Abstract
There is an increasing demand for jobs around the world.
There also is an increasing demand for a variety of services.
Our application is built to supply both of those demands
simultaneously.
The goal of the application is to connect the person who
needs a job (Provider) to the person who wants a job done
(Seeker). We provide the seeker with the various providers
that can perform the service he/she wants done. The seeker
then can choose one of those providers based on different
categories like estimated time, money, etc.
On the other hand, we show the provider, the seekers that
are in need of a service and then the provider can ask to do
the service with supplying information like location, how
much money will he/she take, estimated time to be at the
seeker’s location, etc.
Hopefully, one day, this application can be of a great use to
those that need a job, want a quick service to be done for
them or just need some extra pocket money that can be
made quickly.
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Table of Contents
Abstract ...............................................................................................................1
Preface ................................................................................................................4
List of Acronyms and Definitions ........................................................................3
Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................5
1.1 General .......................................................................................................…5
1.2 Motivation .....................................................................................................6
1.3 Scope of Work ...............................................................................................6
1.4 Report Organization ......................................................................................7
Chapter 2: Background and Related Work .....................................................8
2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................8
2.2 Motivation .....................................................................................................8
2.3 Scope of Work ...............................................................................................8
2.4 Related Work ………........................................................................................8
2.4.1 Uber………………………………………………………………………………………………9
2.4.2 Talabat………………………………………………………………………………………….9
2.4.2 OLX, Jumia, Souq, Amazon…………………………………………………………….9
2.5 Comparison of related work with respect to desired features…………………10
2.6 The need for our application……………………………………………………………………11
2.7 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………….11
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Abbreviations
GUI: Graphic User Interface
Definitions
Freelancers: self-employed workers.
Providers: a type of our users who join our application to provide some type of
service.
Seekers: a type of our users who join our application to seek some type of
service.
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Preface
This thesis is written as a part of our graduation project in
Computer and communication Department at the University
of Alexandria, Faculty of Engineering.
We have always had a deep interest for how stuff works
under the hood, and this especially applies to mobile
development. It has been a lot of challenging, hard work, but
at the same time it has been very rewarding and fun.
Through our work on this project, we have learned a lot
about Android platform. Also, we have learned high level
programming for android mobiles and how to call the lowlevel programming from it. We have been allowed to work
freely and to pursuit any new idea we have come up with.
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Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 General
Every day the new devices are incoming to the market with innovative
options thanks to growing technology. The evolution of mobile application
development technology with new devices made our lives much easier.
IN the smartphone world, simply having a running web site is not enough.
Regarding a recent study, it has shown that about 45% and more of Google
search happens using smartphones. The number is spectacular and there is a
growth within the mobile business. Being obtainable on an internet-enabled
device is needed for every and each business which has given the kicking start
to mobile application development.
Mobile development, which is not about building phone apps, though it is a
huge part of it. It’s doing any reasonably development for any kind
of mobile devices such as developing apps for phones, tablets,
smartwatches, and every form of wearable devices that run any kind of
mobile operating system. Mobile development presents a reasonably
distinctive chance for a one-person development team to build an actual,
usable, significant app end-to-end during a comparatively short period.
However, mobile apps development represents more than just a chance for
the solo developer to create their own project as it is arguably the longer term
of development, as mobile devices are getting larger and bigger parts of our
lives.
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Our mobile application attempts to connect people who needs services with
service providers like people or companies.it connects people in and out Egypt,
the application will be available on google play. The application tends to save
time for both service seeker and provider and make it easy for them to find
what they with just few clicks. Moreover, seeker can find variety of service
providers and checks profile and rating and choose the best provider for him.
On the other hand, provider chooses the service that is suits from a lot of
services.
1.2 Motivation
Imagine you want to earn some money, but you do not have a job. All you
want is to is to find someone near you who needs help or is looking for any
kind of service and is willing to pay money for anyone who can help. Imagine
you are a freelance worker, in any line of professional work, who is looking for
a job. Looking for a service can be really tiring, as service companies can be
expensive, and the workers provided may not be motivated by corporate life.
Since the core of humanity is connection, our app’s purpose is to connect
service providers, in multiple lines of work, with clients looking for a service. By
connecting service seekers and service providers in the same area and
checking eligibility of workers, our app is surely to provide fast, multiple
services by connecting reliable, trustworthy freelance workers to serious
customers.
1.3 Scope of work
Networking is arguably the most important part in freelancing while mobile
application is on the rise in terms of demand and rapid development. Our
application combines the networking the local freelancers need to find
customers and customers to find reliable freelancers. The android application
consists of multiple layers.
