Android Application Development for GPS Based Location Tracker & NITR Attendance Management System

Abstract

Accounting for more than half of the presently used hand-held devices, Android, as an operating system, has provided users with great opportunity to innovate and get things done in a mobile device. Starting as a phone OS, the array of devices compatible with Android is even driving the market in the direction of PC experience with rumours that Intel and some of the partners are working on laptop prototypes with Atom processors. And so, the need for portability has risen by leaps and bounds. People have started developing apps for every other need. The first part of the project involves Android Application Development of a GPS based Location Tracker in which with the help of any mobile device (app installed), any other GPS enabled handset (app installed) could be located. Though target user may be located anywhere in the world, he must have network connectivity and be GPS enabled. Initially, the app is developed for Android platform only, but can be expanded to cross-platform use with device specific support in terms of Google Maps, Nokia Maps & iOS Maps Service. The app is free and currently online. The second part of the project involves porting the Attendance System of NIT Rourkela onto Android enabled devices. The present system in intranet only, but with the new application, the extranet system would serve as an effective management tool resulting in the reduction of the no. of man hours spent in uploading the attendance for each of the subjects for the semester. The professors won’t have to double up the work as to take pen & paper attendance and then upload onto the online management. Instead a single swipe would take care of everything. Even the intuitive interface is easy to understand so that professors can easily adapt themselves to use it. Also, the application is secure allowing only one user per phone.