Authors: K. Ravi Chandra, MD. Abu Bakar, M. Sai Kiran, MD. Ayaan
Abstract: — High-density academic computer science laboratories operate under continuous multi-batch student schedules, resulting in accelerated hardware wear, peripheral dislocations, and frequent system downtime. Conventional equipment fault reporting depends on manual physical logbooks kept at instructor podiums or informal verbal complaints, which introduce severe reporting friction, machine misidentifications, and multi-day resolution delays. In this paper, we propose and implement LAB FIX, a zero-installation, QR-enabled fault reporting and maintenance triage framework engineered to modernize institutional computing facilities. Instead of fragile, desk-level barcode stickers that suffer from physical wear, peeling, and student tampering, the proposed architecture deploys a durable, centralized room-level optical QR code poster per laboratory. Scanning the poster via native smartphone browsers automatically resolves room context through URL query parameters. To eliminate manual typographical errors without enforcing authentication barriers, the client interface provides constrained, pre-bounded dropdown selectors (PC-01 to PC-60) alongside standardized defect checkboxes. User credentials are cached within browser LocalStorage for one-tap subsequent reporting. Incoming complaints are processed by an automated backend keyword priority triage engine that streams tickets in real time to an administrative faculty dashboard via WebSockets. Experimental evaluation in an operational 60-workstation laboratory demonstrated a 95.8% reduction in complaint turnaround time (from ~14 minutes to 28 seconds), 100% precision in workstation identification, and instantaneous technician triage notification.
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