We used to be able to repair whatever broken thing we had. If your car is broken, all it really needs is a bit of looking over, and you can address the issue on your own. The same goes with many things: fixing a chair or table on your own is relatively easy, or replacing your handheld gaming console’s screen is actually possible. But as technology improves and many of the devices we have grown more complex (more microchips, more physics-involved aspects, and smaller chassis), it stops becoming “repairable” at some point.
Or does it really? It’s difficult to simply make a blanket statement that “everything can be repaired.” Design choices and design philosophies can actually hamper the repairability of some items. However, businesses are now creating devices with the intent of never needing repairs- just replacement. Newer devices are next to impossible to fix, and it’s simply more convenient to purchase new ones. Due to this, the movement for the right to repair was born. It’s one mired in controversy and confusion and is something that definitely needs clarification.
What Is the Right to Repair?
Simply put, the right to repair means the device you own should be repairable by you or a professional. And as mentioned before, many designers make repairs even more difficult. While it’s already legal to repair what you own, most manufacturers aren’t very cooperative when getting the repair information like schematics, software and firmware codes, and manuals available. Many even use proprietary screws and locks to prevent repairs from being done.
Right to repair activists call for legalizing many of the more esoteric yet illegal aspects of devices: gaining access to firmware to change it legally, illegalizing proprietary tools (unless necessary), and designing with repair in mind is what they fight for. It might sound rather simplistic, but it’s far more involved than one might assume. It brings a whole slew of discussion to the table, and while the points are valid, the idea of being able to repair what you own remains the most critical.
Why It Concerns You
Even if you’re not a repairperson, the right to repair still very much affects you. Since many of us own multiple devices, being able to get these devices fixed (be it on our own or through a professional) is essential. Below are some more reasons why you should be concerned.
Saves on E-Waste. With environmental issues a significant talking point nowadays, not having to throw away devices alleviates the already insurmountable environmental concerns. Since e-waste is one of the largest sources of waste, we need to be more aware of the disposal of our devices. The right to repair addresses that by not rendering broken devices obsolete. Since they can be fixed, they won’t have to be thrown away, reducing landfills and preventing the dangerous chemicals in our devices from spreading.
Extends the Use of Devices. The right to repair extends the lifespan of your devices by asking manufacturers to allow the repairs of the modular parts of a device. A broken smartphone screen should simply merit a visit to a phone repair specialist and not have to need you to buy an entirely new phone. Minor damage should always be repairable and not be a death sentence for your gadget.
Makes Getting Repairs Easier. When repairability is integrated into the design, we won’t have to worry about breaking our gadgets. It will be easier to get spare parts, the information to repair it will be available, and it’ll cause fewer headaches for the device’s user base. In this technology-reliant world, we need to be more knowledgeable with what our own devices need to be fixed, and the right to repair fights for that.
Prevents Designed Obsolescence. Designed obsolescence or planned obsolescence is a fancy way of referring to the design flaws that manufacturers intentionally leave in their products. The general idea is that when products break, consumers should just buy new ones and not attempt to fix them. Obviously, this argument is very much flawed, and it’s something that the right to repair movement addresses. By integrating modular and repairable aspects to modern devices, planned obsolescence is effectively counteracted because devices simply won’t just break when they’re old.
The right to repair isn’t just technicians clamoring for an “easy time” with their job. It concerns all of us as a whole since technology is something that we use in our everyday lives. The more control we have over these devices, the more we have power over our own lives augmented by these devices.
