MSIT Theses and Dissertations (2011)

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    A generic mobile agriculture architecture: a case study of dairy farming
    (Strathmore University, 2011) Gichamba, Amos Njihia
    The high penetration of mobile phones in the Kenyan market has given lead to the opportunity to use mobile devices for economic activities such as agriculture. With Kenya geared towards the accomplishment of Vision 2030, agriculture has been identified as one of the supporting component of the social and economic pillars of Vision 2030. This means that the success of agriculture in Kenya will accelerate the realization of Vision 2030. One of the key agricultural sectors in Kenya is dairy farming . Even though this sector contributes highly to the country's GDP, it is faced by immense challenges including poor market information, lack of collaboration platforms for the various stakeholders, lack of easy access of information and manual processes in produce data collection and access. The aim of this paper was to determine the extent of usage of M-Agriculture applications in Kenya, to determine the design requirements for an M-Agriculture architecture and to propose an M-Agriculture architecture. The paper also highlighted on the development of an M-Agriculture application suite. The findings of the study suggest that there are present implementations of mobile agriculture in developed countries while developing countries like Kenya have only a few cases . However, the study established that the usage of m-agriculture applications has great potential in enhancing business processes among various stakeholders of the dairy industry. The result of the study is the design and implementation of a mobile agriculture architecture that is applicable in dairy farming. This research provides a comprehensive approach on how to develop systems using mobile technology that integrate with existing systems. Future researchers can use this architecture as a starting point in developing mobile agriculture frameworks and models , while system developers in the area of mobile agriculture can be able to use this architecture to develop mobile systems in agriculture.
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    Formulating value proposition for a java mobile application : a case study for Kenya
    Irura, Mark Gachara; Acosta (Dr.), Freddie
    This research focuses on the value proposition of a Java mobile application (Tex2+) as perceived by end users (customers) and three kinds of business customers – a Kenya government parastatal, a financial institution and a GSM provider. There have been problems previously; firstly, is the issue of expensive costs using short messages. Secondly, there are problems that have existed for mobile developers in the mobile business ecosystem, namely; multiple platforms, lock-in practices, poor alignment of software to business processes and poor market place practices by participants. Thirdly, there is a business model problem; how does one merge economic theory and technology to arrive on a profitable business model? The research observes that a developer can promote his application directly to Kenyan end users – positive network effects lead to more value in the network. But they should not forget to incorporate businesses in their approach to value proposition.
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    Evaluation of the use of internet in students' : case study of hostels around Strathmore University
    Gathenya, Esther Nyokabi; Ateya, Ismail Lukandu
    The research investigates the use of Internet by undergraduate students in Strathmore University with a specific look at availability and use of Internet in their halls of residence.A questionnaire survey is the research method that was used for data collection. Questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate students in six hostels around Strathmore University.The findings of the study reveal that the Internet is not extensively used by undergraduate students in their halls of residence. Students prefer using modems to connect to the Internet since the hostels rarely provide the services. The research also examines the equitable access to the Internet, as students mostly rely on private/commercial Internet cybercafés – both on and off campus – for their access and use. The findings of the research also reveal the need for having Internet services in student’s hostels and the use of the Internet in university for optimal utilization of electronic information sources.The research is useful for those in decision-making roles as it reveals the need for the provision of relevant Internet infrastructural facilities in Kenyan hostels around institutions of higher learning and sustainable access to the Internet by the students to support their academic activities.
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    Architecture design model for E-Iearning
    (2011-06) Barasa, Situma D.
    Education and Training is recognized as fundamental to the success of Kenya vision 2030. The use of Information and Communication Technology (lCT) is assumed to transform learning in learning institutions. E-learning being one of the modes of content delivery in learning has gained acceptance in educational institutions in Kenya. However key challenges associated with e-learning in education include quality, equity, relevance and standards thereby presenting various challenges in the Kenya educational institutions with regard to its implementation. This study tried to undertake a needs assessment to establish the learning resource requirements, teaching and learning activities and assessment methods suitable for e learning. The study used online users specifically in educational institutions within Nairobi County as the target population. The study employed a survey research design. Findings suggested that there are differences in e-learning requirements across educational institutions thereby posing a great danger in terms of educational standards, quality and equity. Findings also show that various social network;" though popular have not been fully integrated in our e-Iearning system. New methods of content delivery suggested go along way in improving learning processes hence the quality, access, standards and relevance of education is harnessed. An architecture design model for e -learning a product of an e-learning needs assessment forms the benchmark for e-learning for institutions of learning. The findings and recommendations from the study will eventually may be used to reform e-learning programmes and improving on tutor proficiency for quality online instruction in institutions of higher learning. The findings of the research may go along way to assist education policy makers to make decisions that improves the quality of education in terms of continuing opportunities for learners, high rate of transition, equity, retention and completion, and accelerated learning.
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    Cost Effective News Gathering Technique in Kenya Using Terrestrial Broadband IP Links
    (2013-11-18) Njoroge, Benson W.; Sevilla, Joseph; Marwanga (Dr.), Reuben; Kiraka, Ruth
    This study aims to understand the methodologies and challenges of the current news gathering techniques used by broadcasters in Kenya and provide guidelines and methodology for development of an economical and cost-effective alternative technique. The research adopts both an analytic and applied approach. The analytic approach aims to review and analyze the existing methodologies and techniques and the challenges associated with them. The Applied approach aims to provide a guideline and methodology for a cost-effective alternative technique using locally available computer hardware (Video input and output cards), software (MPEG4 encoders and decoders) running over terrestrial broadband IP Links. The findings indicate that majority of the broadcasters in Kenya use the traditional satellite based news gathering technique (Digital Satellite News Gathering) which exhibit expensive and proprietary hardware systems and software. These techniques are always constrained by resources such as satellite bandwidth, hardware equipments and qualified manpower. The designed cost-effective alternative technique delivers the same video quality with significantly low capital expenditure and operation costs. The cost effective technique provides good foundation for future research and development of low cost commercial news gathering systems that run on broadband IP links. Additional research and experiments are recommended for development of similar but robust, versatile and automated systems that have the encoding software embedded in the operating systems code (such as Linux and UNIX) in a scenario where the encoder and decoder computers powers on without I/O devices and starts the services at boot time. The developed technique provide the broadcasters in Kenya and other developing countries with a cheaper alternative news gathering systems that can be used where reliable and fast terrestrial fibre, microwave, WiMax , 3 G or 4G links exists. For guaranteed service, the broadcasters should ensure they use robust computers suitable for outdoor use and the bandwidth available on the terrestrial links is over 2 Mbps for video and 128 Kbps for audio. This study shows that for the fist time, the terrestrial IP broadband networks in the region can be used for news gathering services by broadcasters using low cost equipments. The economic sense of using computers shows the news gathering service can be available to broadcasters regardless of cost and resource constraints.