NTU Q-Count: smart spaces, informed choices

Abstract

This study will present the development and contrivance of NTU Q-Count, a android mobile application designed to enhance and improve the study environment at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). NTU Q-Count empowers users to update and view the crowd density of various study spaces in NTU, while also serving as an information hub for existing and prospective students. Additionally, users will have the convenience of navigating to these locations using the integrated Application Programming Interface (API) features. The development of NTU Q-Count involved the utilisation of Android Studio, which is a popular integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app creation. Firebase was integrated into the app's architecture to provide real-time database functionalities, user authentication, and cloud storage capabilities. The application also leverages on the Google Maps API to incorporate functional navigation features. NTU Q-count allows for users to view different categories of study spaces and health facilities with their respective images and addresses, use the in-built Google Maps API to navigate to their chosen location if necessary, check-in and check-out of chosen study rooms to update the real-time crowd density, as well as to time their study progress with a study timer incorporated into the application. The main goal of NTU Q-Count is to allow NTU students to manage their study times and locations, revolutionising the way they navigate and utilise campus spaces in a time-efficient and space-efficient manner. The app aims to encourage the disciplined check-in and check-out of study space users through the concept of crowd density reporting, so that students can be aware of real-time crowd data present in study spaces at all times, allowing them to choose the best study spaces according to their needs. Moreover, it allows prospective NTU students and hall residents to find detailed information about each study space, such as its location, opening hours and restrictions, and navigate to the chosen locations through the Google Maps feature. The study timer feature in NTU Q-Count is inspired by the “Pomodoro” Japanese study method, that allows for users to time their study periods, making sure to take appropriate breaks to maximise their study productivity