The Restart Project Podcast

2021 is shaping up to be a big year for repair. At the beginning of the year, France introduced its new Repairability Index. Via this legislation, the government hopes to inform consumers about how repairable products are before purchase. By extension, it also aims to encourage manufacturers to make repairability a priority.  Recently, the European Right to Repair campaign held a webinar on the French Repairability Index. In this episode, you will hear snippets from the guest speakers including Ernestas Oldyrevas, from ECOS; Jean-Paul Ventère, from the French Ministry of Ecology; and Laetitia Vasseur from HOP. For more information, and for the Right to Repair perspective, Chloé Mikolajczak – our campaigner for the European Right to Repair campaign –  also joined us for an interview.  A repair score out of 10 We hear from both Mikolajczak and Oldyrevas about the long road that it took to reach this point. Civil society organisations have spent years campaigning for more repairability. The fact that something like the index has finally been adopted is a major move towards tackling e-waste and emissions.  In the simplest terms, the index works by assigning a repairability score out of ten to each product. This score is calculated with a rating system comprising five criteria – as Ventère explains. The five criteria relate to documentation, disassembly, the availability and price of spare parts, and software updates. We are pleased to see that many of these criteria address the key pillars of the Right to Repair. At the moment, the index applies to smartphones, laptops, televisions, washing machines, and lawnmowers. But there is hope that it will be extended to cover more products in the future.  Transparency and trust However, there are some major limitations in the legislation which many groups have highlighted, including HOP and the Right to Repair campaign. Firstly, manufacturers are not required to be fully transparent. This is because the finer detail of how the scores were reached is not available to the public. Vasseur argues that more information needs to be available to consumers for them to come to purchasing decisions – information that will relate to their real-life experience regarding repair.  A secondary, and perhaps even more pressing issue, is that of self-declaration. The government decided the rating criteria of the index. However, it is the manufacturers themselves that report how their product stacks up. At the moment, there is no formal system in place to check how truthful companies are being. “There is an issue because at the end of the day, if you leave the grading to manufacturers it’s complicated to have that full transparency. They can answer to some criteria, but that will be potentially either hard to verify or there’s a risk that they could kind of trick the system.” Chloé Mikolajczak Ventère believes that leaving it to civil society and other organisations to check the ratings will be enough to ensure there is no malpractice. However, Vasseur and Mikolajczak both worry that there are simply not enough resources for these organisations to provide a thorough and sustainable solution.  Future ambitions While there are valid concerns about the enforcement and ambitiousness of the index, there is also a sense of optimism shared by all of our guests. The French Repairability Index sets an important precedent to help consumers make more informed decisions about the products they buy. Oldyrevas points out that with almost all legislation there is a period of growing pains – the European Energy Label is an example. For the European Right to Repair campaign, it is now time to pressure the European Commission to implement a similar system across the whole of the EU. Mikolajczak hopes an improved EU-wide index – based on the French one – can be effective to change manufacturers’ practices within and beyond Europe. Links: Watch the full webinar here Official information on the French Repairability Index (in French, but some documents in English too) For news on the index and product scores (in French) [Photo credits: MTE] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 61: Introducing the French Repairability Index appeared first on The Restart Project.

