A computer that could be repaired for pennies ends up on the street, and the main reason is none other than the user. The idea of buy, throw away, and buy again has invaded us to such an extent that professor Danielle George from the University of Manchester talks about a “lost generation” that has neither the patience nor the knowledge to fix problems in their devices.
On Christmas Day I received an unexpected “gift”: the power supply in my main computer gave up the ghost. Fortunately, I have one or two spare ATX power supplies, but when inspecting the damaged one, I discovered that the cause of the failure was concentrated in a couple of swollen capacitors (or, if you prefer, “condensers”). Honestly, I felt relieved. With the right capacitors and a little time, that power supply will return to the battlefield without much trouble.
However, I am only saving one power supply. Anywhere else in the world, this power supply would end up in the trash, as its owners simply go and buy another one. This mechanism is music to the ears of companies that design their products blocking any possibility of repair, but there is something more serious: the last generation of users neither knows nor wants to repair them.
The “Lost Generation” According to Professor George
According to professor Danielle George from the University of Manchester, those aged 40 or less expect their devices to work, and having no idea how to proceed when they fail, the only option they accept is to set them aside and buy new ones. The professor also mentions what I said earlier: some repairs require minimal investment and basic electronics or engineering knowledge, but she doesn't mince words when she adds that we are facing a “lost generation” that grew up with the disposable vision of consumer electronics.
Resources for a Repair Culture
Still, many resist planned obsolescence. The web is full of resources for repairing, reusing, or recycling all kinds of devices, including pages like iFixit and Instructables. Professor George says the current generation is in a unique position, as it has never been so equipped to expand its creativity and capacity to innovate. In other words, if you plan to get rid of something, better think twice. After all, getting rid of a gadget that can be repaired is equivalent to throwing away money.
