The Restart Project Podcast

April’s show focuses on a topic that has become literally inescapable as of late, a constant fixture in our lives, the pandemic. We turned to Dr. Tarek Loubani and his colleague Reidun Garapick for a discussion on what can be done now to make a difference. Dr. Loubani’s expertise comes from his work as an emergency care doctor. But he’s also Medical Director for the Glia Project, a charity that focuses on producing low-resource and low-cost medical devices, having learned from its operation in the Gaza Strip. We talk to him and Garapick about the reusable face shield that they have developed for use in hospitals. And at the present moment, how they transferred these experiences and resources to help medical workers in Canada. Sustainable protection through reuse Face shields are just one of the necessary pieces of equipment needed by healthcare workers. We discuss the lack of personal protective equipment and how this can be solved in a rapid and sustainable way. Those doing the most critical work caring for patients with Covid-19 must feel safe in their ability to do their jobs in such a high-risk environment. While the media focus is on the “lack” of supplies, Dr. Loubani and Garapick are steadfast in the belief that this could be solved via reusable equipment and procedures for reuse. We discuss why many are so resistant to this. Will corporations change their approach? Garapick also highlights the need for open-source designs of medical equipment and access to free repair information more than ever. Now is a time where innovation could save lives. We discuss how the barriers to this could be broken down to help those who are working to repair high-demand, essential devices such as ventilators. Major companies such as Tesla, as well as open source initiatives, are working towards producing medical devices and we discuss how useful this really is. Beyond the pandemic Both medical professionals make it clear that reusable and repairable medical equipment is the way forward, not just a strategy for dealing with this pandemic. Loubani warns us of the possibility of a reversal of sustainability-led thinking once the crisis is over, which is a recurrent theme. This is also a call to arms for all repairers, makers, and activists: your skills are essential and can be utilised in ways that can save people’s lives. We must push for essential changes to the system that will live on beyond the pandemic. Links: The Glia Project Glia’s Face Shield design Tarek Loubani’s on the need for reusable respirators (Medium) Our recent webinar on Covid-19 and medical repairs [Photos courtesy of Glia] The post Restart Radio: Reuse and repair with two frontline medical professionals appeared first on The Restart Project.

For our March episode, we dare to dive into the increasingly complex world of intellectual property law – a topic suddenly becoming ever more pertinent in the face of a global pandemic. Dave is joined by Aaron Perzanowski, a professor of law at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. We talk about how developments in the electronics consumer market are posing new complications in the relationship between manufacturers and consumers. Perzanowski’s latest book, written with co-author Jason Schultz, ‘The End of Ownership’ explores many of these questions.  The shifting nature of ownership We ask first about ownership. How does the move from physical ownership to digital ownership affect our rights as consumers? Are the goalposts of this ownership shifting in a time where our ability to continue using our devices is becoming more and more mediated by the companies that sold them to us? How is user autonomy being influenced or slowly eroded? We looked to Perzanowski for some ideas in how we can become more informed and aware of our rights as consumers.  User license agreements use complex and legalistic language, making these contracts inaccessible to the average consumer. We make an effort to unpack terms such as DRM (Digital Rights Management) or EULA (End User License Agreement). In discussing this it becomes very clear the hidden barriers that companies can impose to minimise consumer rights.  Copyright during crisis But the most immediately pressing matter we talk about in this episode is the recent use of trademark law to inhibit emergency responses to the current pandemic. Recently, those producing vaccines and repairing essential medical equipment ran into barriers, with patent holders suing (or threatening to sue) for efforts intended to save lives. We ask Perzanowski whether these laws should be upheld in such a time of global crisis. Hoping for change Looking further into the future of trademark law and the electronics industry, Perzanowski comments on how governments can make efforts to protect and support consumer rights. And finally, we explore why these actions need to be taken as soon as possible to ensure that we work towards a more sustainable relationship with our electronics. We cannot achieve this without more thought about the viability of tethered products.  Links:  Read the first chapter of Aaron Perzanowski’s book here “The Tethered Economy” by Perzanowski, Hoofnagle, Kesari Wired: Best Buy Made These Smart Home Gadgets Dumb Again The Verge: A SoftBank-owned company used Theranos patents to sue over COVID-19 tests US PIRG petition to manufacturers to open up service documentation [Image by Daan Stevens is licensed under the Pexels license] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 51: Copyright law, ownership and crisis with Aaron Perzanowski appeared first on The Restart Project.