On February’s episode of Restart Radio, we discuss gaming, printers, and toothless “voluntary agreements” with manufacturers. Ugo Vallauri is joined by Holly Davies and James Pickstone from Restart as well as Ernestas Oldyrevas from ECOS. He helps us to better understand some of the finer details of EU policies on these two industries and why there needs to be more pressure put on governments to regulate across all industries.  Raising the game Over the last year, many people’s interest in and capacity for gaming increased. We share our personal experiences of this, whether that is starting from no gaming experience or simply branching out. Both Pickstone and Davies agree that multiplayer gaming has become a key part of their social calendars as it offers a low-stress alternative to video calls.  While this rise in gaming popularity has had a positive impact on sales for many companies, it also comes with its own issues. An unexpected increase in demand has impacted supply chains, particularly hitting the release of new consoles. This does not mean that everyone is buying new, however. In true Restart spirit, Oldyrevas mentions how he is planning to resurrect an old Nintendo Wii.  Can we game greener? It’s not all fun and games though, we also have to recognise the environmental impacts of this activity. Even before these games make it onto our console or computer screens, corporate travel, (currently virtual) conferences, and more emit massive emissions. However, there are ways that the industry can lessen this impact.  We share some numbers from our community on our actual impact as gamers: how much CO2 is produced during manufacturing and during use. Ongoing changes in how people are using their devices are going to keep affecting these environmental impacts. We discuss how a rise in cloud gaming and streaming is providing positives and negatives in this area.  The problem with voluntary agreements So how can these impacts be controlled? Oldyrevas explains the complicated — and rather frustrating — circumstances that make it difficult to regulate console manufacturers. For many industries, the EU has introduced ecodesign regulations with the aim to make products more sustainable and energy-efficient. However, for the gaming industry this is not the case. Instead, console manufacturers preemptively struck a joint voluntary agreement with the EU in order to avoid these tougher restrictions.  While manufacturers like these agreements to appear as proactive, in truth Oldyrevas says that they allow them to continue with “business as usual.” An illustration of why we need ambitious regulation for repairability in the game console industry: Joy-Con of the Nintendo Switch and subsequent legal action by Que-Choisir. Pickstone shares his own experience trying to fix his broken Switch. His experience will resonate with millions of other Switch owners. And with recent reports of similar drift issues occurring in PS5 controllers, it may become even more universal. While consumer advocates are trying to help consumers repair, this should have been required by regulation in the first place.  What about printers? Still wondering what the link between consoles and printers is? There are two industries currently participating in these voluntary agreements and the other is printer manufacturers. Oldyrevas points out that this industry runs on selling very cheap machines and recouping costs through selling cartridges. As such, printers are a “throwaway product by default” and a nightmare in terms of sustainability and repair. The EU would like to see more ambitious commitments by printer manufacturers, but this is far from happening. The big issue, Oldyrevas tells us, is that there are not enough resources allocated to changing these agreements. So we need to put continued pressure on governments to pay attention and to reject future voluntary agreements.   Links: ArsTechnica: Scalpers aren’t the main reason you can’t find a new console Springer: Toward Greener Gaming: Estimating National Energy Use and Energy Efficiency Potential The Verge: The Many Ways Video Game Development Impacts The Climate Crisis Que-Choisir: Coordinated European action against the failure of the Joy-Con Drift Millenium: Alarma con los problemas de drift en los DualSense de PS5: ¿Cómo lo soluciono si me ocurre? Feature image “Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons” by Aleks Dorohovich is licensed under the Unsplash license] The post Restart Radio: How manufacturers game the system through voluntary agreements appeared first on The Restart Project.

Omana George has dedicated herself to supporting workers’ safety for years. She is now the Monitoring Coordinator for Electronics Watch, an organisation that monitors manufacturing and supply chains in order to support “public buyers” to make more ethical and informed decisions.  The impact of Covid on workers George informs us that many of the long-existing problems in supply chains are only getting worse during the Covid pandemic. Stresses on the supply chain are making the impacts of “contractualisation” — the subcontracting of labour, where the company that owns the factory is not technically employing the workers in it — more devastating. And the risk of Covid means factories are only becoming more dangerous. The increasing stress on workers, a lack of health and safety measures, and a failure on the part of companies to properly pay workers are leading to unrest. George sheds some light on what provoked recent riots at an Indian factory in the iPhone supply chain for supplier Wistron. “This industry has really been operating this way for many decades. And it’s not just in Asia, wherever they work, this is how they have worked…It is an industry which really does not put a lot of emphasis or focus on occupational health and safety and workers have really have to fight for their rights.” Hazards in occupational health While Covid may be making them more visible, these issues are not new. George details for us the various dangers of working in the electronics supply chain.  