Technology

Introduction of computers has revolutionized the society, especially the business industry. With the developments in computer based Communications Technology and the Internet, there have been rapid moves forward in the application of computers. While hardware has been offering more capacity, speed and capabilities day by day, the software is increasingly becoming complex and challenging, though the benefits it offers have also multiplied manifold.

Owing to this, there have been efforts made all over the world to find innovative methodologies to make the software development process in a simple way, much less prone to risk. The popular methodology currently being employed the world over is Unified Process that offers a solution to this complex software development process, which has been widely accepted by most developers.  

This document describes a case study in the software development consistent with the user requirements.

Considering the requirements, a candidate solution which fulfills all of them is as suggested below
A web based software (for example, for ordering gifts) that a user can access over the internet. As per the requirement, it enables the user to select a gift out of the gifts that are displayed on the site, to place an order for the gift, enter the address where it is to be delivered and finally, to make a payment for the same.

Such software fulfills the criteria mentioned as given below
User friendly program and software The user will be presented with a list of items displayed by small pictures (thumbnails). Heshe can view the photograph of the item by enlarging the thumbnail. Heshe can also study the description of the item mentioned alongside. The user has option to select the categories of gifts or to select all categories heshe can view the list in the ascending or descending order of the price. The user can also select multiple gifts by moving the selected gifts to a shopping bag which heshe can order, discard or modify later as heshe wishes. The entire interaction will be user friendly and in an interactive manner. The payment also will be collected by credit card or by online transfer from bank account in a user friendly, secured environment. This will be preceded by a User Registration form which will be user friendly, having multiple choices for selection where it is possible to eliminate data entry and chances of wrong entries.

Easy access and easy to follow instructions As mentioned above, the web site will display one or all categories of the gifts as per users choice, arranged in the order of hisher preference of price. Clicking on the thumbnail will enlarge the picture providing a detailed view. Thus, it is very easy to operate. Besides this, the site provides extensive HELP where one can receive help text with reference to ones current position (location) in the site. As for the data to be entered, the form provides clear field names along with explanatory messages that appear while you move from one field to another during entry. Specific formats as the ones for date are depicted on the field which tells the user in what form heshe is expected to enter the date. Thus, access to any item on the site is easy, user friendly, and supported by extensive context sensitive help.

To protect consumers personal information The data entered by the user are stored in the database in an encrypted form by using a formula. Such data can be de-encrypted or brought to its normal form only by converting it back by using the same formula.  Therefore, even if someone is to look at the data entered by you, heshe will only see a set of unreadable, garbled characters, from which no inference can be made. Thus, the information of the user is fully protected.

With the above requirements, a system can be developed, keeping in mind the features mentioned above. The entire software development life cycle can be carried out using Unified Process Methodology which involves collection of requirements, creation of a model, designing the software, developing and testing a prototype for the same and finally evaluating the system  during an incremental, iterative process. With the help of the results from the evaluation, one more iteration of design and development is carried out. The process is repeated till the software is found to be satisfactory after evaluation. The software will be user friendly and  easy to use with complete protection of information of the user.

This document has defined the features required for software to be developed for on-line stores. How these requirements can be fulfilled, the purpose of the features that software must have and how the software can be developed, was also explained in the document.