Consumer mobile community
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Whole population in the world can be identified as a group of consumers. The consumer protection is one of the important
issues in this global village. Most countries use different methods and concepts to protect the consumer. Empowering the
consumer with knowledge is one of the effective methods to protect consumer from market frauds. The consumer
community, society, and consumer education programs are used to improve consumer knowledge in worldwide.
The Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No 09 of 2003 provides provision for consumer protection in Sri Lanka (Consumer
Affairs Authority-2014). The consumer watch android mobile application and the Consumer Affairs Authority official
web system have been published by the Consumer Affairs Authority in order to improve the knowledge of Sri Lankan
consumer. The consumer watch android application provides facilities to search market prices, search consumer prices,
search wholesale prices and search shopping lists in Sri Lanka. Using existing android application, consumer can only
update the knowledge regarding the price list (Zmessenger - The Consumer Watch).
Though these improvements are introduced and established, still many market frauds and violence are reported in Sri
Lanka. Therefore this project was carried out by the consumer mobile community android application to protect the Sri
Lankan consumer from specific market violence, to empower customer with knowledge, make consumer mobile
community application and to improve consumer’s social awareness.
Methodology
The project was carried out at Uva Wellassa University using its computer facilities. Relevant consumer protection
process, regulation and the technologies were collected. Android version 4.0.4, PHP, HTML, Java script, Json, SQLITE
and
XAMPP Control Panel 3.1.0 were used as development tools (Android Training API Guides; JSON Tutorial & AJAX
Tutorial; Stack Overflow). The Use case diagram, Data Flow Diagram and the Entity Relationship Diagram were done
under the logical design of the system. Android and the web development interface and the databases were developed
under the physical design. Supportive admin panel web system was developed in the first stage of the project. The web
system front end was developed using HTML and CSS. Ajax and the JavaScript function were used for the validation
and PHP function call. Android web services and the web back end function were developed using PHP language.
Android mobile application was developed in the second stage of the project. APP interfaces were designed based on
responsive Xml design. Therefore the mobile application is compatible with the different screen sizes of the mobile
devices. Mobile application used HTTP request and response to communicates with the web system. Json array Format
was used to send and received the information between mobile application and the web site. All back end functions in the
website were developed using the PHP scripts. Both PHP and the android language were provided by Json encode and
the decode function. Therefore it was great technical advantage to share large amount of information between server and
the mobile application.
The main functions flow of the system is explained by Figure: 01 Data Flow Diagram .The consumer and the web admin
are the main two users who interacted with the system. A consumer’s mobile phone is registered automatically when the
application icon is clicked, after which the consumer’s profile information will be updated with the system. The login
could be done after the profile is updated. After login process, consumer is able to perform functions such as make a call,
search a profile and price list, share or read market frauds, make comments on share market frauds, browse web, and
search GPS location etc.
The web administrator can directly login to the system via web admin panel. He has permission to manage the consumer
registering profile and the consumer shared market frauds. Also he can enter, update and delete data used by the consumer
via mobile application .Also market fraud’s analytical reports can also be generated via web system.
Description
Keywords
Science and Technology, Computer Science, Technology, Mobile, Consumer mobile