One of the biggest hazards for electronics workers is chemicals and the progress on gaining worker protection has been slow. What seems to be key to creating a safer work environment is access to information. George shares some shocking stories about manufacturers failing to inform workers of the substances that they are handling. We also take a specific look at the dangers that are specific to women in the electronics industry. George summarises many of these risks succinctly by quoting the lawyer and advocate, Amanda Hawes – “if you’re pregnant, every day is bring your child to work day.” Workers aren’t just misinformed about dangers to their own health but also the health of their children. Moving forward with Electronics Watch Hearing about the circumstances of workers can make us feel powerless to help but there have been some wins. We discuss a long-lasting case involving Samsung workers in South Korea. George says that it is one of the first cases where a major manufacturer has been held to account for worker illnesses and death caused by chemical exposure. More hope also comes in the expansion of Electronics Watch’s work. They also support those working in public sector procurement by producing guidance and setting up their Occupational Health and Safety Panel.  The landscape of electronics manufacturing is shifting and many companies are moving supply chains to other countries. We don’t know what changes this will bring but George does have hope for the future. In the meantime, we must continue to support workers through public procurement activism and amplify their voices.  Links: Electronics Watch Covid-19 report Watch sessions from the 2020 Electronics Watch OHS Summit here The Verge: Apple puts another supplier on probation after exploited workers smashed up a building Telegraph: Samsung apologises to workers who developed cancer after exposure to toxic chemicals [Riot audio courtesy of Kanak News; feature image by Steve Jurvetson is licensed under CC BY 3.0.] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 60: Helping electronics workers improve conditions appeared first on The Restart Project.

It may be a new year but we are still pressing for change in all the same places. On January’s episode, we revisit the topic of “digital inclusion” as schools are once again forced to close. Janet and Ugo are joined by Ben Skidmore, as they discuss why digital inclusion is more than just getting laptops into the hands of those in need. Later in the show, we also examine some potentially good news and forward movement in European Union policy.  The important details of digital inclusion In the UK, we are not far off from a year since the first nationwide lockdown due to the pandemic. Despite this, there are still over a million children without access to the internet at home, for school. While there has been some progress since we last discussed this in September, it is nowhere near enough to solve the massive need. Is it better to rely on large-scale procurement of laptops or rather to focus on local community organising and grassroots efforts to reuse old laptops? Ultimately, we need both.  Ben points out that fixing laptops — especially a variety of used models given by individual donors — does take markedly more time than large-scale procurement or refurbishment. In September, we talked to James Diamond from Hackney Fixers about their laptop repair and reuse project. He told us that while their work takes much time and care, it is urgently needed to ensure equal access to what is now an essential resource.  And this time and care is needed not just in relation to hardware. Even for those who are equipped with devices for online learning, we have not seen enough guidance for teachers and students on how to use these devices in an effective way. Digital inclusion is much more than access to hardware. It also includes access to the internet and equipping people with the tools to use resources critically. We quote Brazilian academic André Lemos’ 2003 essay Can we really measure social inclusion by the number of computers per capita, by the number of internet users and other like statistics? Again, including means here adapting, moulding and forming individuals able to use software and operating systems that can be out of date in only a few months… Perhaps the true social inclusion is through educating on the new media, not just the techniques, but through the development of a critical thought and disquiet in relation to that which they sell us as the newest, best thing, that will just rot in front of us… Promising developments in Europe While we are no longer part of the EU, we don’t yet know how this will affect policy here in the UK. So, we look hopefully towards some recent policy developments from Europe. The European Commission recently released documents as part of a preparatory study that looks at ecodesign for smartphones and tablets. We discuss the prospects for game-changing regulation of smartphones this year. A recent study by Öko-Institut and VZBV, that looked at increasing the lifespans of products has yielded similar conclusions. Looking at laptops, smartphones, notebooks and washing machines, they modelled the results of extending these product lifetimes to seven years. The findings are clear: making products more repairable would have a drastic impact on reducing CO2 emissions and saving money for the consumer alike. Now we want to see this evidence used to instigate real policy changes. Finally, a celebration and examination of actual policy change. On January 1st, France introduced its new repairability index. The regulation will require ratings on products including washing machines, televisions, smartphones and laptops. And it includes many pillars of Right to Repair in its criteria. We worry that the French government’s reliance on manufacturers to rate their own products may lead to misuse. However, Ben points out that ultimately this policy will at least start consumers thinking more about the repairability of the products that they buy.  Links: Our London Laptop Donation Drive Our list of laptop donation projects in the UK Restart Radio: Hackney Fixers’ laptop repair and reuse project André Lemos’ “The Dogmas of Digital Inclusion” (our own imperfect translation) (2003) European Commission: Ecodesign preparatory study on mobile phones, smartphones and tablets VZBV: Study on the longevity of products Innovation Origins: France leads the way with a “Repair index” for electronic products [Feature image by Mark A Phillips, licensed under CC BY 4.0.] The post Restart Radio: What is true digital inclusion? appeared first on The Restart Project.

