1. Imagine you own the following home appliances which have broken down and no longer function correctly. How comfortable or uncomfortable would you be with attempting to repair them yourself?
Wooden furniture
Lamps and other small lights
Toilet
Main ceiling or wall lights
Kitchen/bathroom taps
Vacuum cleaners
Laptop or computer
Central heating radiator
Washing machine
Stereo or speaker system
Power tools such as drills or cordless screwdrivers
Smart phone
Kettle
Electric oven
Electric/power shower
Electric hob/cooker
Toaster
Dishwasher
Fridge/Freezer
Television
Boiler
Gas hob/cooker
Microwave
Gas oven
2. Can you guess which item Britons are most comfortable repairing? What percentage of Britons (male/female) would be comfortable repairing this item, do you think? Would it be the same percentage in your country?
3. How much money could you save by doing repairs or renovations yourself? Do you think it's worth it? How easy is it to find someone trustworthy to do repairs?
4. What tools do you consider essential to have at home?
5. Why would governments legislate in the area of repairing household electrical items?
Read article here: Right To Repair Reading
6. Did your answer to question 5 match the reasons given in the article? Does your country have such legislation?
7. What is your reaction to the legislation? Choose from the following:
a) I was OK with the existing rules - I don't see the need for change.
b) This is great - I can finally unleash the inner handyman/woman in me.
c) This will probably lead to more expensive items in shops.
8. Have you yourself had to throw away an item because of the failure of a small part? What was it?
9. Will the proposed changes lead to a boom in demand for handymen/women?
10. According to some critics, internet technology is taking us back to the Middle-Ages - a time when all property belonged to kings and could only be used by serfs for the kings' benefit.
This situation has been replicated today by technology whose software/hardware remains the property of the 'kings', and does not allow us to repair or change the item except through the kings' agents.
Do you agree? Do you have any items that can only be repaired/used/exploited with the manufacturer's say-so? (Examples: Tesla cars that email the factory if non-recognised repairs are carried out; mobile phone data that you are obliged to share if you wish to use their software)
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Situation
1. Choose your favourite electronic device. You are the manufacturer of said device and you have incorporated many features that allow it to be repaired/customised by its owner. Persuade your teacher to buy one. Make sure he understands that he alone will be the owner, and that his rights will be respected.
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Discuss quotes
"We live in a disposable society. It's easier to throw things out than to fix them. We even give it a name - we call it recycling."
--- Neil LaBute
"Normal people... believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet."
--- Scott Adam
"It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are."
--- Clive James
"I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
--- Steven Wright
Student Handout PDF: Right To Repair
Photo: Ono Kosuki