For March’s show we take a look at perhaps the most unavoidable topic in our world today, coronavirus (COVID-19). We took this as an opportunity though, to discuss the issue in light of a topic that is relevant all the time, the supply chains that are integral to the electronics industry and how sustainable they really are. Janet was joined by long-time Restart volunteer, Panda Mery, to delve deeper into the unseen complexities of tech supply chains and what we may not realise is going into the production of our devices. Good and bad news for repairability Before diving into this massive topic, we had a couple smaller, but still important stories to discuss. We returned to tech-giant Apple and $500 million settlement in the US following a class-action lawsuit over ‘Batterygate’ and the purposeful slowing down of iPhones. Is this such a minuscule fine in the grand scheme of things that it is almost ineffectual? And how ethical is this practice that Apple employed? Then some good news from our friends at iFixit about electronic repairability standards – a major victory for the Right to Repair movement. And finally, some questionable tactics in the UK government’s approach towards e-waste collection, which indicate divergence from ambitious EU targets. What the Virus means for tech supply chains – and the world Approaching our main topic of the day – the Virus – we want to take caution and recognise that focusing on the issue in a tech-centric way does stand to erase some of the bigger issues at stake, those of how this will impact citizen autonomy and increase the control that governments have over us and our bodies. In terms of tech, we discuss how international and complex supply chains have become and the way that a pandemic of this kind is already having sufficient impact on the global economy and tech industry as a whole. This proves the advantages of making electrical components more reusable to leave us less beholden to these supply chains. We also look at how the environment has been impacted by a sudden decrease in production and travel. Overshadowed issues Finally, we close with two shocking stories that have managed to be all but buried by other news this month. We discuss an investigation into forced labour of Uighurs in China in factories that produce components that are almost certainly in your devices. We think about what action consumers can take, and how far we can actually help to solve these issues. Then a look at a White House cover up of information on the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE), and how Brexit may impact access to technical information on risks associated with chemical usage in industry, that bears great influence over public health. Although there is certainly much more to say about supply chains, with all of these topics we aim to encourage you to educate yourself on all of the steps it takes for a device to be in your hands and how you can support those involved along the way, and our planet as a whole. Links:  Right to Repair smartphones petition U.S. PIRG: $500M settlement for Apple’s “BatteryGate” underscores need for Right to Repair iFixit: Fixers Know What ‘Repairable’ Means—Now There’s a Standard for It Let’s Recycle: Defra slashes WEEE collection targets Wired: The Right to Repair Will Help Us Endure Outbreaks Australian Strategic Policy Institute report “Uyghurs for Sale“ Independent: Apple, Samsung and Sony among 83 global brands using Uighur Muslim ‘forced labour’ in factories, report finds EDF: Trump EPA’s draft evaluation of cancer-causing TCE cuts corners, putting kids’ health at risk CHEM Trust’s Brexit and Chemical Protections [Featured image courtesy of the CDC] The post Restart Radio: Global supply chains and The Virus appeared first on The Restart Project.

