Joseph Danso

Work place: Department of Computer Science, Takoradi Technical University, Ghana

E-mail: joseph.danso@ttu.edu.gh

Website:

Research Interests: Big Data Analytics, Information Systems

Biography

Joseph Danso is a Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, Takoradi Technical University with over twenty years of teaching experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and master’s degree in information systems at Sheffield University, UK. His research interests are Database Systems, Information Systems Management, Data Analytics and Grounded Theory.

Author Articles
Survival Analysis of Computers at a University’s Computer Laboratory and Implication on Maintainability

By Timothy Simpson Joseph Danso John Awuah Addor Stephen Graham Anaman

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5815/ijeme.2024.02.02, Pub. Date: 8 Apr. 2024

Research has shown that, after extensive use, digital devices like computers often suffer performance declines, and some even experience sudden, complete breakdowns without warning. This phenomenon is particularly disturbing for individuals who heavily rely on these devices to carry out critical tasks. Although researchers have extensively probed the causes of computer breakdowns, detailed parameters influencing the lifespan of computers remain underexplored. This paper, therefore, aims to estimate the probability associated with the continuous functioning or failure of a computer system over a specified duration, and to examine risk factors associated with failure. Delving into the mysteries of computer longevity, data on 100 computers in a designated lab at an academic environment were examined.  Data was drawn from maintenance records as well as in-depth hardware assessments. Analysis revealed that, after a 4-year period of active usage, 73 of the computers remained operational, while 27 had malfunctioned. Survival analysis methods were employed to determine the probability of computers failing at specific points in time and to identify various factors contributing to early computer failure. The findings disclosed that at the two-year mark, the probability of computers remaining operational is 80%, decreasing to 62% at the three-year juncture. The median survival time was established at 3 years and 4 months. Furthermore, an analysis of causative factors revealed that computers with faulty motherboards and power supply units associates with a lower rate of survival, while computers with issues of hard drives, operating systems, and miscellaneous components has a higher rate of survival. This study provides comprehensive data-driven evidence that offers insights on the need to implement maintenance strategies to proactively extend the lifespan of computers.

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