The Restart Project Podcast

As summer gets into full swing, we get down and dirty with a craft that is all about unlocking the natural resources that we are standing right on top of – cob building. Kate Edwards runs Edwards Cob Building where she teaches complete beginners how to build a cob house – literally – from the ground up. In addition to her teaching, Edwards also works on many original buildings and renovations, historical restoration and art pieces. We talked to Edwards about the sustainability of cob and why this ancient practice is the future of building.  The real ‘green’ building So why is cob building so sustainable? Well, for one, you might be able to find all of the resources to make cob in your own garden. Cob is a mixture of clay, subsoil, gravel and straw which dries naturally in the sun. As a result, for many builds no fuel is used in transporting resources and there is no manufacturing involved.  “Cement alone is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. And the modern building industry is responsible for 45% of CO2 emissions. So you just feel like, wow, what if I could do something more friendly to the planet?” It’s also completely repairable and reusable. Edwards tells us about buildings made with natural materials that have stood in Jericho since 8,000 BC. Cob buildings are remarkably easy to maintain and repair. If a part of the wall chips off, all you have to do is slap a handful of cob back on there. Even if a cob building needs to be knocked down, the materials can just be used to build another! Edwards says this is why other types of ‘green’ building methods cannot even compare.  How cob can be empowering We’ve discussed the potential held in low-tech before on the podcast and cob mirrors many of these benefits. It also gives autonomy and power back to the builder. Edwards relates that many people who come on her courses are making an effort to reconnect with the natural world. Making things with our hands affords a type of autonomy and fulfilment that is not gained through conventional building practices. Edwards hopes that we can unlearn the ways that industrialisation changed building. Hopefully, more people will gain the confidence to build their own homes from the materials around them.  “It literally changes people’s lives because people have this utter realisation that they can do it and they can create something that’s valuable from nothing – from mud. It’s utterly transformative.” While Edwards jokes that these reasons for loving cob may seem “hippy-dippy”, there are also legitimate structural and health benefits to this practice. Since cob houses are built from natural resources, these materials do not contain the same chemicals as more conventional modern builds. As a result, houses will not develop issues like damp and the damage that comes along with it and inhabitants may be less likely to develop asthma or similar conditions.  Art, culture and “CobBauge” It’s clear that the resurgence of cob building is only going to continue to grow. It isn’t just houses or renovations that Edwards builds either. She loves cob partly because of her passion for sculpture and is regularly involved in art commissions and historical restorations. She tells us about a few of her upcoming projects alongside other builders and sculptors from across the UK, France and India. Despite the barriers to cob becoming widespread in its use once more, the work that Edwards does is proving its power.  Links:  Please fill out our 2021 listener survey to help us improve the podcast Edwards Cob Building Read about the history of Cob building The Guardian: Concrete – the most destructive material on Earth The Guardian: Tolpuddle Martyrs’ old chapel to be restored as a place to ‘sit and think’ University of Plymouth CobBauge Project [Photo courtesy of Edwards Cob Building] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 66: Ancient cob building, part of a low-tech future appeared first on The Restart Project.

