Does NFC work on all smartphones?

It works on the great majority of recent smartphones, both iPhone and Android. For anyone with a phone without NFC, the QR code to scan is always available on the same Aevi plaque.

Does the QR code deteriorate over time?

A printed QR code can fade, but on Aevi plaques the code is laser-engraved into the material: it is not ink, so it does not fade and withstands rain and sun.

Do you need an internet connection?

Yes; both the QR code and NFC open a web page, so you need a smartphone connected to the internet. No app, however, is required.

Guide · In depth

QR code or NFC on the headstone: differences, advantages and which to choose

6 min read

QR codes and NFC are two different ways to link a physical plaque to a digital memorial. The QR code is a square image that you scan with your smartphone camera; NFC is an unpowered chip that activates when you bring the phone within a few centimetres. Both lead to the same page: on a headstone, the best choice is not to choose, having both ensures the memory opens with any phone.

How the QR code works

The QR code is a graphic code that holds a web address. You scan it with the camera app of any recent smartphone and it opens the memorial in the browser. It is visible, recognisable and works even when photographed from a distance or printed on paper.

Its limitation is precisely that it is an image: to read it you need enough light and a clean surface. On an Aevi plaque the QR code is laser-engraved, not printed, so it withstands rain, sun and time.

How NFC works

NFC stands for Near Field Communication: it is the same technology used in contactless payments. A small chip, built into the plaque and without a battery, activates when the smartphone comes within a few centimetres and opens the memorial without scanning anything.

The gesture is more immediate and almost ritual, “bring your phone close”, and elegant, because the chip is invisible, hidden beneath the surface. It does, however, need to be known about: someone who is unaware that the plaque is “active” might not think to bring their phone close.

QR and NFC compared

Activation: the QR code is scanned with the camera; NFC is activated by bringing the phone close.
Visibility: the QR code is obvious and invites use; NFC is invisible and discreet.
Distance: the QR code works even from afar or from a photo; NFC requires close contact.
Compatibility: the QR code works on any smartphone with a camera; NFC on the great majority of recent phones.
Durability: both, when well made, do not wear out; on a quality plaque they last as long as the plaque itself.

Which to choose for a headstone

For a place of remembrance, where the plaque must work for anyone and for many years, the most robust solution is to use both technologies. Those familiar with NFC simply bring their phone close; those who are not scan the QR code. No one is left out.

That is why every Aevi plaque incorporates both the engraved QR code and the NFC chip, linked to the same memorial: two doors to the same memory.

Frequently asked questions

Does NFC work on all smartphones?: It works on the great majority of recent smartphones, both iPhone and Android. For anyone with a phone without NFC, the QR code to scan is always available on the same Aevi plaque.
Does the QR code deteriorate over time?: A printed QR code can fade, but on Aevi plaques the code is laser-engraved into the material: it is not ink, so it does not fade and withstands rain and sun.
Do you need an internet connection?: Yes; both the QR code and NFC open a web page, so you need a smartphone connected to the internet. No app, however, is required.

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