In early February, the European Right to Repair Campaign launched a petition demanding the addition of smartphones to future EU legislation on device repairability. Restart is a part of this campaign. What we are asking for sounds simple: good design of our devices, fair access to repair manuals and spare parts, and information on our products and how to repair them. However, manufacturers have blocked this at every turn. Smartphones have quickly become the most used electronic devices in our lives and we need the means to prolong their lives and reduce e-waste. A look back In this, our 50th episode, we look back to previous episodes of the podcast to piece together why it is so important that we fight for the right to repair our phones. From designers, to geographers, to repairers, to engineers, to our own team… we hear how people have struggled with repairing their own phones and how they believe consumer and manufacturer attitudes towards our devices must change. Following the lifecycle of a smartphone, we start at the design process. We touch upon how to design more ethically and sustainably, and the debate regarding the trade-off between aesthetics and functionality. We hear about the restrictions that manufacturers put in place, both explicitly in their terms of use and implicitly: roadblocks that Right to Repair are specifically fighting against. From hardware to software, we discuss premature obsolescence and how far the responsibility falls on phone manufacturers to help us keep our phones updated and secure. And finally, while their small size may be deceiving, we also talk to experts about how disposing of your smartphone leads to a lot more waste than just in the materials – which in themselves are often rare and unsalvageable. We learn about the massive carbon footprint of mobiles outside of their in-use stage and how repairing our devices would limit this. Time for a change Ultimately, we hope this episode will make you think, and remind you how little our discussion on smartphones has evolved over the years. Some of the issues that we discussed five years ago are still crucial in the world of mobile manufacture and they need to finally be addressed. So sign the petition and fight for the right to repair your smartphone! Links: Right to Repair smartphones petition Ep. 28: Disruptive design and unlocking wonderment with Leyla Acaroglu Ep. 2: Interview with a product designer Restart Radio: Have we taken ‘thin’ too far? Ep. 36: Fixing the impossible with Rico Cerva Ep. 8: Tools, new and old Ep. 11: A Mobile Screen Repair Odyssey Ep. 31: Software obsolescence with Ross Anderson Ep. 35: Exploring the critical materials in our electronics Ep. 4: Climate change and the ‘shadow impacts’ of our gadgets Ep. 29: Tracing global flows of electronic ‘discards’ with Josh Lepawsky The post Restart Podcast Ep. 50: Why we must win the right to repair our smartphones appeared first on The Restart Project.

On ‘Safer Internet Day’, Janet and Ugo are joined in the studio by Restarter Ben Skidmore to discuss the developing Sonos scandal, planned device obsolescence, and new proposed UK legislation to increase the security of connected devices. But first: last week, as part of the European Right to Repair campaign, we launched a petition on smartphones’ repairability. We are calling on the European Commission to introduce legislation requiring smartphone manufacturers to make more repairable and longer-lasting devices. (Link below.) One step forward, two steps back with Apple No surprise that our first topic of discussion revolved around frequent subject of the show, Apple. Last week, the French regulato for competition and fraud fined Apple €25 million (around £21m) for intentionally slowing down iPhones with iOS updates and not warning phone owners. We discuss whether this a step forward or more of a reactive and temporary fix for the bigger issue of the lack of regulation of software and its interplay with hardware. We also briefly discussed the concerning new information that has come to light regarding Apple’s IRP (Independent Repair Program) that was announced last summer. VICE’s Motherboard released details of the document that Apple is requiring repair businesses to sign in order to participate in the program. It exposes the lack of freedom the programme actually presents for independent repairers and if this was simply a performative move by Apple pre-empting the Right to Repair agenda. The Sonos scandal and obsolescence of connected hardware Our main topic revolved around Sonos coming under fire for their announcement that ‘legacy’ products would no longer receive support in terms of software or security updates. Not only did this render these devices almost obsolete, this change would also affect newer devices that are connected to them on the same network. Though Sonos offered a few fixes to this new policy, what kind of precedent does this set for the disposal of devices where the hardware is still physically ok? But also, this public outcry did bolster our belief in the future of our agenda of longer-lasting technology. Securing our smart technology Finally, our discussion of the new proposed UK legislation on the security of “Internet of Things” reminds Janet of a parenting horror story that immediately prompted her friend to get rid of her hacked Nest device. While this reaction was understandable, again this disposal of devices that are well within the usable period of their lifespan is exactly what we are trying to avoid. With the panic that these security risks can cause, how can we build trust in our smart devices and make them safer, especially when they are increasingly being introduced into personal and private spaces? Is the UK government serious about this, and what will it take to move from a policy pronouncement to enforcement? Links:  Right to Repair smartphones petition The Big Fix 2020 details ZDNet: Apple fined $27.4 million in France VICE: Apple’s Independent Repair Program Is Invasive to Shops and Their Customers, Contract Shows The Guardian: Sonos apologises over plan affecting older smart speakers Naked Security: Sonos’s tone-deaf legacy product policy angers customers ZDNet: IoT Security Legislation [Featured image “Sonos PLAY 1 wireless speaker” by Robert Wetzlmayr is licensed under CC BY 4.0.]   The post Restart Radio: Being smarter about connected devices and security appeared first on The Restart Project.

