A Noticeboard Application Using Context Aware Services: Case of Strathmore University, Kenya

Abstract

The dissemination of information in large organizations using noticeboards is both inefficient and ineffective due to the static, unreliable and limiting nature of the boards. Noticeboards are constrained in terms of reach, poor feedback mechanisms and a general lack of security. Posts can be tampered with by malicious people or even removed by competitors. Due to their fixed nature, noticeboards also do not cater for context, meaning that a lot of posts are consumed outside of their actionable spaces. This research proposes a context aware noticeboard in which subscribers are able to receive, store or share notices based on their context and be in a better position to react or act on them accordingly. Object Oriented Analysis and Agile development methodologies were applied to develop a robust and dynamic, context aware Android-based noticeboard application with an analytical backend for visualizations. The final prototype was tested for usability and functionality with usability and acceptance rates of more than 90%. Furthermore, we recommend that more services being hinged on BLE and context awareness should be explored due to the success of the proposed solution. Additionally, it is imperative that institutions migrate towards smart solutions for communication.