Towards a World of Fixers Examining barriers and enablers of widely deployed third-party repair for computing within limits

Abstract

Repair of computing devices is a potentially valuable pathway to energy and material conservation. I examine current barriers and enablers in design, manufacturing, policy, and practice arenas to more efficacious and widely deployed networks of third-party repair by 2030. Current barriers include design practices that reduce device service life; manufacturing practices that fail to mitigate or eliminate toxicants and externalities (e.g., pollution, waste), the socialization of costs of harms (e.g., pollution, waste) and the privatization of profits from device sales; restrictive enduser licensing agreements (EULAs), and the criminalization of third-party repair. Current enablers include public advocacy for legislation and regulation that reduce or eliminate toxicants in electronics design and manufacturing, require manufacturers to disclose pollution releases and transfers, and enhance right-torepair; and growing networks of independent and do-it-yourself ICT maintenance and repair (INDIY ICT M&R) practitioners and advocates. After examining these barriers to, and enablers of, more efficacious and widely deployed third-party repair, I draw together findings from our existing research on INDIY ICT M&R activity and its potential to contribute to material and energy conservation for computing within limits over the next decade.

Right to Repair E Preservação Do Meio Ambiente

“…A contaminação do solo, da água e do ar também é deveras preocupante. Lepawsky (2020), em seus estudos sobre o que é hoje designado Silicon Valley, menciona a área de estudo Middlefield-Ellis-Whisman (MEW), que corresponde a três áreas de Superfund 43 , totalizando cerca de "88 acres destinados à limpeza de poluição tóxica, principalmente relacionada com a contaminação das águas subterrâneas e, secundariamente, à poluição do ar pela infiltração de Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis (COVs) de fontes de águas subterrâneas contaminadas" (Lepawsky, 2020, p. 316, tradução livre) 44 .…”

Developing Public Communication Methods by Combining Science, Creative Arts and Intergenerational Influence: The Trace Project

“…It should be acknowledged there is probably a strong social desirability bias when completing a questionnaire or interview immediately after a children's music performance where many of the audience were rel-atives. However, currently repairing personal electrical devices is difficult and often manufacturers discourage self or third-party repair and the costs for repairs can be high compared to the cost of a new item (Cole et al, 2019;Lepawsky, 2020). The public are starting to put their support behind campaigns such as 'Right to Repair' and push for change on this issue (Shittu et al, 2021b), persuading manufacturers (such as Apple) to change long-held stances and enact changes.…”

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“…Other interesting considerations about rebound effects are those pointed out by [33], who concludes that gains arising from robust repair networks are unlikely on their own to overcome the rebound effects related to aggregated demand for energy. Instead, the author points to fundamental changes in design, manufacturing, and business models before devices are in the hands of consumers.…”