Before we get into the news and our Summer Reading List, here’s a plea to respond to our listener survey. We last did one of these in 2019 and found it really helpful in improving our work and making sure that our listeners enjoy the content that we produce. Fill it in here! Right to Repair  – in the UK and abroad Has the news in the UK surrounding Right to Repair been giving you deja vu? For us, it feels like forever since the UK government first announced these changes and since they were adopted in Europe back in March. The rules that came into effect last week mean that repairing all new white goods, including dishwashers, washing machines, fridges, and TVs, must be better supported by the long-term availability of spare parts. Overall, it is a move forward but some of the media reporting surrounding the regulations was misleading. In the US, there was also positive news for Right to Repair. President Biden issues an executive order that gives the Federal Trade Commission increased powers to enforce rules helping independent repair compete. We also hear Steve Wozniak – co-founder of Apple – talking about his support for the right to repair and how he would not have gotten to where he is without it. A selection of our summer reading list Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert – reviewed by James This is a book about humans trying to fix problems in the environment, and then making them worse, and then trying to fix them again. It’s about how we’re past conversation and preservation and now onto a stage of intervening to try and avert irreversible disasters. And how hard that is. Undoing Optimization: Civic Action in Smart Cities by Alison Powell – reviewed by Neil What are smart cities? Who creates them and who are they for? Powell explores these questions and more in Undoing Optimization. Her book delivers a thoughtful and comprehensive critique of the concept of smart cities, while also providing a broader look at the tension between corporate power, state power and citizen power.  We Are Bellingcat: An Intelligence Agency for the People by Eliot Higgins – reviewed by Janet We’re here for any book that tells the story of a community of collaborative geeks, who look to solve problems and mysteries together. Bellingcat starts with Higgins at his laptop in Leicester, and tells the story about how he honed his skills together with others around the world, forming teams of “amateur” sleuths who solved the mystery behind the downing of Malaysia Flight 17 in the Ukraine and exposed various war crimes in Syria. Check out our full reading list for blurbs on the other books on our list: Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake Flash Forward: An Illustrated Guide to Possible (And Not So Possible) Tomorrows by Rose Eveleth Free, Fair, and Alive: The Insurgent Power of the Commons by David Bollier and Silke Helfrich Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World by Jason Hickel Our Biggest Experiment: A History of the Climate Crisis by Alice Bell The Art of Disruption: A Manifesto For Real Change by Magid Magid Links: Fill in the 2021 listener survey Our full post on the UK’s new Right to Repair rules Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy Steve Wozniak speaks on Right to Repair [links to purchase books are affiliate links so that you can support both us and independent bookshops via bookshop.org] The post Restart Radio: Our 2021 Summer Reading List appeared first on The Restart Project.

This month, we had the pleasure of talking to repairer and activist, Jessa Jones. Jones is the founder of iPad Rehab and has carved out her own space in the repair world as a self-taught microsolderer and logic board repair teacher. We found out what makes her approach to repair and teaching unique, why she is so impassioned in her work, and what tools repairers in the US have to advocate for themselves.  From the toilet phone to teaching repair It is clear that Jones has the drive to repair, as she recounts how a two-year-long effort to fix her waterlogged phone catapulted her into becoming the technician that she is today. Part of what makes Jones so strong is the combination of her experience in molecular biology and as a stay-at-home mum. She describes her approach to repair as from a physician’s perspective. As such, she uses her problem-solving skills to diagnose a device, almost as you would a human body.  The team at iPad Rehab is also predominantly made up of former stay-at-home parents, and mostly women too. They also recruit students from the local high school robotics team. Jones points out that Anna and Ryan — both teenagers — routinely perform repairs that Apple themselves will not do, such as replacing charging chips. Companies like Apple’s refusal to repair is part of what motivates Jones in her work. A major factor though is the emotional element of succeeding in rescuing people’s memories that would otherwise be lost.  Repair barriers and the “branded repair” lie With a fascinating analogy between logic boards and cities and the human body, Jones explains the importance of schematics. While repair is not impossible without them, schematics make the job much easier and quicker. As time goes on, schematics become even more necessary as manufacturers build barriers to repair into device designs.  Jones runs us through just some of the numerous barriers to repair in iPhone models over the years. These affect parts from home buttons to batteries to screens. She emphasises the urgent worry that serialisation and pairing of parts — one of the biggest barriers to independent repair — is becoming more commonplace.  