Main content

Dare to repair: The fight for the right to repair

Mark Miodownik looks at what electronics manufacturers are doing about repair, but they tend to want to do the repair . Why can’t we repair our own stuff if we want to?

Many electronics manufacturers are making it harder for us, to fix our broken kit. There are claims that programmed obsolescence is alive and well, with mobile phone batteries designed to wear out after just 400 charges. They claim it's for safety or security reasons, but it pushes constant replacement and upgrades. But people are starting to fight back. Mark Miodownik talks to the fixers and repairers who are heading up the Right to Repair movement which is forcing governments to act, and making sustainability and value for money part of the consumer equation.

Producer: Fiona Roberts

(Photo: A pile of discarded computer circuit board. Credit: Tara Moore/Getty Images)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Tue 20 Jul 2021 12:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 19 Jul 2021 19:32GMT
  • Tue 20 Jul 2021 01:32GMT
  • Tue 20 Jul 2021 08:32GMT
  • Tue 20 Jul 2021 12:32GMT

Space

The eclipses, spacecraft and astronauts changing our view of the Universe

The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry

The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry

A pair of scientific sleuths answer your perplexing questions. Ask them anything!

Podcast