[NFBCS] Accessible app like way around, but cheaper

Sat Jun 12 15:49:25 UTC 2021

Agree & thanks Aaron for putting a point on the size of most tags. The usable space on tags can vary.  Aaron’s message for example is about 270 characters with spaces & punctuation.  So a tag that is roughly 540 bytes would support his statement and maybe a little more.  The tags I have are 540 bytes and support according to the NFC Tools app I’m using is 491 bytes of that 540 total. This message I’ve written including this sentence is 491 bytes all the way up to the period  here.

If that above paragraph is enough to describe what you need then the NFC tags may be your solution.  You could obviously use two tags for one description I suppose.  But you know your use case the best.  I did try looking up on Amazon for the tags I bought a year or more ago and can’t find them in my orders, so maybe I didn’t buy on Amazon.  I am seeing some around 50 cents, even some with backing so that you can use on metal surfaces which is another important point.  You can also research tags beyond 540 bytes.

Best of luck!

From: Aaron Cannon <cannona at fireantproductions.com> 
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2021 7:55 AM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: charles.vanek at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Accessible app like way around, but cheaper

Sadly, this is an overestimation of the storage capacity of most NFC tags. You would, however, have enough room for a filename. So you could put the info inside files, and then store the name of the file in the tag. Not exactly a very fast solution though.

Good luck.

https://www.nfcinteractor.com/question/how-much-data-can-i-store-on-a-tag/

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On Jun 12, 2021, at 07:40, charles.vanek--- via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbcs at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Hi Sabra,
I'm not a big fan of way around and way tags.  I do think you are in the
right mindset though.
Way tags are simply a proprietary NFC tag which uses durable & encrypted
tags that only work with the Way Around app signed into the owners account.
This makes their system both more expensive & less versatile to be used with
multiple phones or if disconnected from the internet.  

For first aide information the encryption of way tags is certainly not a
concern.  So what I would suggest is you research NFC tags.  Since these are
an open standard, Apple and Android phones made in the last 3 or so years
can all easily read them.  There are also various apps which can easily read
& write data to them.

NFC tags can also be purchased fairly cheap on Amazon.  There are flexible
adhesive tags about the size of a quarter but thin as braille paper.  They
probably range in price from 20 to 30 cents each if bought in packs of say
10 - 20.  With these you can write out your instructions then stick right on
to the bottles, boxes, tubes, etc.  I would also think there are options
like way tags where it not adhesive backed but is something you could tie
with a string onto items where the adhesive won't work; or you can I'm sure
imagine a way to stick it to card stock and poke a hole for a string if
needed to tie on.

Off the top of my head I can't remember how much data an NFC tag can hold,
but I'm pretty sure first aide instructions will be able to fit.

Best of luck,
Charles

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Sabra Ewing via NFBCS
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2021 10:45 PM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbcs at nfbnet.org> 
Cc: Sabra Ewing <sabra1023 at gmail.com <mailto:sabra1023 at gmail.com> >
Subject: [NFBCS] Accessible app like way around, but cheaper

I need some way to label first aid items with lots of information and
instructions where braille will not fit. I want to put all of the
instructions that are on the product in an accessible format.

The way around app seemed like it would be a great option for what I needed,
but the tags for it are so expensive. Is there something that uses a similar
concept, but cheaper? I do not have a printer and even if I did, I wouldn't
be able to tell what print it out so I would prefer to be able to get
premade labels or tags, but for cheap. I was looking at some barcode labels
that are cheap, but they seem to be for things like stores. I wish I knew of
an option that would work without electricity during an emergency but this
is the only thing I can think of. Attaching a page or two of braille to each
item is not going to work because then I can't have a portable first aid
kit. You might think you shouldn't need so many instructions because you
should be able to use the item, but I want all of the instructions that are
on the item just in case, and sometimes were talking about a small space
like 2" x 2" where I can't write any type of instruction at all and can
barely fit the name.

Sabra Ewing
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