Perhaps the most galvanising point that Jones makes about “branded repair”, is how manufacturers mislead consumers relating to their own “repair” process. She explains how Apple has managed to market its sales of refurbished devices as repair. As a result, customers often lose their data and memories. And additionally, have to pay extortionate prices for something as small as fixing the charging port. Jones uses her voice and platform to inform consumers that this is not — and should not be — the only way.   Right to Repair in the US On June 11th, the day before our interview, the New York State Senate passed their first Right to Repair bill. While this is a landmark move for the state legislature, it is not law yet. It must also be passed by the New York State assembly – something that Jones says is unlikely to happen. She is not pessimistic though. While recognising the legislation is difficult to pass, she says it likely hinges on our ability to be vocal enough to gain the spotlight.  “These manufacturers are highly motivated to maintain their pyramid scheme and that means a constant barrage of messaging. There’s a lot of folks that haven’t really thought about Right to Repair and if what they’re hearing is a constant stream of this isn’t safe … then that could be really dangerous.” There are many wealthier parties interested in keeping Right to Repair quiet, spreading damaging and false messaging to the public. Activists and groups like Louis Rossmann’s Repair Preservation Group — of which Jones is on the board — are working tirelessly to get the real repair message heard.  Links: iPad Rehab iPad Rehab/Jessa Jones’s YouTube Channel Vice: He Was Murdered in a Hate Crime. She Brought His Blood-Soaked Phone Back to Life The Guardian: Sidestepping Apple: the third-party tinkerers fighting for your right to repair iFixit: Victory! New York Senate Passes Landmark Right to Repair Bill Restart Radio: The dangers of serialisation in smartphones [Photo courtesy of iPad Rehab – Jessa Jones (pictured far right) and the iPad Rehab team] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 65: Saving memories and exposing ‘branded’ repair with Jessa Jones appeared first on The Restart Project.

As businesses and community spaces are able to pick up operations again, we talk to Alys Penfold about her work with Library of Things. Penfold is currently the Borrower Support Lead at Library of Things and tells us about their mission, their impact, and exciting new locations that are opening soon.  While we were regularly going into the office, Restart shared an office with Library of Things. It’s lovely to catch up and talk about how borrowing and repair intersect.  First, we discuss the news and start with a cautionary tale. Promises from manufacturers need to be watched closely at risk of them falling apart. The complete overhaul and watering down of Samsung’s Galaxy ‘upcycling’ scheme is evidence of this. Next, we move onto the potential – perhaps hopeful – fall of Bitcoin and why this would be beneficial for the planet. And finally, some good news as Consumer NZ recycles the French repairability index for mobile phones. This move makes us optimistic that similar indices could spread further than France and New Zealand.  Library of Things is on a mission The bold aim of Library of Things is to make “borrowing better than buying”. Penfold tells us how they do this, including reducing costs for consumers, reducing waste, and building a local community. Since starting their pilot location in West Norwood they have expanded across London to make borrowing more accessible to local communities. Library of Things is a look into what our buying habits could be like once we realise that consumerism is not sustainable in many areas.  Their catalogue hosts a variety of items to be borrowed, some that surprised us. The things range from DIY to hobbying to adventuring and more. They cater to everyone’s needs whether you need to borrow a waffle maker, a tent, or a circular saw. And the range of things that can be borrowed is regularly expanding.  Penfold shares some stories about how she has witnessed the impact of their work. There are many reasons why people borrow – it could be more practical, cheaper, or more ecologically conscious.  Environmental impact and repair Library of Things’ work does not only benefit the borrowers but also the environment. By preventing people from buying an item that they will likely only use a few times, they are helping tackle the mounting pile of e-waste that the UK produces. So far, through their Crystal Palace site alone they have prevented 15,900 kg more of this waste.  Penfold tells us how they partner with manufacturers to create a symbiotic relationship of sorts. Major companies donate products to Library of Things and in turn, they are able to provide information on how long the products last and what needs to be fixed. Many of the things that Library of Things have in their catalogue would rarely be used by the average consumer. What they have found is that with regular use by their borrowers, the products are not necessarily designed with long lifespans that support frequent use.  Collaboration and growth Library of Things are planning to open many new locations in the coming months and are opening a new Hackney Wick site on June 15th. Around the country, there are also independent borrowing services popping up all over. Many of them have links to repair cafes and transition groups. We’re excited to see where Library of Things goes next! If you would like a Library of Things near you then head to their website for more information.  Links: Library of Things Sign our petition for a real Right to Repair iFixit: Galaxy upcycling: How Samsung ruined their best idea in years Vice: Elon Musk Says Bitcoin Has ‘Great Cost’ to Environment and Tesla Will No Longer Accept It Reseller: Consumer NZ launches mobile phone repairability score [Photo courtesy of Library of Things] The post Restart Radio: Borrowing boom at Library of Things appeared first on The Restart Project.

