Project – STIMULATING A VOICE AIDED MACHINE FOR VISUALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE

ABSTRACT

This project aimed at creating a Stimulating a voice Aided machine for visually challenged people to enhance the quality of service these customers get from their banks. It also targeted at breaching the barrier that prevented blind Nigerians, and persons with visual impairments to utilize the ATM. This simulated voice aided ATM makes use of audible instructions that allow the user to conduct transactions with a degree of security. The research methodology used in this project research is the SSADM (Structured System Analysis and Design Method). This work successfully implemented a model of a voice aided ATM that will help to overcome the obstacles that hinder the provision of financial services to all segments of our society. The new system was designed using Microsoft visual basic 6.0 programming language. This language was chosen because of its easy syntax and features for developing windows based applications.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –

Certification    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –

Abstract          –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –

Dedication      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –

Acknowledgement      –           –           –           –           –           –           –

Table of content          –           –           –           –           –           –           –

CHAPTER ONE:     GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0       Introduction    –           –           –           –           –           –           –

1.1       Aims and Objectives  –           –           –           –           –           –

1.2       Statement of Problem –           –           –           –           –           –

1.3       Significance of the Study       –           –           –           –           –

1.4       Organization of the Study      –           –           –           –           –

1.5       Scope of the Study      –           –           –           –           –           –

1.6       Limitation of the Study          –           –           –           –           –

CHAPTER TWO:    LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0       Literature review and system analysis           –           –           –

2.1       Literature Review       –           –           –           –           –           –

2.2       Feasibility Study         –           –           –           –           –           –

2.3       System Analysis         –           –           –           –           –           –

2.3.1    Fact Finding    –           –           –           –           –           –           –

2.3.2    Analysis of the Existing System         –           –           –           –

2.3.3    Statement of the Problems      –           –           –           –           –

2.3.4    Solution to the problems        –           –           –           –           –

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Research Methodology           –           –           –           –           –

3.2       System Design            –           –           –           –           –           –

3.2.1    Input and Output Format        –           –           –           –           –

3.3       Database Design         –           –           –           –           –           –

3.4       Use Case Modeling for MACHINEs  –           –           –

3.5       Sequence Diagram of ATM   –           –           –           –           –

            CHAPTER FOUR: SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

4.1       System Implementation          –           –           –           –           –

4.2       Choice of Programming Language    –           –           –           –

4.3       Installation Requirement        –           –           –           –           –

4.4       Hardware Requirement           –           –           –           –           –

4.5       Software Requirement            –           –           –           –           –

4.6       Process of Installation            –           –           –           –           –

4.7       System Testing           –           –           –           –           –           –

4.8       System Changeover    –           –           –           –           –           –

4.9       System Documentation          –           –           –           –           –

            CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.0       Introduction    –           –           –           –           –           –           –

5.1      Summary        –           –           –           –           –           –           –

5.2       Conclusion      –           –           –           –           –           –           –

5.3       Recommendation        –           –           –           –           –           –

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.0       INTRODUCTION

The Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is a self-service machine that dispenses cash and performs some human teller functions like balance enquiry, bills payments, mini statements and so on. ATM transactions are carried out through the use of a debit/credit card which enables the card holder(s) to access and carry out banking transactions without a teller.

Nearly every adult has used an ATM, probably without much thought about who owns and operates it. Many ATMs belong to banks. ATMs are placed not only near or inside the premises of banks, but also in locations such as shopping centers/malls, airports, grocery stores, petrol/gas stations, restaurants, or anywhere frequented by large numbers of people these People typically offer the ATM as a convenience for their customer base and even for noncustomers. This companies and firms provides after hours access to a host of transactions such as cash withdrawals, deposits, and transfers, but many are placed by independent businesses that operate ATMs for profit.

ATMs are known by various other names including ATM machine, automated banking machine, cash machine and various regional variants derived from trademarks on MACHINEs held by particular banks.

On most modern ATMs, the customer is identified by inserting a plastic ATM card with a magnetic stripe or a plastic smart card with a chip that contains a unique card number and some security information such as an expiration date or CVVC (CVV). Authentication is provided by the customer entering a personal identification number (PIN).

Using an ATM, customers can access their bank accounts in order to make cash withdrawals, debit card cash advances, and check their account balances as well as purchase pre-paid mobile phone credit. Banks have become the principal deployers of ATMs. Globally, Banks have become the principal deployers of ATMs. Two reasons for this are that they want to increase their market share, although due to the prevalence of ATMs, it is not likely to be the primary means by which ATMs increase profitability for most banks; or/and above a certain level of operations, the cost of a single transaction performed at an ATM is potentially less than the cost of a transaction conducted from a teller, as ATMs are capable of handling more transactions per unit of time than are tellers (Laderman, 1990). In Nigeria the deployment of ATM by banks and its use by bank customers is just gaining ground and has burgeoned in recent times. This has happened especially after the recent consolidation of banks, which has in all probability, made it possible for more banks to afford to deploy ATMs or at least become part of shared networks (Fasan, 2007). The increased deployment of ATMs in the banking sector has made the issue of technology relevance important. ATM services have a history that is less than ten years in Nigeria. At first, they were operated as elitist services designed for those desirous of exclusive service.

