CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Assuring system security is a great concern nowadays, as Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are commonly used to transport, process, and store personal information and confidential data. The evolution of the system security technologies for authentication has transitioned from something you know (e.g., passwords), to something you have (e.g., security tokens), to something you are (e.g., biometric technologies). In all cases, the reliability, efficiency, accuracy, and cost of the technology are important decision factors that govern their application. Once the realm of science fiction, biometric technologies have become viable authentication solutions to secure mainstream technologies. As a consequence, more systems are adding biometric technology systems for authentication to replace or augment existing password based authentication methods.

Biometric systems make use of an individual’s personal characteristics to uniquely identify the individual as a means to provide access to a system (Boulgouris, Plataniotis &Micheli-Tzanakou, 2010). Much research has been devoted to studying biometric system reliability and accuracy in order to evaluate their effectiveness as a security technology in environments which require high security (Jain, Ross & Prabhakar, 2004). However, little research has examined user behavior during the time required for enrolling in a biometric system. Historically, time has been an important factor when human forms of identification are searched (Fontana & Marim, 2009). Among the many features used in a biometric system include face recognition, iris identification, retina identification, speech recognition, hand geometry, finger geometry, and palm geometry, among many others (Furtado, 2002). Currently, one of the most popular forms of biometrics used in our daily routine is the use of finger print scanners used on mobile devices such as laptops and tablets. In these devices, fingerprints are used as a primary means of authentication, with passwords being used in the “backstage” in case of system failures. Palm prints and hand geometry offer some interesting attributes which make them suitable as a biometric. For example, a person’s palm starts to form on the seventh month of the pregnancy and is a feature that remains unique to the person until the end of life, without suffering any changes (Moreira, 2004, cited in Fontana & Marim, 2009). Thus, the focus of this study is, therefore, hand geometry and for this Biometric System, we realize that there is no data about it, revealing an immature system with the need to still under investigation. We may consider that this system combined whit other factors like palm lines revel more efficient the decision algorithms and not about the precision of the representation (Magalhães& Santos, 2003).

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The Emene, Nike L.G.A, Enugu State tricycle rider’s association constitute about more than five hundred (500) tricycle riders as members. Managing tricycle riders’ attendance during union meeting has become a difficult challenge. This makes the method problematic since tricycle riders can write names for friends who are not presence in the meeting. The manual system of taking attendance is done on paper by using a pen. Tricycle riders write their names, index numbers, and sign on a sheet of paper. The calculation of the attendance % also becomes a difficult process because manual computation is time-consuming and prone to error. An effective biometric attendance management system is created for the aforementioned reasons. With the aid of a finger print reader, this technology electronically registers attendance, which is then saved in a database. After tricycle riders' identification, attendance is recorded.

The traditional way of taking attendance of tricycle riders in the organization has been quite helpful but not efficient and effective. Due to technology advancement, the traditional pen-paper attendance has become obsolete challenging. The traditional way also involves the situation where union leaderss have to take the attendance of tricycle riders on daily basis and calculate the tricycle riders’ attendance percentage throughout the week, and come out with their own tricycle riders’ attendance report. Tricycle riders could easily respond or write name on behalf of their friends purposely to fill in the class attendance. The following are some of the problems;

As the tricycle riders’ population increases, names on the attendance sheet also increases. Keeping these attendance sheets becomes a problem and to add to it no proper backup is done. Termites, flood, fire and other things that can also destroy the sheet. But the issue is for how long the attendance sheets can be kept.

• Impersonation is another problem with the old system. Some tricycle riders sign/respond in some cases, for tricycle riders who are absent and this doesn’t make the attendance credible.

• Sometimes the attendance sheet either gets lost or misplaced by some of the tricycle riders.

• It takes a lot of time to check attendance of all tricycle riders available for a meeting. Tricycle riders have to wait for long; before lectures begins. Union leaderss have to take their time to make sure all tricycle riders have checked in correctly before the lecture begins.

• Also the tabulation of hitherto collected data of tricycle riders’ enrollment, is quite hectic and tedious.

1.3 OBJECTIVES

The study seeks to carry put a biometric enrollment of tricycle riders in Emene, Nike L.G.A, Enugu State. The objectives of the study are:

1. To develop an electronic system to manage tricycle riders enrollmentin Emene, Nike L.G.A, Enugu State.
2. To develop a system to measure the performance of tricycle ridersin Emene, Nike L.G.A, Enugu State
3. To develop an effective and efficient method for tricycle riders roll callin Emene, Nike L.G.A, Enugu State.
4. To improve upon the taking of attendance by making it easier and fasterin Emene, Nike L.G.A, Enugu State.

1.4 SCOPE OF STUDY

The proposed system will be used and maintained by the Emene, Nike L.G.A, Enugu State tricycle association, and is situated in the Eastern part of Nigeria which currently has about 500 tricycle riders as members. The problems identified and stated are aimed to be solved by the system. The system is however to ensure security, access control, reliability, efficiency and better performance. The system will have the bio data of every tricycle riders, and check the daily attendance of every tricycle riders using the device. The system will also tabulate the attendance collected for the week and print out the data processed on a sheet of paper.

1.5 JUSTIFICATION

This problem is a real-time issue that is affecting the school currently, records of tricycle rider’senrollment is kept in a sheet of paper or note book. This is dangerous because the paper or the note book can easily get lost because it is not protected. Undertaking research and gathering information to build this biometric enrolment system will also go a long way to help the tricycle business grow, because this system can be used for so many years. It is open for upgrades of its features.

1.6 METHDOLOGY

Every project needs a process model to help the developers establish their goal. A process model is an abstract, generalization of the software development process. The reason for choosing a process model includes the following;

1. Create a defined software development process.

1. Improve communication, thus implementation and training of users.

1. Helps build a quality project.

This system will be developed based on the Prototyping of the System Development Life Cycle. Prototyping is a system development methodology that focuses on building applications based on a sample system and the system is being acted on as things are being replicated. This methodology was chosen because the user gets to interact with the system whilst the system is being improved on. Hence it allows for the detection of errors and where there needs to be improvements. The structure of Prototyping is designed to ensure that the developer builds the system such that the users interact with it. A good system depends on knowledge of alternatives because the more information you have about problems and solutions, the easier it is to make good decisions. Prototyping is a type of Rapid Application Development methodology.