Over the years a lot of people (including me) have wanted a simple way to scan NFC tags directly into ODK workflows.
ODK and XLSForm platforms are able to call data from small adaptor/bridge apps that use sensors and functions outside of the pre-programmed set of question types. The use of Android intents as shuttles has previously enabled approaches for fingerprint support, visual acuity screening, barcode tools, and a range of other extensions.
So this week I built TagBridge: an offline-first Android NFC connector for ODK Collect, KoboToolbox, and other Android intent-compatible systems.
Features currently include:
- NFC tag scanning
- Direct XLSForm integration
- JSON and key-value return formats
- Multi-field field-list workflows
- NFC inspection/debug mode
- Intent generator for rapid form development
- Offline operation
- Support for multiple NFC technologies
The app allows tags to be scanned directly into forms for workflows such as:
- participant identification
- specimen tracking
- asset management
- equipment audits
- inventory systems
- field epidemiology
The first functional prototype, including Android integration, NFC scanning, ODK interoperability, and APK generation, was developed in under three hours through a hybrid workflow combining human-directed design with extensive AI-assisted coding and debugging (I’m not much of a programmer!)
I suspect this style of AI-led tool development is going to become increasingly important globally, but will be transformative for small, highly specialised research and operational tools that are either too time-expensive to justify traditional development cycles, or too niche ever to rise to the top of formal software roadmaps.
Note this won’t scan long-range RFID chips at the moment.
GitHub:
