CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Android is a relatively new mobile operating system developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. Officially released in October 2008, it has revolutionized mobile application development due to the fact that it is open source. It allows developers unparalleled freedoms to create varied and interesting applications. Based on the Java programming language, it is touted as being easy to pick up and master, whilst the underlying is a modified Linux kernel.

Some of Android's biggest draws for developers include the relative simplicity of developing using Java syntax, which means quickly producing applications. Also, Android provides easy yet secure access to first and third party applications, allowing deeper integration between components in different programs, and encourages software sharing and reuse.

The user interface can be built quickly and simply through XML or graphically, and once an application has been finished it can be submitted to Android market, a portal through which developers can make their creations available to Android users, either free or for profit.

Cloud computing has been viewed in several forms. There has been no single view that has decidedly become the obvious candidate; however there are some common elements between them all. The most glaring of these is that it is a form of distributed computing, in that distinctly separate systems link together to form a cloud. Also, there is an idea of on-the-fly scalability, that machines can join and leave the cloud as required.

One definition of cloud computing is that of a pool of computational resources, linked together to provide a greater processing power. These are projects which involve supporters installing software on computers at home, which connect, when idle, to their respective clouds over the internet and compute small parts of complex scientific calculations.

Another use of the term is to provide some form of data syncing. One more idea of cloud computing is that of peer-to-peer systems. This form has been used for many years for file sharing, recently implemented for services such as Skype.

These services reduce load on their servers by passing data directly from user to user. Java is a general-purpose, concurrent, class-based, object-orientedcomputer programming language that is specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is intended to let application developers "write once, run anywhere" (WORA), meaning that code that runs on one platform does not need to be recompiled to run on another. Java applications are typically compiled to bytecode (class file) that can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM) regardless of computer architecture.

Java is, as of 2012, one of the most popular programming languages in use, particularly for client-server web applications, with a reported 10 million users. Java was originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (which has since merged into Oracle Corporation) and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform.

Android application plays a significant role in various field of life, from technology to folklore; the use of android application seems to be better than other operating system. It is against this background that the study wishes to examine an android application for folklore.

1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

The use of android application for folklore is contributed to the growth and development of the Nigeria society but there are some limitation to their contribution; some of the problem include; poor maintenance of android application, lack of adequate financing for the design and implementation of an android application for folklore. Finally there have been series of study on android application but not even a single study has been carried out on an android application for folklore.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main aim of the research work is to develop an android application for folklore. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. To design an android application that will manage traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community
2. To develop an android application that will control and improve folklore in Nigeria
3. To investigate on the factors affecting the developmental processes of android application

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The study came up with research question so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

1. How to design an android application that will manage traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community?
2. Will the developed android application be able to control and improve folklore management in Nigeria?
3. What are the factors affecting the developmental processes of android application?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study on an android application for folklore will be of immense benefit to the entire communities in Nigeria, the state government and the federal government and other researchers that may wish to carryout similar research on the above topic as the findings of the study will educate the entire communities in Nigeria on how to developed android application be able to control and improve folklore management in Nigeria and also to developed android application be able to control and improve folklore management in Nigeria

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study on the an android application for folklore will cover how to developed android application be able to control and improve folklore management in Nigeria and also to developed android application be able to control and improve folklore management in Nigeria

1.7 LIMITATION OF STUDY

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).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

ANDROID: an open-source operating system used for smartphones and tablet computers

FOLKLORE: the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.