For our last episode of the year, we so happy to bring you this interview with laser interactive artist, presenter and Repair Café volunteer Seb Lee-Delisle. Restart first met him at Hackaday’s Unconference in London a couple of years back. (In recent years, we’d noticed he became a regular at his local Repair café.) But during the past decade, Lee-Delisle’s probably most known for some of his interactive light installations, and work for performers such as Fat Boy Slim. Lasers Dave talks with him about lasers over the decades, how they started cool, got a bit naff and became cool again. And then of course about this strange year, and how like many artists, Lee-Delisle faced a wave of cancellations. During the first lockdown, instead of clapping for the National Health Service, he began projecting his thanks on tall buildings in his hometown of Brighton. This led to a much more ambitious (and interactive) idea, appropriate to the socially distant scenario, “Laser Light City”. Why not allow viewers to control high-powered lasers beaming into the urban night sky? He dazzled and thrilled people with this installation in Brighton, Leeds, then Worthing and soon to be arriving in Newcastle. The nerd niche Lasers are beams that can be controlled using timing and mirrors, and this is where the art lies. Lee-Delisle writes most of his own code for his projects, and is a big believer in open source. He talks about the benefits of offering up his “ofxLaser” code library even when he felt it wasn’t ready. Confessing to be addicted to repairing stuff, Lee-Delisle is a strong believer in the power of nerd communities, and the potential of entertainment for and by nerds. YouTube and maker/repair communities are flourishing and a constant source of inspiration. And of course, the nerd (live) comedy scene has really opened up whole kind of entertainment that he didn’t have growing up. (We nod our heads when he expresses his frustration with the hit BBC show The Repair Shop — it does not share enough detail about the fixes!) To close, Lee-Delisle recognises he’s had a very good year, during difficult times for others. But we’re really glad that he’s sharing some of his light with the world. (And literally letting us play with lasers!) Links Seb Lee-Delisle’s personal website and his YouTube channel Laser Light City Newcastle Laser Light City, for the New Year ofxLaser code library Laser Duckhunt [Feature photo credit to Antony Ribot] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 59: Lasers lighting up the sky, with Seb Lee-Delisle appeared first on The Restart Project.

It’s our final radio show of a year full of bad news, and we have some good news to share. To kick us off, Janet and Ugo speak to Jonathan Samuels, a lighting designer who has worked in live entertainment for decades. After theatres and live performances were shut down this year, Samuels adapted and launched a new business in lighting refurbishment and repurposing objects into lamps.  Refurbish, lights, action! For Samuels, working in live events meant a very uncertain and frustrating year. At Restart, much of our work revolves around in-person events so our community can sympathise immensely. With his usual work impossible, he decided to venture into refurbishing and reuse and started an online business selling his creations. His experience in theatre — making practicals for the stage and dismantling lighting equipment — provided him with many skills in lighting refurbishment. However, Samuels explains that he still had a lot to learn when starting his business.  While Samuels has developed a strong appreciation and interest in lighting through his career, another driving force behind his business is his commitment to reuse. Scrolling through his selection of lamps, one will find antique Anglepoise and other renowned names. But what is also striking are the upcycled pieces, lights made from everything from bygone Burgoyne bottles to Bunsen burners and more. He doesn’t just extend the lifespan of lamps but also gives a new life to objects that are otherwise unusable.  Progress on policy News from the UK and the EU allowed us to wrap up 2020 with a celebration. First, we discuss the UK Parliament’s  Environmental Audit Committee report, containing many of the recommendations we gave in our evidence to its enquiry. It calls on the government to enshrine the Right to Repair in law. This includes affordable spare parts, access to software tools used for repair and commitments to software support. This is a big moment. The news out of Brussels also marks a move forward in the fight against unrepairable, throw-away products. A recent European Parliament vote means that the European Commission now has the go-ahead to push on. Next year we hope to see laws aimed at extending the lifetime of products such as smartphones and laptops. Our final story is a reminder of why this legislation is so necessary. We share reports that the new macOS update has been slowing and even bricking ‘older’ machines. ‘Old’ however only means around six years old, which is unacceptable. While the problem appears to be fixed now, many users faced a huge shock. It’s another reminder for those using older hardware to hold off on updates in the future until they’ve been tested by others first.  Links: SamLights on Etsy SamLights on Instagram Our analysis of the UK Parliamentary committee report More on the European Parliament vote The Verge: macOS Big Sur update causing some older MacBook Pros to get stuck on black screens [Photo courtesy of Jonathan Samuels] The post Restart Radio: Lamps at the end of the tunnel — a new lighting refurbishment business appeared first on The Restart Project.

This month, Dave talks to John Wackman and Elizabeth Knight who are prolific in the New York repair community. After years of involvement in repair cafes, they decided to share what they learned by writing a book. Repair Revolution: How Fixers Are Transforming Our Throwaway Culture, is a lesson in how to start a repair cafe and how to fix. Knight and Wackman also note that integral to the book is its collection of personal stories from repairers all over the continent. These are stories of community that Restarters will recognise well.  The repair revolution across the pond Knight tells us of how she first became involved in the repair movement. It’s a story of noticing the failures in the system around you – even in your local area – and feeling the need to fix it in whatever way you are able. This ethos is carried throughout our conversation with Knight and Wackman, and throughout the book itself.  In comparison to the items that we fix at Restart Parties, much of the fixing chronicled in Repair Revolution is of a different ilk. Household electronics like lamps are one of the most common fixes that they have seen coming to repair cafes. But there is also a focus on activities like visible mending of clothes, patching up of stuffed animals, and woodworking. It is a refreshing reminder that the repair movement looks different in every iteration across the globe.  Community is at the core Knight and Wackman emphasise that community is perhaps simultaneously the biggest facilitator and result of the repair cafe movement. Repairers come together to share their skills, not only out of care for the planet, but also care for others.  “[Repair] is more than just an opportunity to fix broken things. It’s also an opportunity to fix broken systems and relationships…It creates opportunities to nurture neighbourly networks and it calls on the invaluable wealth of community knowledge.” Repair Revolution contains many stories of how community repair has affected individuals in a deep and personal way. Knight and Wackman share a few of these stories with us. Some stories are moving, others are funny, but they all emphasise the human element of repair and how it connects us.  An intergenerational approach Part of Knight and Wackman’s vision for the future of repair is transferring skills to younger generations. Repair is an essential skill that is being lost. They would like to see it re-introduced into traditional education and, until then, they are “providing teachers” to preserve these skills. While the Right to Repair movement is working to make repair more accessible on a large scale, Knight and Wackman recognise that for the time being community efforts are crucial to create repair opportunities.  Links:  Repair Revolution: How Fixers Are Transforming Our Throwaway Culture Follow Repair Revolution on Instagram Repair Cafe Hudson Valley [Photo courtesy of Lauren Thomas] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 58: You say you want a Repair Revolution appeared first on The Restart Project.

Talking about the issue of smartphone repairability is one that has been unavoidable over the years. This month we decided to finally look at this problem in depth. Ugo and Janet are joined by Rico Cerva, one of the most skilled and well-known iPhone repairers we know. He tells us about how iPhone repair keeps getting more complicated and how the barriers against fixing them have changed for the worse. First, we take a look at some big electronics news in the UK. Regulator Ofcom announced that from December 2021 telecommunications companies will not be able to sell locked handsets in Britain. Next, the BBC reported that both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party agreed that a repairability rating scheme should be introduced to products in the UK. This comes after France decided to introduce a similar scheme that will begin in 2021. Finally, we share some good news about the Right to Repair proposition that was on the ballot in Massachusetts. Despite a large-scale effort to scaremonger by the automotive industry, the law passed with 75% of the vote last Tuesday.  The seriousness of smartphone serialisation With the recent release of the iPhone 12, so came the new issues in repairing this device. YouTuber and advocate for Right to Repair Hugh Jeffreys discovered an issue that meant the camera on the newest Apple phone could not be replaced by third parties if broken. This problem, Cerva says, is down to serialisation. He says “You need the Apple machine to pair the new display to the phone. Even if you take two original screens and you swap them over, if they’re not the correct serial number, you’re going to have some weird glitches or issues.” Apple has introduced serialisation by pairing component parts to phones. The result is that independent repairers are not able to repair devices with spare parts – even genuine parts that have been removed from the same Apple product. This way, only repairers who are part of Apple’s Independent Repair Provider programme will be able to repair devices. This applies to even common fixes like screen and camera replacements. As such, repair will get more expensive and independent repairers will not be able to work.  Cerva points out that even though he has found physical workarounds for most of Apple’s pre-iPhone 12 repair barriers, the trend is towards total lockdown of these devices. These workarounds have to be performed on such a microscopic scale and with such delicate skill that most independent highstreet repair shops – and definitely at home repairers – are being pushed out of the picture. How is this affecting independent repairers? This problem is also not unique to Apple. YouTuber Riki Kim revealed that Samsung has also started to introduce serialisation to its devices via the fingerprint sensor and a recent software update. Together, Samsung and Apple devices represent two-thirds of the European market share, so these developments have huge consequences. Even Cerva, who can complete these complicated workarounds, wonders how sustainable it will be to run an independent repair business in the coming months and years. Repairers like Cerva work to provide a fair price and the best quality for their customers. But this means soon they may not be able to compete with the industry’s continuous barriers against their work.  What can be done? Cerva believes consumer awareness can help combat this worrying trend.  We point out that much policy work surrounding the Right to Repair focuses on hardware and the availability of spare parts. On software locks and serialisation, policy must catch up. Furthermore, if this trend continues, there is a worry that the issue of serialisation could spread to other electronic devices too.  What brings some light to the conversation is Cerva’s belief in the repair network and the independent repair community. He tells us how businesses with different specialities are coming together to solve problems and help each other provide services to keep going.    Links: Rico Cerva: Logic board repair specialist/Instagram Restart Podcast Ep. 36: Fixing the impossible with Rico Cerva Reuters: Britain to stop mobile operators selling ‘locked’ handsets BBC: Electric goods ‘should have repairability rating’ The Verge: Massachusetts passes ‘right to repair’ law to open up car data Hugh Jeffreys: iPhone Anti Repair Design – Teardown and Repair Assessment Riki Kim: Samsung A51 Serializing Parts to Disable Fingerprint Sensor [Photos courtesy of Rico Cerva] The post Restart Radio: The dangers of serialisation in smartphones with Rico Cerva appeared first on The Restart Project.