This month, we talk to fellow podcasters Abby Rose and Jo Barratt from Farmerama. Farmerama is a monthly magazine show that aims to share the voices and experiences of regenerative farming. By combining their experience in farming, tech, and podcasting, they have managed to create an award-winning podcast that brings the farming community closer to each other and the listener. Last year, our podcaster Dave Pickering worked with the Farmerama team to produce one of the episodes in their series, Who Feeds Us? The series captures a moment of collective resilience and adaptation seen by food producers across the UK. This story of pooling resources to help those in need resonated with us as it also reflected the work done by our community during the last year. As lockdown highlighted the massive issue of digital inclusion, repairers spent their time fixing devices to donate them to those in need. This collective spirit really comes through when listening to Farmerama. The importance of soil As well as working on the podcast, Rose’s connection to farming comes from her work on her family farm. She explains to us what it means to practice regenerative farming and why it is so important to solving climate and biodiversity crises. Regenerative farming is about working mindfully and in collaboration with the natural environment.  “Healthy soil is this miracle substance…Five years ago, I thought soil was dirt and I couldn’t have cared less about it. And now I think it’s the most important thing in my life and in all of our lives.” From the roots of a plant, to the microbes in the soil, to the fungal networks underneath our feet. We can learn so much from this “communication mesh” that exists right under our feet.  Dignity and responsibility This idea of networks and collaboration extends across our whole food production chain. By sharing the voices of farmers, growers, food producers, Farmerama helps us to situate ourselves within this chain of food production. We draw a comparison between food and electronics in the way that consumers are not always encouraged to recognise their place in the system of production. Without this, it is difficult to properly internalise what our responsibilities and impact are. We are starting to see this change though.  Hacking and repair vs corporate control Rose says that “many farmers are repairers in heart and soul” as tools and the ability to adapt your processes are integral to farming life. We also hear clips from Farmerama that talk about Farm Hack which is a self-described “worldwide community of farmers that build and modify our own tools”. Especially for younger farmers with less equipment and money, this is an essential community for learning from more seasoned farmers.  We couldn’t do an episode on farming without talking about John Deere and the Right to Repair. Rose and Barratt say that farmers not being able to repair their machinery is at its heart a question of agency. Furthermore, this issue is plaguing the agricultural sector as a whole. While data can help farmers – as seen by Rose’s work making apps like Soilmentor – the data that is being collected on a mass scale does not. Rather, it just serves to help big corporations profit.  Autonomy is at the root of seed saving These topics of agency and ownership will also resonate with repairers. They are also present in the conversation around seed sovereignty. We hear from a few different voices about what seed sovereignty is, why it is important, and how it supports reconnecting with our cultures, heritage, and environment.  Seed saving is a practice that is encouraged partly to empower growers to have more autonomy over the food they are producing. Farmerama too, want to share “old knowledge” that Barratt says is being wiped away by big business. Much like in our repair community, it is important that we share our knowledge and share our skills so that we can all have more ownership over our electronics.  Links:  Listen to Farmerama Vidacycle Farm Farm Hack Vice: John Deere Promised Farmers It would Make Tractors Easy to repair. It Lied Soilmentor app [Art courtesy of Farmerama and Hannah Grace] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 64: Regenerative farming and rural tinkering with Farmerama appeared first on The Restart Project.