The introduction of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) brought succour to Nigerian

Banking environment as long queues in the banking halls began to wane, as most customers opted to transact through that channel. This relief however did not extend to blind and visually impaired customers of the same banks. This ugly scenario prompted the development of a Voice aided or talking specially designed for blind customers of banks. A Talking ATM or voice aided ATM is a type of automated teller machine (ATM) that provides audible instructions so that persons who cannot read an ATM screen can independently use the machine. All audible information is delivered privately through a standard headphone jack on the face of the machine or a separately attached telephone handset. Information is delivered to the customer either through pre-recorded sound files or via text-to-speech speech synthesis.

The situation in Nigeria for blind customers’ of banks has been pathetic as no single financial institution has made provision for a voiced aided ATM. The advent of a Truly Accessible ATM will make persons with disabilities more independent in respect of personal financial matters. It provides complete accessibility to a wheelchair as well as to a visually challenged ATM user.

Our system came as a timely intervention to help customers with visual disadvantage to equally have a fair treatment in banks like their other customer. In this project, we describe a simulated voice aided MACHINE, which is truly accessible to blind customers with the help of bank attendance. It has all the features of a real ATM machine like withdrawal of cash, changing of default PIN number, checking of balance etc.

1.1          AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This project is aimed at Stimulating a voice Aided machine for visually challenged people with the help of bank attendance that will help them check Balance, change their default PIN, recharge their mobile phone and Withdraw cash with the following objectives:

• To design a robust and friendly user interface voice aided MACHINE that is easy to use by blind customer with little assistant from bank staff.
• To provide better banking options to blind customer.
• To provide solution alternatives to the operations inherent in the existing system.
• To review existing literature on voice aided MACHINE.
• To examine the relevant of adopting a voice aided MACHINE.
• To offer useful recommendations on how do improve on existing MACHINEs.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

It is only in developed countries of the world that nearly all banks deploy Voice aided ATM for it blind customer. Operating by Blind customers is not easy as they are easily defrauded by bank staffs or their close assistance without their knowledge. The processes involved in the process of using ATM has no provision for blind customers and  has some negative effects to both customers and banks. These problems necessitated for a prompt action that will require a voice aided or talking MACHINE that will bring succour, comfort and security to blind customers.

1.3           SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THEORY

This project when implemented will directly benefits both the financial institutions using ATM and all its blind customers and will also reduce queue in ATM terminals. It will rebrand the image of Nigerian banking system as fully ICT inclined. This study will in many ways promote good management in Nigeria banking sector.

1.4        ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This project was covered under five stages:

Chapter 1:     Deals with the introduction. The background of the project is discussed. The objectives of the project, statement of problem, its significance, scope, and constraints are pointed out.

Chapter 2:     This chapter reviews the related literature on the research work.

Chapter 3:     Discusses system Investigation and Analysis. It deals with detailed investigation and analysis of the existing system and problem identification.

Chapter 4:     This chapter describes how the new system was designed, how it works and what it needs or requires. This also shows the implementation of the new system with the written program, flowcharts and pseudo codes

Chapter 5:     This chapter summarizes, concludes and recommends the research.

1.5           SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The research work is restricted to ATM operated by financial institution and for only blind customer will cover among other things:

1. Changing of customer default PIN.
2. Withdrawal of fund.
3. Checking of balance.
4. Recharging of mobile phones.

1.6              LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Some of the constraints encountered during this project design include the following:

Financial Constraints: The design was achieved but not without some financial involvements. One had to pay for the computer time. Also the typing and planning of the work has its own financial involvements.

High programming Technique: The programming aspect of this project posed a lot of problematic bugs that took me some days to solve. Problems such as database connections using visual basic.NET and access database posed a lot of challenges.

Few Literature Sources: The topic though seems to be a common term; it is not a popular topic to surf from the Internet. It had fewer literature sources.

1.6      DEFINITION OF TERMS

1)         ATM: Automated Teller machine (ATM) is a computerized telecommunications device that enables the clients of a financial institution to perform financial transactions without the need for a cashier, human clerk or bank teller.

2)         SIMULATION: This is the act of imitating the behaviour of a working system or situation or real-world process over time.

3)         ATM CARD: ATM card is also like magnetic strip card. It is also a data carrier which electronically reads and writes data. ATM cards are mainly a debit card.

4)         SYSTEM: This is a group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent computers that share a central storage system and various peripheral devices.

5)         PIN: Personal Identification Number (PIN) is a 4 digit number you choose and use to gain access to your account in an ATM for financial transactions.

6)         TRANSACTION: This is a legal agreement or activities in banking halls between a customer and the bank. Those activities may include Lodging money into a bank account and withdrawing of money, checking of balance.

7)         VOICE AIDED ATM: are automatic teller machines that provide the ability to conduct transactions using both visual and auditory components.

8)         HEADPHONE: These are electro-acoustic transducer for converting electric signals into sounds.

9)         FRAUD: This is a wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.

 

Project – STIMULATING A VOICE AIDED MACHINE FOR VISUALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE