Fixing the Future: The Right to Repair and Equal-IoT

我们为期2年的跨学科项目将调查消费者物联网（IoT）缺乏可修复性将如何对数字经济的公平性，包容性和可持续性产生不利影响。 物联网产品正在成为默认产品，无线连接和自动化被捆绑到电视、电表、玩具和手机等普通家居用品中。虽然物联网现在仍然是消费者的选择，但它的增长意味着公民可能会看到它在未来强加给他们。我们使用人机交互（HCI），设计和法律的理论和方法来预测冗余物联网设备造成的数字鸿沟的未来影响，特别是对低收入家庭。我们将设想如何构建更公平的物联网设备，并避免未来因长期网络安全性差、数据的剥削性使用和缺乏环境可持续性而造成的不平等。一些公民有能力更换损坏的设备，但其他人则没有能力，需要得到支持来修理或面对影响。我们将研究物联网的平等问题如何在社会，世代和地理位置中出现。然后，我们将研究如何创造更多可修复的设备，尊重公民的法律的权利，提供长期的网络安全，最大限度地减少电子废物，并得到当地社区可修复性网络的支持。为此，我们有一个由利益相关者参与和与公民和项目合作伙伴共同创造驱动的研究计划，即：-当地社区维修和制造商空间，The Making Rooms Blackburn -消费者权益和倡导团体，Which？公共广播和新媒体体验开发人员，BBC研发-物联网网络安全公司，NCC集团-气候未来关注艺术家，Rachel Jacobs/Active Adult，-社会包容和数字技能机构，加拿大政府就业和社会发展部。我们的4个综合工作包（WP）由技术原型开发，定性评估和参与性研究活动支撑;公众参与;和政策驱动的活动，以促进该部门的变革，以解决当前物联网导致的不平等问题。WP的关键焦点包括：检查当前物联网带来的平等的法律的和道德挑战;与公民和当地维修网络一起在布莱克本创建和运行物联网维修店安装;设计原型和用户体验，展示如何建立可修复性，以解决当前物联网带来的不平等问题;并开发一个“物联网”工具包，实际上将支持在使用物联网时发展更公平的未来。该工具包是一项新颖的贡献，包括为制造商提供设计建议和行动计划，以改变当前的做法;政策指导方针和简报，以塑造政府活动;数字技能指导方针，以实现社区的可维修性;开发物联网维修店蓝图模型，以推广到英国其他地区;参观维修店，作为与公民的公共参与活动;为公民和维修人员制定一份宣言，以展示他们的权利并支持物联网发展的变革。

Our 2-year interdisciplinary project will investigate how the lack of repairability in the consumer Internet of Things (IoT) will adversely impact equity, inclusion, and sustainability in the digital economy. IoT products are becoming the default, with wireless connectivity and automation bundled into mundane household items like TVs, energy meters, toys and phones. Whilst the IoT can still be a consumer choice now, its growth means citizens may see it imposed on them in the future. We use theory and methodologies from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design and Law to anticipate the future impacts of a digital divide caused by redundant IoT devices, particularly for lower income households. We will envision how to build more equitable IoT devices and avoid future inequalities posed by the poor long-term cybersecurity, exploitative uses of data and lacking environmental sustainability that define the current IoT. Some citizens can afford to replace broken devices but others cannot and require support to repair them or face the impacts. We will examine how equality issues from IoT arise across society, generations and geographies. We will then investigate how to create more repairable devices that respect citizens legal rights, provide long-term cybersecurity, minimise eWaste, and are supported by local community repairability networks. To do this, we have a research programme driven by stakeholder engagement and co-creation with citizens and project partners, namely:- Local community repair and maker space, The Making Rooms Blackburn - Consumer rights and advocacy group, Which?- Public broadcaster and new media experience developers, BBC Research & Development- IoT cybersecurity firm, NCC Group- Climate futures focused artist, Rachel Jacobs/Active Ingredient, - Social inclusion and digital skills body, the Department of Employment and Social Development in the Canadian Government.Our 4 integrated work packages (WPs) are underpinned by technical prototype development; qualitative evaluation and participatory research activities; public engagement; and policy driven activities to foster change in the sector to address current IoT led inequalities. Key focal points of the WPs include: examining legal and ethical challenges for equality posed by current IoT; creating and running an IoT Repair Shop installation in Blackburn with citizens and local repair networks; designing prototypes and user experiences that demonstrate how to build in repairability to address inequalities posed by current IoT; and developing an 'Equal-IoT' toolkit that will practically support development of more equitable futures when living with IoT. The toolkit is a novel contribution that includes design recommendations and action plans for manufacturers to change current practices; policy guidelines and briefings to shape government activities; digital skills guidelines for enabling repairability in the community; development of an IoT repair shop blueprint model to roll out to other parts of the UK; touring the Repair Shop as a public engagement activity with citizens; developing a manifesto for citizens and repairers to showcase their rights and champion change in IoT development.