email chris@tap2tag.me

ABOUT KIROCO

Kiroco Technology is a wearables company, specialising in jewellery, based in Wetherby, West Yorkshire. Leading the way with innovation in this field and with a patent portfolio Kiroco delivers smartphone interactive jewellery that incorporates an embedded, specialised communication chip. This gives the jewellery a multitude of uses e.g. sending data, activating apps, allowing messages, photos and videos to be viewed, giving access to events and buildings and making contactless payments.

Kiroco can design and manufacture NFC wearables for businesses, or a business can license to design and manufacture their own wearables.

Kiroco was set up by Nigel Townsend of Townsend Fine Jewellers, Yorkshire. He has brought together a diverse team with skills in cutting edge technology, international business, manufacturing, design, marketing and distribution, to bring brand new innovative products which will transform the wearables market.

Nigel, himself is a Master Jeweller with over 30 years of bespoke, design and production experience, is now the managing director and third generation in the family-run business, Townsends.

Kiroco launched at the Wearable Technology Conference and Expo, Olympia Conference Centre, London on Tuesday 18th March 2014.

Kiroco Technology is a multi-award winning brand: Winner - Best Innovation in Technology – Wearable Technology Show 2014; Silver – Technological Innovation – The Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Councils Awards 2015; Winner – Innovation of the Year – Packaging Awards 2013.

How it works: Smart jewellery can be used for contactless payment or can connect with an NFC reader to release data or authorize access. It can also be registered to the owner’s smartphone to create a unique connection that only activates when that piece of jewellery touches the registered phone. Businesses can use this powerful feature in lots of different ways to make their brand more engaging and secure.

Security: Kiroco Technology uses the same security as online banking systems. It allows multi factor authentication that only works by pairing jewellery with its nominated smartphone or device. Your data is safe, even if you lose your phone or your jewellery.

ABOUT TAP2TAG

Tap2Tag is about using technology to connect people. Its Tap2Tag Medical system has gained significant traction in the UK and further afield and has been received with tremendous positivity within the healthcare sector.

By simply tapping a mobile phone or other internet enabled device against one of our devices a first-responder can gain almost immediate access to a patient's medical information in the event of an emergency. It's also a great way to keep all of your medical information in one place and make it available to those that need it.

Tap2Tag is now reaching out across the world with new distribution agreements in Canada, Australia and South Africa. We are also hoping to expand the Tap2Tag system into South America and other parts of Africa too.

In addition to the Medical devices, Tap2Tag is also working on a range of new and exciting products over the coming months outside of the medical sphere. The close working relationship with Kiroco means that these products will offer a unique product range over the next 12 months.

The brand new Tap2Tag Pet Tags are now in store and we have another amazing competition for you. We are giving away 20 of these amazing little tags that are designed to keep your pet safe and sound.

The Tap2Tag Pet Care system allows an owner to register the tag to their Tap2Tag account and then assign a pet profile to it. On the profile the owner can store as much information as they like about their pet including

• Emergency contact information
• Pet's name
• Pet insurance details (including storing the actual PDF of the insurance policy)
• Internal chip number and chipping company
• Medical conditions
• Medication
• Vet's details

The owner can then choose what information is shared when someone scans the device. It can also send a text message to the emergency contacts if someone accesses the information. Furthermore, you can update the information as much as you like with no ongoing subscription. The only charge will be for the use of the SMS service.

To enter the competition simply complete the information below with a chance to win.

Small print

Competition open to those aged 18 and over. Anyone can enter but delivery address must be in the United Kingdom. Competition closes at midnight on Sunday 30 April 2017 BST. All winners will be notified by email if they have won. Those winners will have seven days in which to confirm that you wish to received the prize from the time of sending the confirmation email. There is no cash alternative. By entering the competition you are also agreeing to be contacted by Tap2Tag in the future but you will be given the opportunity to opt out of any further emails.

We shared a video from someone called Matthew who describes how to deal with an epileptic seizure. It's a personal story and aims to educate everyone about what to do and, more importantly, what NOT to do when treating someone is having a seizure.

