Abstract
The rapid increase in the use of smartphones and other mobile devices in developing countries like Nigeria, comes with the huge challenge of rampant phone theft and difficult process of recovery. This study was aimed at improving the recovery process for lost phones by the development of a mobile application for locating and retrieving lost mobile phones in real-time. The system design methodology was based on object-oriented analysis and design using the unified modelling language. The system was implemented using Android SDK Tools Version 23.0.5 in combination with Google Map service an underlying Firebase real-time database. The application was tested with Android 5.0 (Lollipop). The software was successfully used to track mobile devices in real-time with other retrieval aids like lock, ring and wipe (if the owner wants to) applied during the recovery process. The authors recommend this application as a simplified solution to the problem of mobile phone theft/misplacement.
Highlights
The design of the application developed in this study is based on the Object-Oriented Analysis and Design methodology (OOAD) using the Unified Modelling Language (UML)
The application was developed with the official IDE for Android application development Android Studio SDK, which comes with all the necessary tools for developing Android applications
Find Device Interface screenshot: This interface allows a user to find a lost device by typing its L-CODE in the field provided
Summary
Advances in information and communication technology have led to the development of various handheld and pocket-sized telecommunication devices, whose importance in the current global information technology economy cannot be overemphasized. The mobile phone, being the most common form of such devices possess extensive computing capabilities, including high-speed access to internet services regardless of its small size [1]. Mobile phones have become almost indispensable because of the ease at which they can be carried around, and readily integrated into a user’s routine. Connecting with work, family and friends has been made easy with the use mobile phones. In 2016, an estimated 62.9% of the population worldwide already owned a mobile phone. The mobile phone penetration is forecasted to continue to grow, rounding up to 67% by 2019, [2]. In Nigeria, for example, smartphone users have been forecast to grow to over 140 million (60%) by 2025 [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