This month, we are revisiting the topic of medical repair and reuse. Our interview was originally published more than a year ago but the issues at hand have not been fixed. We spoke to Dr Tarek Loubani and his colleague, Reidun Garapick about how perspectives need to change so that reuse of medical equipment is the norm. An example of this is the reusable face shield they developed. Loubani and Garapick both work at the Glia Project, a charity that focuses on producing low-cost medical devices with no intellectual property barriers. A sustainable solution for PPE Lack of PPE has been an ongoing issue abroad and also here in the UK, particularly during the first wave. Loubani shared his thoughts as to why it is so difficult to convince people of the power of reuse. He says the issue is very noticeable in medical settings. Here, understandable fears of contamination were overcoming the practical and safe solution of reusable gowns and masks. Drawing on his experience working on the frontlines in Gaza, Loubani explained how this standard of disposable PPE is simply. Instead, they aim to reuse and repair equipment safely and sustainably.  The Glia Project developed a reusable face shield that would help begin to solve the problem of lack of supplies in hospitals. However, it has not been easy to distribute them. Garapick told us about the resistance from hospitals to accept them, even when they had completely run out of their own supplies. The problem lies in the difficulty to get these products authorised by regulatory bodies. The Glia Project is also currently working on designing accessible versions of other essential devices including respirators and pulse oximeters.  The urgent need for collaboration Garapick also discusses the urgent need for open-source and accessible information. Laws around patents and intellectual property (IP) are seriously hindering repair, innovation and progress that could save lives. If manufacturers made it more accessible and legal to build on their previous designs, new tools could be developed much more quickly.  Later on, we discuss how IP is stopping biomedical technicians from repairing devices in hospitals. Ventilators remain out of use because the manuals and spare parts to repair them are not available and protected by IP rules. In places like Tanzania, this problem is widespread, and can hurt a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, for example. How intellectual property can be lethal A newer issue that comes to mind in this conversation is that of intellectual property patents on vaccines. As wealthier countries begin to see the hopeful effects of rapid vaccine rollouts, the global disparity is stark. In poorer nations, the predicted date for when vaccine supplies might be available is as late as 2024. Last month, the WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that only 0.3% of vaccine doses so far had been given to people in low-income countries.  As a result, many countries have asked for a temporary waiver to suspend WTO rules around patents on pharmaceuticals. India is asking for this, with its shortage of vaccines directly contributing to a devastating new wave of the virus. The waiver would allow for any country with the technical capacity and resources to produce vaccines themselves. The UK and Europe have still not agreed to this proposal. Medical repairs beyond the pandemic The need for collaboration and sharing of resources and tools is still as crucial as ever. Loubani shared with us his worries that we will forget the lessons that we learned about sustainability and innovation once this passes. We cannot let this happen. Instead, we must push for system change that will aid in the essential repairs that need to be done worldwide – during the pandemic and when it is finally over.  Links: Restart Radio: Reuse and repair with two frontline medical professionals U.S. PIRG: Hospital technicians renew urgent call for Right to Repair medical equipment Glia Project Tarek Loubani’s writing on Medium Rest of World: Why it’s so hard for a hospital in Tanzania to fix broken incubators The Washington Post: Preserving intellectual property barriers to covid-19 vaccines is morally wrong and foolish BBC: How will Covid vaccines be shared around the world? [Photo courtesy of the Glia Project] The post Restart Radio Republished: When “intellectual property” is lethal appeared first on The Restart Project.

