1.1 Introduction
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are generic devices commonly used in both personal and professional spheres of society, due to their affordability and portability (Jansenand et al., 2005; Garritty et al., 2006). The PDA is a very small and portable, handheld computer, which has many more functions than a calculator, and the capacity to store information much like a Personal Computer (PC) (Puskar et al., 2004). Basic functionality available on most PDAs includes an address book, schedule, calendar, note pad, and e-mail (Baumgart, 2005). The PDA is convenient to use in clinical and field situations for quick data management, and the information can be synchronized with a PC (Puskar et al., 2004; Luo, 2004). By means of a wireless network, information can be exchanged anytime from anywhere to and from a PDA (Luo, 2004), and the network will provide immediate access to all kinds of necessary clinical and administrative data (Baumgart, 2005).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The study Design and Implementation of a Personal Digital Assistance (P.D.A) is aimed at developing a software package that will provide the user with a good environment to organizing the personal data and records for easy access and retrieval of information that are in constraint use. Software is the general name for all programs executable by computer system in order to produce the desire result.
A program is defined as a list of logically arranged instruction that is executable by the computer system in order to give the desired result. Therefore software based personal organizer, in this study, refers to the application of computer software in the storage, retrieval and organization of personal data and information. There is no individual, no matter his/her level of responsibility who has ever had the need to keep any sort of records be it mere thought, facts and figures keeping records is like breathing. In human perspectives breathing is good but there is something more than breathing that is being alive.
In the early biblical days facts and figures were kept by making impressions on sticks and stones. When an invitation to attend a meeting for instances is made the inviter usually will give the invitee a stick or palm tree leaf which serves as reminder to the invitee and which the invitee must return to the inviter as the appointed date and time. The invitee will usually lace this sticks or palm tree leaf at his door. This was not a serious problem because in those days there were fewer or no invitations.
Today the world is in a state of flux and experiencing quantitative revolution: the primitive intuitive or questionable approach to problem solving, data analysis, storage, retrieval and update are rapidly becoming out molded. The volume of data and information required for storage and easy retrieval has become very large and complex. More so in this ere of e-mail and interface connections with their attendant volume of addresses and business information contacts, there is modern quest for objectives bases for all kinds of decision based on data storage and organization.
Although there are personal digital assistants already existing on Google play store, our own application is uniquely geared towards students with their unique features and activities. The traditional method of using pen and paper to document tasks though still very good, cannot keep up with the increasing rate of information flow. A more cursory glance at recent issues of professional and learned journals, internet, or even newspaper and trade journals prove conclusively that there is an increasing use of data, facts and figure. To substantiate business and personal activities and then research conclusion. Again collection of facts and figures are useful only when they can be stored correctly, organized properly and retrieved quickly. This is another reason why the researcher are embarking on the is very important study.
1.3 Statement of Problem
Investigation revealed that there have existed major problems involved on date collection, storage, organization and retrieval. As a result many people still embark on manual organizer of collecting facts and figures. The problems identified or associated with this manual means of data storage and retrieval could be classified as follows:
- For voluminous data, retrieval of information is difficult and tire some and can be quite frustrating and time wasting;
- To update information in manual organizer involves cancellation and alteration of records thereby rendering the job untidy.
Also, even with the electronic organizer the limited memory space makes it possible for valuable information to be eraser in order to store current information or current information not stored at the expense of important information previously stored which must not be erased; and manual organization are subjected to unauthorized access and retrieval since one who lays hands on it has access to it.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to design and implement a Software Based Personal Digital Assistance (PDA). In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to develop an application software that will:
- Implement a personal digital assistance (PDA) for effective;
- Support data storage, retrieval, security and integrity checks;
- Provide fast and easy retrieval of data and information;
- Facilitate quick updating of information; and
- Identify the problem encountered in the manual organizer using the above qualities of good information system as criteria.
1.5 Significance of Study
The proposed system will provide possible solutions to the problems encountered in the manual organizer. With the electronic personal digital assistance one can save or rather store as many data as possible ranging from names, addresses, important dates, schedules and so on, where the retrieval is easy and without stress. The application will help students in prioritizing and organizing their daily activities thereby making them more responsible.
This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Design and Implementation of a Software Based Personal Digital Assistance (PDA).
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.8 Definition of Terms
Registration: This means to keep records received from the management for reference purposes.
Management: It is the co-ordination of all the resources of an Organization through the process of planning, Organization, directing and controlling
System: Physical component of a computer that is used to perform certain task.
Data: Numbers, Text or image which is in the form suitable for Storage in or processing by a computer, or incomplete information.
Information: A meaning full material derived from computer data by organizing it and interpreting it in a specified way.
Input: Data entered into a computer for storage or processing.
Output: Information produced from a computer after processing.
Information System: A set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization.
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