Two tinker-travelling retirees from Melbourne, Australia fill our podcast with joy this month. Dave talks to Karen and Danny, who spend their weekends travelling and helping new community repair groups get started in their home state of Victoria. Danny is a talented repairer of all things mechanical and electrical and Karen is an accomplished mender. They have been tinkering, mending and fixing all of their lives. Both collaborate to troubleshoot and fix sewing machines. Their story starts with frustration with their local authority, that repeatedly stymied their efforts to organise local repair events in their deprived area of western Melbourne. Making a positive out of a negative, over two years ago Karen and Danny decided to hit the road. They travel up to 500 kilometres round-trip to spread the joy of repair. With pack lunches, and short weekend trips, they make a difference. Both began tinkering and repairing as children, and taking advantage of ample freedom to explore. Danny sought out a very hands-on technical education, which he laments does not really exist anymore. Motivations and putting pressure on government We talk with them about Australian motivations for repairing, and we ask whether the environment and climate change might motivate people. Karen and Danny share their frustrations with disjointed and insufficient efforts of political leaders to prevent waste and help people live more sustainably. They also have no love for the companies selling poor quality products. Both insist that upstream change is needed to help people keep products for longer and make repair possible. They also believe that more government support is needed to support community repair and reuse efforts at the grassroots. As citizens, they both participate when possible in consultations and opportunities to improve policy. But they say it’s still really early days for the Right to Repair movement in Australia. Same with organisation of the community repair movement itself, which is still fairly “siloed”. Whatever emerges in future, we’re certain that Karen and Danny will remain strong, authentic ambassadors for repair, inspiring more and more Australians to get involved. Links: Mend It, Australia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram BBC News “Surgery students ‘losing dexterity to stitch patients’“ Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Recycling and Waste 2019 Mend It, Australia’s comment on the National Waste Policy Plan The Bower’s Right to Repair petition [Photo courtesy of Mend It, Australia] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 49: Tinker travelling with Mend It, Australia appeared first on The Restart Project.

We interview Norwegian professional repairer Henrik Huseby about his court battle against Apple, which will reach Norway’s Supreme Court next year. In 2017, Norwegian customs officials seized 63 imported, refurbished mobile screens destined for Huseby. He runs a very small repair shop in a town just outside of Oslo. Apple alleged the screens were “counterfeit”. Apple demanded Huseby sign an unfair letter, admitting to wrong-doing. He refused. He won in his first court appearance, but Apple then won in a court of appeals. Huseby was not deterred and took the extraordinary step of appealing to the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear his case in 2020. Huseby runs his business alone and he’s trusted by local police, who repair their phones with him. We talk to him about his small town, his work and how he got into it, and why he decided to stand up against a trillion dollar company. His case has everything to do with defending a “right to repair”, as Apple is strictly controlling access to spare parts. This has consequences small repair businesses globally as well as DIYers. As Huseby points out, Apple is using obscure copyright claims as its “weapon” in this attempt to cut off supply of spare parts. Understandably, Huseby is crowdfunding to cover his legal costs. If he wins and Apple is forced to pay his costs, he has committed to donating all funds to the new European Right to Repair campaign. Thanks to Restarters Oslo and Maja van der Velden who’ve helped us follow this case over the past year. Links: • Henrik Huseby’s crowdfunder • European Right to Repair campaign • “We All Lose in the Case that Apple Won” University of Oslo [Photo courtesy of Henrik Huseby] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 48: Henrik versus Goliath Corporation appeared first on The Restart Project.