What’s the most frustrating advert you’ve seen recently? Or have you noticed a peaceful ad-free bliss after spending a year mostly indoors? This month we talked to Robbie Gillet from the climate charity Possible about their Badvertising campaign, which seeks to correct misinformation and stop harmful adverts that add to the climate crisis.  This month, there has been a lot of talk about SUVs in the UK. A report by the New Weather Institute and Possible showed major growth in sales of these higher-emitting vehicles and found that “three-quarters of all SUVs sold in the UK to private citizens in 2019-2020 were registered to urban addresses”. These are areas where off-road vehicles are not necessary and where air pollution is already a serious issue. As such, this industry is Badvertising’s main target at the moment.  Deserving targets The Badvertising campaign is currently focussing on fossil fuel companies, car manufacturers and airlines as they are the most extensive polluters today. Instead of making the public aware of this fact, adverts for these products market them as must-haves – encouraging more and more consumption. The campaign is pressuring the government to create policies to limit these ads, a precedent for this being the past banning of tobacco advertising.  In a broader sense, Gillet explains how the advertising industry intrinsically calls for overconsumption. Adverts lure us into over-consuming carbon-intensive electronics too. The constant push to buy and consume more upholds a system of growth that is just not sustainable if we want to keep this planet habitable.  It is not just activists that are noticing this but also some creatives working in the advertising industry themselves. We hear about movements like ‘Drop the Brief’ where creatives are seeking to work on more ethical projects instead of using their talents to market harmful products.  Bad billboards vs. public space While Possible is leading this campaign, there are also many other groups that are making progress towards dismantling the same systems. Gillet also co-founded Adblock Bristol – a volunteer group lobbying and organising at a local level to stop new billboards from being installed. He explains the colossal waste of energy that are electronic advertising billboards and screens.  Gillet believes that instead of these harmful and wasteful messages, paid for by big corporations, public space should be democratised. We discuss the value of public space and how it could be used in efforts to build up the community and provide a more nurturing environment. Instead of adding pressure and negative messaging to our lives, this space could add positivity through projects like community gardens, murals and public art.  What are the barriers and how can they be overcome? Despite the dangers of this advertising becoming clear, those put in charge of monitoring this are not doing enough. This includes the Advertising Standards Authority who do not recognise the harm being done.  But progress is being made and Possible is not the only group tackling this issue. Gillet tells us about movements that are happening worldwide to stop harmful advertising. While there has been notable progress in places like Grenoble and Amsterdam, lobbying by wealthy corporations is proving to be a major barrier to change. Links: Keep up with the Badvertising campaign Adbusters Brandalism Adfree Cities Possible/New Weather Institute: Report on SUVs Clean Energy Wire: “Dieselgate” VW emissions scandal The Guardian: The French cities trying to ban public adverts [Photos courtesy of Possible, ClientEarth and Adblock Bristol] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 63: Badvertising – when ads promote fossil fuels and overconsumption appeared first on The Restart Project.

Following the election results in Greenland last week, we are revisiting an episode of Restart Radio from back in 2018. Three years ago, we interviewed Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway about their documentary, ‘Kuannersuit / Kvanefjeld’ which explores the feelings of local residents in Narsaq about a proposed mine near their town. A mine that’s existence is in great question following the election.  What the mine means for the community While Greenland is home to mining operations already, as the climate changes and large swathes of ice melt, more locations are becoming available for these projects. The Kvanefjeld mine was set to become the world’s fifth-largest uranium mine and the second largest rare earths operation. Its existence could have a major impact on international trade and the availability of materials used in electronics.   However, as with any operation of this kind, there are serious environmental drawbacks. ‘Kuannersuit / Kvanefjeld’ draws its conflict from the stories and opinions of its subjects. Portway and Autogena interviewed local residents, some of whom are supportive and some opposed to the mine. Those who are opposed worry about the dust that the mine would produce. This pollution would affect the health of residents and livestock alike. This is especially worrying as Kvanefjeld mountain is close to much of the agricultural industry of the country. Others support the mine as a new source of jobs and income for a town whose residents are leaving and fishing industry is struggling.  An election on autonomy This April, Greenland had a snap election, caused at least in part by disagreements over the mining project and a lack of support for the government. Inuit Ataqatigiit, a left-wing political party won the election which has cast serious doubt over the future of the operation. Not only do the party oppose the uranium mine specifically, but they also prioritise environmental matters in their platform.  The mine may be the central issue of this election but it is not the only issue. It is also about Greenland’s independence and autonomy, and its complicated history with other countries, especially Denmark. Donald Trump’s assertion in 2019 that he could simply buy Greenland exemplifies the way that the country’s natural environment can be commodified. This election is a historic moment for the people of Greenland, but this is not the end of the story. Links: Restart Radio: Rare-earth minerals in Greenland with Lise Autogena and Josh Portway Reuters: Left-wing party wins Greenland election, opposes big mining project Kuannersuit / Kvanefjeld – full documentary (Vimeo) Autogena Projects Narsaq on Wikipedia The post Restart Radio Republished: Greenland’s election and Kvanefjeld mine appeared first on The Restart Project.

