Bridgewater Magazine, Volume 15, Number 1, Fall 2004

Feature story covers wireless computing on campus and the new notebook computer requirement for students; also Alumni Profiles, College News, and Class Notes.https://vc.bridgew.edu/br_mag/1002/thumbnail.jp

A hybrid performance evaluation system for notebook computer ODM companies

[[abstract]]The aim of the paper is to fulfill this need by building a conceptual framework for measuring the business performance of notebook computer ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) companies carried out to investigate how performance is understood and to identify the potential dimensions to improvement. In the process, a multiple criteria procedure is used to assess the performance in these companies. We explore the performance-evaluation systems by using fuzzy AHP and VIKOR techniques. The evidence from the investigation showed that supply chain capability and manufacturing capability are the top two indicators for the notebook computer ODM companies’ performance. Furthermore, it was found that Quanta and Compal have the relative high business performance among these companies. The research provides evidence which establishes whether benchmarking provides a real and lasting benefit to notebook computer ODM companies. A series of managerial implications are set forth and discussed.[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SSCI[[booktype]]紙本[[countrycodes]]NG

Views of the first cohort of HKU notebook programme participants

In 1998, the University of Hong Kong was the first tertiary institution in Asia to implement a campuswide notebook computer programme, where each incoming student is enabled to own a personal notebook computer. At the beginning of each year, incoming students are surveyed to collect baseline data about their self-reported computer skills and their attitudes about computer use in education. In mid-May 2001, at the end of their undergraduate education, the 1998 cohort was surveyed again to gauge the changes, if any, in the skills and attitudes of the students after three years of study at the university and to collect the opinions of the students for future directives concerning IT in education at the University. Generally, students who participated in the notebook programme were satisfied and found the ThinkPads to be useful in their coursework and studies, using them for about 14 hours a week for school work.published_or_final_versio

Enabling electronic prognostics using thermal data

Prognostics is a process of assessing the extent of deviation or degradation of a product from its expected normal operating condition, and then, based on continuous monitoring, predicting the future reliability of the product. By being able to determine when a product will fail, procedures can be developed to provide advanced warning of failures, optimize maintenance, reduce life cycle costs, and improve the design, qualification and logistical support of fielded and future systems. In the case of electronics, the reliability is often influenced by thermal loads, in the form of steady-state temperatures, power cycles, temperature gradients, ramp rates, and dwell times. If one can continuously monitor the thermal loads, in-situ, this data can be used in conjunction with precursor reasoning algorithms and stress-and-damage models to enable prognostics. This paper discusses approaches to enable electronic prognostics and provides a case study of prognostics using thermal data.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions