Open-Source Hardware for a better Future of Repair
On every continent, repair extends the life of the things we use every day. In the process, it teaches skills, strengthens communities, reduces waste, creates green jobs and cuts emissions. You know this already of course. But for many people outside of our repair communities, these connections are less obvious. (Right to repair Europe, 2022)
To repair has become an expert’s task — this is not the fault of the users and enthusiasts, but rather the industry and their move away from repairable electronics and away from the DIY mentality. We can regain the repair knowledge that is lost, by opening devices and starting to embrace the “adventure of making and breaking hardware”, to better understand the surrounding technology. Repair is in a renaissance, not only as a result of economic crisis, but also since the social movements of Repair Cafes, Critical Making and the wider “Maker Revolution” start to be become concepts which are wider known (see also Hertz, 2012; Ratto & Ree, 2012).
Still, there is a long way to go for a world where we have Open-Source Hardware, and repairable electronics are fashionable again. A start would be to become aware of electronics surrounding you, and how you interact with them.
From the microcomputer revolution to out-of-the-box experiences
In the old days of “home computers” devices have been sent out to be assembled and built by the consumers, which has involved them more in the process: the initial construction of the tools have formed a certain bond of these individuals with their assembly.
The microcomputer revolution that got kicked off in the late ’70s has started a run on these devices, as they became available to everyone. Apple’s Apple-1 was the world’s first PC with monitor and keyboard access, but it was delivered as a motherboard only, with the peripheral equipment (case, power supply transformers, power switch, ASCII keyboard, and composite video display) supplied by the user.
The Apple II was much more of a success (at least in numbers) but besides that also had a big difference: it came fully assembled, and hence people would focus more on the software than tinkering with the electronics. This has started the “out-of-the-box experience culture” and resulted in consumer electronics which have become less repairable.
The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It
Jonathan Zittrain in his book “The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It” criticized the dominance of smart devices, describing them as “tethered appliances, a way of tying end users to the manufacturers. The principle of closeness that defines these tethered appliances refers to the hardware itself. It cannot be changed or used in another way than designed (and in some cases cannot even be repaired) as well as to new unprecedented levels of control. Zittrain explains this on the example of the Apple iPhone, which in early versions of the device would allow end-users to change the battery — while in later revisions would not allow for even this tiny repair anymore. Design choices like these are effectively disabling the users from their control, and “tether” them to the manufacturers.
Open-Source Hardware as a counter-movement
Open-Source Hardware is a counter-movement to the tethered devices and end-to-end hardware control. Free and Open-Source Hardware (FOSH) is a domain that got started by engineers and enthusiasts, these projects are relevant in countless domains as of 2022. Examples for interesting rabbit-holes are these projects:
- MNT Reform Open Hardware Notebook — MNT Reform is the radical, ultimate open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Berlin. This hardware is 100% repairable, documented, and has a vivid community behind them.
- Pine64 are the producers of the Pinebook, the Pinephone, and a lot of other nice gadgets. Their website shows their vast number of projects they are working on.
- Arduino is one project which you might have heard of. But there are many other interesting developments on the embedded board front, most notably RISC-V boards. SiFive’s HiFive boards have been one of the first, and others followed. Recently, Pine64 announced the Star64, and there are a lot of announced other projects.
- Tuxphones is an excellent starting point for Linux on smartphones. Notable hardware projects are Purism’s Librem and the PinePhone. PostmarketOS and Lineage are good firmware distributions to use older phones with recent firmware.
The Open-Source Hardware Association (OSHWA) has a list of all projects they have certified. You can find a large list of interesting FOSH projects there: https://certification.oshwa.org
Where to start, what to repair?
Look at the electronics surrounding your everyday life, and you might be able to spot technology and electronic devices everywhere. Most of them feature proprietary designs, are undocumented, hard to repair and might even implement planned obsolescence. Here are a few pointers on where to start:
- Mod your routers with OpenWRT and LibreCMC firmware
- Install CalyxOS or GrapheneOS on your Google Pixel
- Mod your old thinkpad T440p, X220, X200 or order at minifree
- Buy an open-source laptop such as the MNT reform or get Linux certified notebooks such as the Lenovo L14.
- Read through the list of repairable hardware on iFixIt
- Build your own custom mechanical keyboard
Recap everything!
Most of the electronic devices out there are not beyond repair, as in a lot of the cases they can be repaired with recapping. You can watch this excellent Recapping Tutorial as well as Six Common Mistakes Made When Recapping Vintage Electronics.
HAPPY REPAIR DAY 2022 everyone!
OpenGears are researchers with the RIAT — Research Institute for Arts and Technology. They are writing, commenting and working on all things open. Linux, Rust, Open Source, DIY, Hacking and Engineering. Follow them on twitter, subscribe on Medium and follow on Reddit.