3D printing technology is increasingly being used to aid repair, especially in the creation of spare parts. We invited Bas Flipsen and Julieta Bolaños Arriola to talk about their work in the field and how 3D printing can help solve the e-waste crisis.  Flipsen is a senior researcher for the Faculty of Engineering at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) who teaches “circular” and sustainable design, among other topics. Both of our guests are heavily involved in a project called SHAREPAIR, with Bolaños Arriola being a researcher. The project aims to help and support citizens in strengthening the repair economy. While we’re not working on 3D printing, The Restart Project is one of the project partners as well.  Reverse-engineering “circular design” At TU Delft, they are researching how 3D printing can be a tool to support circular design. We talk about what this concept really means and what work we must do to be able to implement it. Flipsen points out that a key part of their work stems from taking things apart and the knowledge that is gained from reverse engineering. It can be as simple as: if a part cannot easily be removed then it cannot be reused.  It is fascinating to hear of the types of projects that students at TU Delft have been undertaking. Bolaños Arriola gives us examples of the types of devices that have been tested for their ability to be 3D printed. From buttons on remote controls to bike accessories; students are encouraged to explore how existing, familiar designs can be optimised for 3D printing. They focus on practical, immediate applications. Printing spare parts Access to spare parts is a pillar of the Right to Repair. There are many reasons why spare parts are currently unavailable for many products. Bolaños Arriola mentions a few of these including issues with stock, manufacturers not supporting devices for long enough, and wanting to control who can repair.  3D printing could be a way to make those spare parts available again… 3D printing could come into the game and generate spare parts for people to be able to fix their products. Flipsen and Bolaños Arriola believe that 3D printing of spare parts could massively help this issue of access. For one, with the proper knowledge, people could print parts at home or at repair events in order to fix their own devices. Through reverse engineering, designs could be created for these parts without the help of manufacturers – who are historically not very supportive.  Coffee machines and compromises While 3D printing technology has come a long way, compromises still have to be made. Flipsen tells us about a recent project that involved students reverse-engineering and attempting to print the parts to recreate a Phillips Senseo coffee machine. During this process, they found issues relating to curvature and the flexibility of the materials they were using.  Printing possibilities have become vast, with wood, metal, and more being potential materials. However, Bolaños Arriola points out that these high tech materials may not be available to the public. Therefore, they are exploring how they can adapt parts and mechanisms to be made from plastics instead.  Strength in community We talk about the obstacles that may arise when using 3D printing as a tool at repair events and at home. While the technology is becoming more accessible, it is “not magic” and takes time and adjustment to work properly.  While people can have personal 3D printers, Flipsen and Bolaños Arriola promote the idea of community involvement. By sharing resources — money, space, knowledge — we can be more effective in solving problems and repairing products. Through these community spaces also, they hope to instigate interest in repair in younger generations.  Links Introducing the SHAREPAIR Project SHAREPAIR at TU Delft More on the Senseo coffee machine study Delft Design Stories Restart Radio: 3D printing, from prosthetics to blender spare parts Restart Radio: 3D printing medical devices in Gaza [Photo courtesy of Industrial Design students at TU Delft] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 62: How 3D printing can help us repair appeared first on The Restart Project.

