1.1 Introduction
Mobile technology has really accelerate in terms of it advancement to the extent that it has limitlessly left mobile application developers with no choice but to continue in it manipulation of its usefulness over and over (Leng, 2011). Furthermore Mobile tools are much stylishly made these days, so smart and handy which give room for collection of data in our mobile phones. Mobile phone gadgets are now doing the works of Global Positioning system (GPS) navigation gadget, because of it sensibility in accessing vital information concerning present location of valuable assets, places, friends and family.
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
Accessibility of location based services via our mobile phones is possible, provided that the mobile network can be retrieved by our mobile phones to exploit the use of geographical position of the mobile phone has been a continuous achievement starting from the military and later to every man jack. These location based services (LBS) use the information, based on the available location of the user to provide services dependent on their geographic setting, (Kirk & Mark, 2003) and customize needs. GPS tracking is embedded in location based services as a support tool in making use of mobile web (Leng, 2011). LBS, it’s been considered at these point as those applications that entail a high level of exactness according to (Giaglis, Kourouthanassis & Tsamakos, 2003). As a result these with no stress user can easily access location like banks, hotels, colleges etc. Project aspires to adjust and influence the usage of location based services focusing mainly on ATM centres available in Minna.
The evolution of payments in recent history has gone from cash to cheques, and then to payment cards such as credit cards and debit cards. Interestingly, ATM cards are the most rapidly growing method of payments in several countries around the world. Information and communication technology (ICT) have also provided new products and value-added services to be delivered using the same electronic infrastructure. In order to remain competitive, most companies invest a lot of money in modern ICT infrastructure. ICT has also changed drastically the way businesses are done in these modern times. In recent years, the use of different channels for banking and financial services has changed the whole way bank customers and their banks interact. With the increasing popularity of the internet, more and more industries are seeking ways to utilize this popular medium in an effort to keep up with the changing technological preferences of their customers.
The development of banking ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) industry has received much attention in recent years, mainly due to growing ATM networks. Recent scholarship has studied whether its growth has maximized consumer welfare. The concern is rooted in the network effects that depend on total number of users or customers patronizing banking ATMs. Because the form of banking ATMs of both banking cards for depositors and differentiated banking ATMs can be regarded as network effects. Online ATM Point Locator using GPS System with tracker is an application which generally allows bank customers apply for Automated Teller Machines cards used to withdraw money at ATM machines or perform cashless transactions without visiting the bank, This application will be used by financial Institutions (Banks) to create and manage customers ATM card request using a computerized system where the customers can apply for their ATM cards anywhere in the world, without visiting the bank and more importantly verify and speed up the request time for getting the ATM card with a tracker, to aid speed up of the entire process, with this computerized system there will be no queues in banks, no hassle and stress to get ATM cards from our banks across the country. If a customer needs an ATM card to perform cashless transactions, the customer is able to apply for this card over the web without visiting the bank, all these modules are able to help the bank to manage and create an ATM for customers with more convenience and in a more efficient way and it also help in the cashless policy initiated by the central bank of Nigeria.
1.3 Statement of the Problems
An automated teller machine (ATM) is an electronic telecommunications mechanism that enables the users to carry out monetary transactions in a public places using credit card with no need of entering the bank. For that reason, users can effortlessly have their transaction completed by means of the ATM (Leng, 2011). On the other hand, people living in Minna are familiar with a particular ATM centre for performing their daily monetary transaction, at times when this ATM centres develops problem people are confused of which ATM centre to go to because they usually pass by several ATM centres but never take noticed of the location in which they are, so because of this they end up going to their Bank to be on the safer side. In addition for instance a foreigner, being his or her first time visiting Minna will find it difficult to locate a close by ATM centre when in need of cash urgently. For this reason this project will be solving a lots of problem in terms of locating an ATM centre closer to user current position and providing the user ability to access the status of that particular ATM centre.
1.4 Aim and Objective of the Study
The aim of the study is to Design and Implement of an ATM Point Locator using GPS. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives are laid out as follows:
- To develop a system that will capture ATM centres location using Global Positioning System (GPS).
- To develop a system that will locate a close by ATM location from the user’s present position in Minna.
- To develop a system that will display the status of a particular ATM.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study is beneficial in the following way;
- The study will contribute immensely to the banking sector of Nigeria especially, in the area of ATM Point Locator using GPS.
- With the proposed technology, bank customers will request for AT cards at their convenience in a secured manner.
- The study will also serve as a foundation for other student researchers who have keen interest in the subject matter.
1.6 Scope of Study
The proposed system is developed on hybrid application platform for mobile application. The objectives of the system are to show user the ATM centre closer to him or her and the status of that ATM. The numbers of ATM centres covered in this project are 10 in numbers. Smart phones are recommended for this proposed system. Proposed system is subjected to users in Minna alone.
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.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
1.8 Definition of Terms
To fully understand what the study is all about, important and dispensable terms have been chosen and due definition given to them.
- ATM Card- is a payment card or dedicated card or dedicated payment card issued by a financial institution which enables a customer to access automated teller machines.
- Tracker- system used toobserve of person or objects on the move and supplying a timely ordered sequence of location data for further processing.
- Customers- a party that receives or consumes products (goods or services) and has the ability to choose between different products and suppliers.
- Financial institution- A financial institution(FI) is a company engaged in the business of dealing with financial and monetary transactions, such as deposits, loans, investments and currency exchange.
- Computerized – equipping something with or the usage of and associated automation by computers and software.
- Operation – an act or instance, process, or manner of functioning or operating.
- Manually- by hand rather than automatically or electronically.
- e-banking- Online banking also known as internet banking, it is an electronic payment system that enables customers of a bank or other financial institution to conduct a range of financial transactions through the financial institution website.
- Records - to set down in writing or keep evidence of something.
- Online: connected to, served by, or available through a system and especially a computer or telecommunications system (such as the Internet)
- Delivery System: this is any means or process for conveying a product or service to a recipient.
