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Development of a Mobile Scheduling System for Interactive iLabs

Authors:
Cosmas Mwikirize
Davis Agaba
Sharlotte Andinda
Paul Isaac Musasizi
Phil Bailey

Keywords: SMS, interactive iLabs, iLab Scheduling

Abstract:
Makerere University has for the past seven years used internet-based laboratories or iLabs to support practical courses in the curricula of the undergraduate electrical, telecommunications and computer engineering programmes. The iLabs have provided a meaningful laboratory experience to students in the face of increasing numbers, insufficient lab equipment, space and lab personnel. One version of the iLabs, the interactive type, requires pre-scheduling so that a user is granted exclusive access to the experiment hardware, a procedure previously conducted online. The online scheduling is inconvenient since it requires a lot of time investment for the users before conducting the lab. The paper presents the work undertaken in development of a Short Message Service application to facilitate the scheduling process. Starting with an overview of iLabs and the requisite scheduling procedures, the rationale for development of the Short Message Service application for the interactive version of the iLabs is explained. A technical overview of the application is given, including the requirements specification, the system design and the implementation. Finally, a demonstration of the application, error handling mechanisms and benefits of utilizing the service are presented. The application has provided a convenient scheduling system for interactive iLabs, thereby improving the efficiency of access to the lab.

Pages: 84 to 89

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2012

Publication date: January 30, 2012

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4367

ISBN: 978-1-61208-180-9

Location: Valencia, Spain

Dates: from January 30, 2012 to February 4, 2012