As schools start to open again across the country, we revisit the incredible work that repairers are doing to get laptops in the hands of students. Two organisations that have been supporting the laptop reuse effort are Mer-IT and Hackney Fixers. We talk to Mercedes Oli and James Diamond from both of these groups, to find out how it’s going and what we can do to help.  Déjà vu for consumers and hospital engineers We start the show by reflecting an age-old story. We discuss renewed calls for the Right to Repair by farmers in the US. Three years on from John Deere’s promise for more access to independent repair, farmers are reporting nothing has happened. Diamond points out this is the ongoing problem of leaving it up to manufacturers to fix things. Rather, governments need to start legislating. We discuss yet another lawsuit against Apple, this time in Italy. Euroconsumers has sued Apple for €60 million on behalf of customers who had to replace their batteries far too early. This lawsuit echoes others that Apple has faced elsewhere. But do these court cases work? And finally, last year we discussed the need for better access to repair for biomedical engineers (“biomeds”), who keep hospitals running. This topic is especially pressing during the continuing pandemic, in relation to ventilators and more. Little progress has been made. U.S. PIRG released a new survey of biomeds which highlights the importance of this problem.  London laptop reuse projects We first talked to James Diamond about the work that Hackney Fixers had been doing refurbishing laptops to donate them to students that were in need last September. At the time, they were also working with the team at Mer-IT, an organisation co-founded by Mercedes Oli. Both Oli and Diamond tell us about the massive surge in donations that they received following the announcement of school closures in early January. With this, came more repairing work to be done and the need for the London network of repairers to really join together. Drawing on their experience of repairing so many laptops, they share the most common fixes that they have seen.   From devices to data – digital exclusion Oli talks about why she, and co-founder Alex Inglis, originally started Mer-IT in 2013. She discusses her own frustrating experience of being digitally excluded and how it encouraged her to share her skills with others. Oli’s story touches on the many different aspects of digital exclusion. Access to resources comes in different forms, whether it is the inability to afford an electronic device, a lack of digital skills, or data poverty. Last year, Ofcom estimated that 9% of households in the UK did not have a device suitable for working from home. This meant students and adults alike were left unable to work during lockdown. And it is not only schooling that is important for children’s development. Oli points out that the gap in digital literacy only widens when children are not able to explore the digital world on their own – be this through online research, gaming, or talking with friends.  We hear stories from both Diamond and Oli about how the work that they are doing has impacted those receiving donated laptops. These donations have meant that students are able to carry on their studies when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able. And Oli says that the expression of joy is palpable when she hands over the devices.  How you can help promote digital access As children go back to school and we draw closer to a lifting of lockdown measures, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done. Some children will still be learning from home and homework – unfortunately – never seems to end. It is also still essential that we support the elderly in our communities and ensure that they can stay connected at this time. If you are able to donate a device, check out Restart’s lists below for places to donate. And if not, there are other ways to get involved. For many devices, it is necessary to buy spare parts in order to fix them and this requires funding. If you are able to make a financial donation, then this would also go towards this essential work.  Links: Vice: John Deere Promised Farmers It Would Make Tractors Easy to Repair. It Lied. The Verge: Apple faces yet another lawsuit over throttling iPhones U.S. PIRG: Hospital technicians renew urgent call for Right to Repair medical equipment Children’s Commissioner: Children without internet access during lockdown Donate to Mer-IT Hackney Fixers Restart’s London Laptop Donation Drive Restart’s UK list “Where to Donate Your Computer”  The post Restart Radio: Reusing laptops for digital inclusion with Mer-IT and Hackney Fixers appeared first on The Restart Project.