This month we chat with author Adam Minter on his newest book “Secondhand: Travels In The New Global Garage Sale”. It’s out this month on Bloomsbury. We’ve followed Minter’s coverage of resource flows and waste for a couple of years now, and we were excited to read this book. From Japan to Ghana and back again Minter starts his book with a visit to “decluttering” in Japan and in the US, and we ask about this, and what the lifecycles of our stuff have to do with our own mortality. We talk about the global economies of resale goods, and ask him about a trip to the US-Mexico border as well as to visit repair and refurbishing businesses in Ghana. While these economies often go under-counted by governments and policymakers, they are thriving and very dynamic. Minter brings them to life with his storytelling and the vivid characters he meets. The future of secondhand Even after exploring the decline of some secondhand economies, and the challenges small businesses face, we’re cheered to hear that Minter is quite optimistic about the future. He believes that more durable and repairable goods are an inevitability and he also believes that emerging economies will come around to more eco-friendly consumption far faster than we have in Europe and North America. Minter was kind enough to record a special excerpt from the book of special interest to our audience, which we interweave with our interview. Links: • Secondhand: Travels In The New Global Garage Sale on Bloomsbury • Adam Minter’s column at Bloomberg • Adam Minter on Twitter [Feature image courtesy of Adam Minter] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 47: Secondhand around the world with Adam Minter appeared first on The Restart Project.

Our Restart Parties — community repair events — are amazing citizen laboratories to examine the downstream impacts of our throw-away economy. Events generate rich repair data which can have impacts beyond the immediate fixes. Over the years with volunteers and members of the public, we’ve seen and recorded thousands of repair attempts of a vast array of consumer products. In this episode, Dave interviews Monique Szpak, Community Coordinator for Data for The Restart Project. She takes us on a tour of the data collected at community repair events across the world by The Open Repair Alliance. Through an open data standard, Monique has helped to unify and compare the Alliance’s nearly 30,000 repair attempts. She shares some of the most poetic and amusing entries in the database. Monique waxes philosophical with Dave about the meaning and ultimately the significance of this data. She also outlines some of the work ahead. It turns out it’s not easy to collect and work with “messy” data coming from adhoc community events, and Monique hints that the work is only just really starting. In the near future, the Restart Project and partner organisations would like to use this data to influence regulation. Currently only manufacturer data contributes to policy processes. Links: Open Repair Alliance data downloads Open Repair Data Standard Results of the Fixfest Data Dive (September 2019) The post Restart Podcast Ep. 46: Stories from our repair data appeared first on The Restart Project.

Television has changed so much during the past couple of decades, from the way signals reach our living rooms, to the way television hardware and software is designed. Correspondingly, we have changed our viewing habits. Behind the scenes, there are teams of engineers working throughout the “ecosystem”. We often see our products as stand-alone physical objects, but these days they are embedded in ever-complex networks and software systems. Behind the screens Dave talks with two television standards engineers, Ben Skidmore with Freeview (part of Digital UK) and Ian Medland, Director of Testing with DTG (The Digital Television Group). They peel away some of the technical layers that might be ‘invisible’ to the average viewer of television. Skidmore explains how standards developed from radio through digital television, towards internet connectivity. Most of what we take for granted in the UK when we turn on a television is actually specified by detailed product standards. So many different actors are involved in the development and maintenance of these standards, and Skidmore explains how it is largely in their interest to work together. Longevity and support for older models Skidmore and Medland talk about how standards, and careful planning and coordination can prevent obsolescence of television sets. Skidmore explains how the digital switchover was managed so that millions of sets were not turned into waste overnight. However, the lifespan of televisions did drop with the advent of digital television. But that trend is reversing. And as televisions have reached great energy efficiency in the use phase at this point (thanks to EU ecodesign standards), but still have a large footprint in manufacture, we’re encouraged to hear that longevity and support are increasingly seen as priorities by those creating standards. A visit to “the zoo” DTG tests every television that goes on the UK market to ensure they meet these standards. They have a “representative receiver collection” more affectionately known as “the zoo” in their London offices. Medland takes on a tour of the zoo and learn that they keep over 350 models as far as four years back. The collection is fairly irreplaceable and the zoo is a very protected space. The episode closes with a reflection on how viewing has changed and how television content now caters to so many more tastes. And Skidmore shares how his love of fixing (he’s a volunteer with Restart) enters into his work. Links: Digital TV The DTG How did the UK switch to digital television? – Science Museum  The DTG Zoo [Photo credit: The DTG] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 45: “No TV left behind” – the quiet importance of television standards appeared first on The Restart Project.