In October, the European Right to Repair campaign launched “Heroes of Repair”, as part of their celebration of International Repair Day. The video series aims to highlight the human face of repair by profiling individuals working to strengthen the repair movement. Restart’s very own Chloé Mikolajczak talked to us about why this campaign is necessary and how Right to Repair has developed over the last year. We also get to hear from some repair heroes first hand about how and why they are involved in repair. Throughout the podcast Paul O’Donell, Sepp Eisenriegler, Janine Korduan and Cerys Jones tell us how they got involved in repair, what inspires them in their work, and why the Right to Repair matters to them.  Anyone can be a Hero of Repair In London and across the UK, we have an incredibly strong and involved Restart community. It was heartening to hear from Mikolajczak, and the heroes themselves, that this is mirrored across Europe. The aim of the campaign is to highlight those working to support repair initiatives and elevate Right to Repair. Furthermore, she hopes that the campaign empowers other repairers to upload their own videos. On International Repair Day, YouTuber Jessa Jones from iPad Rehab shared her own video. “The idea wasn’t to say someone is a hero for doing something absolutely incredible. The people we are putting forward are normal people like you and I who are contributing significantly to their community through repair. It’s not just a small group of people that can be heroes – everyone can be a repair hero.” Learning from each other We talk to Mikolajczak about why it is so important to run Heroes of Repair as a European campaign. She tells us about how the repair movement varies between countries. Many countries are in different stages of development regarding government policy on repair. Awareness and support of the movement differs too. By raising awareness of the initiatives happening in each country, Mikolajczak hopes that we can learn from each other and strengthen the movement.  Highlighting the human face of repair Mikolajczak explains that the regulations that they are fighting for will affect the lives of citizens in ways they may not realise. The key aims of Right to Repair are: to ensure that products are designed and built to be repairable, that repair is affordable and accessible, and that consumers are informed on what they are buying. All of these measures will directly impact citizens, save them money, and help protect the environment in the process. Mikolajczak also talks about the barriers she faces working on this campaign. This includes the need to push back against corporations and lobbyists who are constantly working to avoid regulation. Next year can be better for Right to Repair Finally, we hear some of the highlights and successes of the European Right to Repair campaign this year. These include the European Commission’s new Circular Economy Action Plan and movement towards regulating smartphones. All in all, the hope is that more organisations will lend their support and the movement will continue to grow.  Whether you are an individual, a business or an organisation, you can get involved with the Right to Repair campaign. Links: Right to Repair Europe Heroes of Repair campaign Paul O’Donell’s full video and An Mheitheal Rothar Sepp Eisenriegler’s full video and R.U.S.Z Janine Korduan’s full video and She*fix Tutorials Cerys Jones’s full video and Repair Cafe Wales [Photos courtesy of the Right to Repair Campaign The post Restart Podcast Ep. 57: “Heroes of Repair” European video series appeared first on The Restart Project.

To celebrate Ada Lovelace Day, we’re republishing this 2018 interview with Suw Charman-Anderson, founder of the Ada Lovelace Day (ALD), which annually supports and increases the visibility of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers. First, we discuss how ALD started and how it came to be such a huge initiative, with international events happening each year. We then ask Suw why she chose Ada Lovelace as a symbol for this project. She tells us the story of Ada, a 19th-century mathematician who worked with polymath Charles Babbage on the design of the ‘Analytical Engine’, a vision of the first mechanical computer. Ada has been considered the first ever computer programmer, with a computing language now named after her. Then, we talk about the importance of role models for girls and women to go into science. Girls and women are still underrepresented in STEM, especially in fields such as physics or computing. Also, the historical contributions of women to science and tech have commonly been overlooked. At Restart, we are interested in engaging people with technology from early on – we chat with Suw about the need to engage girls from a very young age to actually change the gender disparity in STEM. Not only to motivate girls to go into these fields of education, but also to actually continue their careers after their training. Suw walks us through her own career in science, having graduated from Geology and struggling to find her professional path. She went into publishing and journalism, and reminds people that it is fine to have a less conventional career path. Before ALD, Suw co-founded the Open Rights Group in the UK, which campaigns for digital rights. We relate their early work on intellectual property law to the US Right to Repair initiative, discussing whether we actually own our devices when our access to repair is denied. And of course, whether Lovelace would’ve been a repairer and user of free and open-source software. If you’d like to get involved you can join us at a (future) Rosie skillshare, for/by women and non-binary people. Links: Finding Ada: ALD Finding Ada: Who was Ada? Adacore: The Ada programming language iPad Rehab She*fix Tutorials Repair Revolution London Bike Kitchen Open Rights Group Right to Repair Campaigns: US and Europe (which didn’t exist when we did the original recording) [Featured image “Ada Lovelace” by Susanna Dahlgren is in public domain] The post Restart Radio Republished: Ada Lovelace Day and the stories of women in STEM appeared first on The Restart Project.