Matthew kindly gave his permission to share this video to raise awareness and hopefully save a life.

Back in December 2015 we were contacted by a paramedic from South West Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST). Now we know that this is a while ago and we have had plenty of case studies since then, but this story reflects the power of Tap2Tag and how it saved a person's life.

The man told us that, as well as being a full blown paramedic for the NHS, he also works as a volunteer for the St John Ambulance service. As a result he often works weekends for the charity providing vital first aid cover for events needing onsite first-aiders. It was at one of these events that his story started.

"I was called to an unconscious man led on the floor. The patient's partner was screaming hysterically to those around him 'Scan his band, scan his band'. I immediately determined that the patient had no discernible pulse so I immediately called 999 to get the Blues n Twos out to the scene as soon as possible. 

The only equipment I had in the St John Ambulance was a heart rate monitor so I strapped the patient to this. It immediately became apparent that this was very serious as it was showing around 250 beats per minute. The patient was in a serious Supraventricular tachycardia (or SVT). But there was little else I could do until the fully equipped ambulance turned up. The patient's partner was still screaming 'Scan his band' so I took out my mobile phone and scanned the patient's silicone wristband.

I just couldn't believe what came up on my phone.

The patient obviously had a heart condition but he had stored so much information on his own condition it was unbelievable. He had even included a copy of his last ECG report from his consultant as a downloadable document. When the Blues 'n' Twos turned up they asked 'What have we got then?' I simply showed them my phone. It took them just 40 seconds to assimilate the information on the patient and within a couple of minutes he was in the back of the ambulance on on his way to A&E.

Now the treatment that the patient received would not have been changed but the time it took to gather the relevant data was incredible. It normally takes between 30 minutes and an hour to gather this information and would have been made more difficult as the patient's partner was so distraught. Just getting the patient's name and date of birth would have been difficult.

The time saved in getting the patient into the ambulance and off to A&E probably saved his life."

Imagine having to rely on a loved one to remember all of your medication in the event of an emergency. That's a lot of responsibility you are placing on their shoulders when they will be very distressed and worried about your health.

So we have marked this down as another life saved by Tap2Tag and at least another convert from the emergency healthcare community.

Tap2Tag has become part of my DNA. I think that anyone who invents & innovates and sees it through ends up as a different person as a result.

For those who have followed our story you will know that Tap2Tag was created as a solution for my 87 year old mother. Unfortunately she passed away before we could launch it so never saw the benefits to her life and care.

Our story, since we launched back in May 2014, has been filled with highs and lows. Fortunately there have been far more highs than lows, especially over the last year. Knowing that at least five lives have been saved because of Tap2Tag is a personal high but there have been many more. Customers have engaged with our ethos of providing a life-saving and life-changing system that is subscription free.

On Saturday 4 March, the effect of Tap2Tag had a very personal impact.

My mother-in-law, Barbara, has been wearing a Tap2Tag wristband ever since we introduced the product. On Saturday she was at home and experienced chest pains. After calling her doctor she was then referred to the emergency services who quickly dispatched an ambulance to her home.

Barbara is an amazing 83 year old. She never stops, so hard working and the loveliest mother-in-law you could ever have. And she never stops telling people about her Tap2Tag wristband. So even while she is in the ambulance being rushed to A&E, she is telling the paramedics to scan her wristband. And that's what they did. They saw her latest medication and current medical condition, which helped enormously in treating her on the way to hospital. And they also recorded her emergency contacts that popped up on their mobile phone.

The paramedics were extremely impressed and so were the admitting A&E staff. There were many requests for more information.

But there was a deeper reason why this event held such an important, and seemingly inconsequential, benefit of the Tap2Tag system that proved its weight in gold to my wife and her brother.

There are many of a certain age who, moving into their sunset years, just don't want to be a burden on anyone, especially their children. So as Barbara was waiting for the ambulance to arrive she had no thought of contacting her children about her condition. When the paramedics arrived they asked for her emergency contacts but she told them that she didn't want to bother them. And as we all know, it's almost impossible for us to remember mobile numbers of your nearest and dearest so how would the paramedics make contact anyway?

