For a web application I'm developing my manager has asked me to display the life expectancy of a hardware component. The component will according to the manufacturer handle at least 16 000 000 operations, and is after that in danger of breaking.
I thought I would display it like a percental value going from 100% to 0% as a metaphor for the health of the component. However, there is really no telling if the component will break at 16 000 001 operations or at 30 000 000 operations, pretty much like a light bulb. Meaning that the health could be sitting at 0% for a large portion of its existence, which wouldn't feel that professional... =\
So I would really like to have some input from you guys. Does anyone know of any best practice for circumstances like these or have any other ideas.
If you want me to provide more information then please ask! =)
/Max
EDIT: With the input from Ben Brocka I decided to have the health presented as a percentual value dropping from 100% down to 11% and from 10% and down I will present: "At Risk" in red with a tooltip saying "Health is below 10%".