Sony releases the "NFC Healthcare Library," application development software, intended for developers who want to implement, contactless data exchange between NFC compatible smart phones and NFC-enabled healthcare devices to their application. The software library can be downloaded from the Sony Global FeliCa website free of charge.

User of the NFC-enabled healthcare devices can send daily health data to personal computers or smart phones just by touching them to their NFC-enabled PCs or phones. This will help users not only to easily manage their data, but also to make use of various healthcare-related services available over the Internet in an intuitive, user-friendly way.

So far, the data formats of various healthcare devices were not unified yet. Therefore software developers currently need each specification of data format from various healthcare device manufacturers. This library reduces the complexity for software developers by offering compatibility with a range of NFC-enabled healthcare devices. By using the "NFC Healthcare Library" the application will be compatible with various data formats from the partners listed below. This will enable application developers to easily develop services for smart phone users interworking with such healthcare devices.

This application development software is compatible with the Android smart phones that support either NFC or Mobile FeliCa (Android OS 2.3.3 version or later).

Healthcare spending has been surging in Japan amid the aging population and a rising number of patients with lifestyle-related diseases. Easy monitoring of people's health conditions and enhancing the benefits of such monitoring on a personal basis are becoming increasingly important. People have high expectations regarding the ease of use of such personal healthcare devices, and by using NFC technology, the user experience when exchanging data between devices can be greatly improved.

An increasing number of thermometers, body composition monitors and other healthcare devices are becoming NFC compatible. Services that make use of measurement data collected through these devices to smart phones for healthcare management and medical uses are likely to become more popular. This library will facilitate the smooth development of such services.

• Acos Co., Ltd.
• A&D Company, Limited
• Estera Corporation
• Microlife Corporation
• NTT Docomo, Inc.
• NTT Resonant Inc.
• N-wave Co.,Ltd
• Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
• Seiko Instruments Inc.
• System D, Inc.
• Tanita Corporation
• Yamasa Tokei Co., Ltd.

Sony plans to demonstrate the development of service applications with the "NFC Healthcare Library" at the Digital Healthcare Plaza (Booth No. 2B15 in Hall 3) at CEATEC JAPAN 2011 in the international convention complex Makuhari Messe from October 4 to 8.