So when Barbara was in the ambulance speeding to the emergency room the paramedics did scan her Tap2Tag wristband. They could see her NHS number, medication and medical conditions and family history. They also saw her emergency contact details and were able to record this for later use. After being admitted into hospital the team quickly stabilised her condition with (in part) the information provided by her Tap2Tag. wristband. But Barbara still didn't wish to contact her children as it was too much of a bother. (Is anyone else recognising a family member who would act like this?). In the end the nurse had to ask the attending doctor to "suggest" to her that she should really call her children as she did have a serious condition. And so she finally consented and my wife and brother-in-law both raced into the hospital.

How did the nurse know who to call? Well it was the information that the paramedics had obtained from Barbara's Tap2Tag wristband. And this suddenly hit home to me how important these little wristbands are and how they can have such a dramatic impact.

What would have happened if she was wearing one of those Medical Alert wristbands that just displayed her medical condition? There is no room to display her medication or medical history...and certainly no room for an emergency contact.

So imagine how you might feel with an elderly relative who cannot remember your details in an emergency. How do you think the paramedics or emergency team will be able to get hold of you? And imagine that this is time critical? The nightmares start darkening your thoughts as you worry about what could happen.

Barbara is now recovering nicely from her ordeal and should be home in a day or so.

We are pleased to announce that we have signed a new distribution agreement to expand Tap2Tag into South Africa. We have partnered with Allergy Kids who already have an amazing business offering awareness and products for those suffering from complex allergies. They also have connections with many high street stores where their own products are already sold as well as connections with regional and national government.

The company is run by Bonnie Bester and Chantal Waisman.

This represents a tremendous opportunity to move into a new territory with a committed and enthusiastic business that already has links with the medical and retail community. Tap2Tag products will be marketed by Allergy Kids and we will also we offering branded products for the organisation to continue their own awareness campaigns.

Over the last few months we have been busy developing another major upgrade to the Tap2Tag software. We've called it the Traffic Light System and it will enable you to control virtually every field on your medical profile and determine who sees that information in an emergency.

Currently there are two "states" of information shown to a first responder, the public profile and the private profile. When a first responder taps your device they see information called the public profile and is limited in its content. Once the tapper has logged in they then see more detailed information about your medical condition called the private profile.

After listening to our customers we feel that this new Traffic Light System is a significant improvement in safeguarding your information but also giving you so much more control over who sees what and when.

You will be able to choose how each field of information will be treated when a person taps your device. We have colour coded and used different shapes (to help those with colour blindness) to signify each category. So here is what they all mean.

GREEN TRIANGLE - The data in this field will be shown on the Public Profile when a Tapper first interacts with your Tap2Tag device. If you want your Inoculations to be shown of the Public Profile page then you can change the setting to a Green Triangle.

AMBER SQUARE - This information will be shown only after someone has created a Tap2Tag account and logged in. This then creates a Tagging Log where you can see who has accessed your information. Only people with validated email accounts or who have created an account with any of the Social Media buttons (as these are already pre-validated) can see this information.

RED CROSS - Only medical personnel can see this information. In the UK this will be limited to people working for the NHS using their NHS email account to set up a Tap2Tag account. In other countries around the world we will be building a "White List" of bodies who are bound by the same data protection requirements. A list of those included on the White List will be provided on the Tap2Tag website as they are vetted.

BLACK PADLOCK - There are some pieces of information that only you want to be able to see. Any data field with the Black Padlock will only be seen by you when accessing your medical profile using your own account.

By giving you control over your own medical information and allowing you to decide who sees it, we feel this is a major step forward in allowing patients to control their own medical information. However it also forms the foundation for integrating Tap2Tag into any primary health record such as a hospital or GP's practice.

LAUNCHING SOON

We will be launching this new system in early January 2017. You need to do nothing more with your Tap2Tag. You will just notice the changes the next time your log in.

We also welcome your feedback. Just add a reply in the boxes below and let us know what you think. If you really like it then give us a review on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/tap2tag) or on our main website.