DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SMART-LINK APPLICATION FOR ENHANCING INFORMATION SHARING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

The integration of mobile technology has revolutionized the dissemination of information across various sectors of human endeavour, including higher education. This study proposes the development of an Android application tailored to enhance information dissemination and information sharing among undergraduate students of industrial design at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The envisioned application aims to facilitate access to course materials, foster communication among peers and faculty members, and provide updates on the latest trends in the field of graphic communication. Leveraging the widespread use and intuitive interface of Android devices, the application seeks to streamline accessing of information and sharing it within the academic community. To assess the efficacy of the proposed application, a survey utilizing a 5-Point Likert Scale was conducted with a sample of 124 students of the Department of Industrial Design, ABU, Zaria. The survey results informed iteretive refinements to the application design, ensuring alignment with the needs and preferences of the target audience. The cumulative frequency yielded a mean score of 4.7, indicating a strong agreement with the application's utility within the Likert Limits of Scale from which conclusions and recommendations were proposed.