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On the first layer we connect the user with our firebase database using
internet connection. While on the second layer the user register in our
database if he/she is not already registered to be able to sign into his/her
account. Third layer about determining whether the user is a provider or a
seeker. On the fourth layer the users send data and receive data from our
database. On the fifth layer we establish a connection between the seeker and
his/her selected provider with a chat functionality using our firebase and the
ability to directly call one another.
All these layers are presented to the users through an interactive android GUI
that interfaces with our app and database connecting them to other users
through a limited interaction.
1.4 Organization of the report:
The current report is organized in 6 chapters. The necessary background about
the used protocols, related work and the added value of this project in this
field are presented in chapter 2. In chapter 3, the proposed approach,
requirements specification, followed software development process as well as
design analysis are outlined. The project on hand and implementation are
described in chapter 4. The end-user applications that are created in order to
test the project functionalities are explained in chapter 5. Finally, the project
conclusions and possible future work directions are provided in Chapter 6.
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Chapter 2
Background and Related
Work
2.1 Introduction
A general introduction along with the project motivations and scope of work
are presented in the previous chapter. In the current chapter, the necessary
background about the Mobile applications and android studio as well as
survey of related work is introduced.
In this chapter the idea on hand becomes clearer by introducing other related
materials that resemble ours either in the technology phase or in the
application phase.
2.3 Firebase
2.3.1 What is Firebase?
Firebase is a platform developed by Google for creating mobile and web
applications. It was originally an independent company founded in 2011. In
2014, Google acquired the platform and it is now their flagship offering for app
development.
2.4 Related Work
Due to the promising future of networking, mobile applications and mobile
development fields, many research teams, undergraduates and foundations in
different places are currently working through different approaches. Some
applications work towards supplying the need for only specific services like car
ride reservation, food delivery, etc. In this section, we will represent some of
the most related work.
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2.4.1 Uber
Uber is a company which offers jobs to those that want to drive and deliver
people to their selected destination and goes the other way around, by
offering car ride reservation services for those who want to get a ride to some
place.
The difference between our application and Uber is that we provide more than
just car ride services. We offer jobs of various kinds to those who might need
to earn money and offering the option of requesting a service of any kind to
the service seeker.
2.4.2 Talabat
Talabat is a company which offers food order and delivery services to people. It
contains multiple food chains which a person can choose from.
Again, the difference between our application and Talabat is that we offer
more than just food order or delivery services. Another difference is that
Talabat is only for those who want to order food (service seeker), there is no
service provider component in the application. Our application will have both
components as it serves the need of both simultaneously.
2.4.3 OLX, Jumia, Souq, Amazon
All these applications started out as web sites then web applications then
mobile applications. They all essentially have the same focus which is serving
the shopping needs for those who want to buy something online.
The difference between our application and these applications is that we again
offer more than just shopping services. These applications, like Talabat, only
have a service seeker component, meaning you cannot apply for a jo within the
application which we provide. Our application has a service provider
component and serve both, the service seeker’s demands, and the service
provider’s demands, simultaneously.
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2.5 comparison of related work with respect to desired features
Our app
1 - Requires
an account
2 - Cash
payment
option
3 - Online
payment
option
4 - User rating
5 - Buy/sell
items
6 - Provide
some kind of
services
7 - Create
your specific
service
8 - In app chat
9 - Call the
other user
10 - Looking
up
Uber
Talabat
Yes
Yes
Yes
OLX, Jumia,
Souq
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
no
tasks/requests
11 - Filtering
Yes
system
No
Yes
Yes
Table 2.1 comparison of related work
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2.6 The need for our application
After studying the 2.1 table we conclude the difference between our
application and the other similar apps.
The objective from our application is to satisfy features (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
and 11) from table 2.1 while features (3, 5) are left for future extensions.
Our application is based on creating and satisfying different needs of service by
allowing our seekers to create their requests of service. While the providers
submit a request to fulfil those needs. Giving the seeker an array of providers
to choose from. Connecting the seekers and providers through an in-app chat
feature and the ability to directly call each other if needed. At the end each
one review and rate the other side. Fulfilling the need of an easy and
accessible marketplace not based on products but services.
2.7 Conclusion
Background and related work to services mobile applications were survived. It
was established that:
1- There is an increasingly demand for jobs.
2- There is a need for an application that can serve various kinds of services
requested by service seekers.
3- There is a need for an application that people can use to make extra
money on the side or people that want an urgent service done quickly.
An overall view of our application is presented in chapter 3. The extended
applications proposed by our application are presented in chapter 4.
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