Explore a topic you are passionate about
While working on software development projects, I noticed how important it is to implement accessibility features. A significant number of people worldwide have a disability, making it quite likely that someone with a disability will use the system you have built. I wanted to build a system that directly addressed the needs of people who have certain types of disabilities.
My final year project, AccessPlus, is a system that strives to make using hotel front desk services easier for disabled people. After discussions with my final-year project supervisors, we came to the idea of a system that allows disabled guests to use hotel services with the same level of ease as anyone else, through an alternative format.
AccessPlus consists of a mobile app for disabled hotel guests and a web app for hotel staff. The mobile app allows guests to use the front desk services in a highly accessible digital format, with a range of accessibility features built in. Examples of front desk services supported by the app include checking in or out, requesting luggage handling, and requesting tourist information. Meanwhile, the web app web allows hotel staff to be notified of and respond to queries and requests from guests using the mobile app. The idea is that the revenue generated from including a new range of clients will outweigh the expenditure of a hotel adopting such a system.
Develop an industry-ready product
This project required carrying out a lot of research on specific disabilities and digital accessibility technologies that can help people who have these disabilities. Additionally, research into existing products was performed.
I picked up a lot of new knowledge regarding accessibility and I now feel confident in developing Android apps to a professional, industry-level standard by following recommended practices, guidelines, and architectures to produce a robust app that can easily be tested, scaled, and maintained.
Presenting my project at the Digital Shark Expo event was an incredibly valuable opportunity to hear what my peers and industry professionals thought of AccessPlus. I was pleased to hear that others agreed that such a system is a much-needed addition for hotels striving to expand their customer base by being more inclusive.
Gain specialist skills and knowledge
I have thoroughly enjoyed my studies and student experience at Greenwich right from the start. Being able to pursue a programme of study that I am highly passionate about has fuelled my desire to learn and perform to a high standard while taking pride in my work.
The BSc Computing course at the University of Greenwich met my specific goals and presented opportunities to pick up skills and knowledge in areas that I am thoroughly interested in. You not only learn technical skills at an advanced level but also management and organisational skills and techniques that are used in the industry today. There has been plenty of choice when selecting optional modules, which gave me the freedom to go down my preferred pathway and learn the skills and knowledge that I felt would benefit me the most.
My overall experience as a student at Greenwich has been full of opportunities from the start, which I have been kept well-informed of throughout, and getting to know so many great people from a diverse range of backgrounds has been fantastic.
