I’m very proud to announce Design Research Works’ involvement with this new 2 year Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) project that is all about the equality challenges that arise from our current generation of technology’s inability to be repaired and maintained. The involvement of Design Research Works, and ImaginationLancaster, is another fantastic opportunity to showcase the pivotal role Design Research can play in large-scale interdisciplinary research projects (and extends the fantastic work of The Repair Shop 2049). It’s a wonderful collaboration with some fantastic researchers. The project’s work packages will:
- Map the changing legal and ethical landscape, particularly around shifting current IoT design practices and examining the role of the right to repair in supporting citizen needs.
- Explore how to create the IoT Repair Shop installation with the Making Rooms Blackburn to understand issues faced by local citizens and to understand practical challenges of repairing IoT devices in the community.
- Create blueprint prototypes and user experiences that demonstrate how to design for repairability, to support IoT manufacturers to change current practices;
- Design a toolkit that will practically support development of more equitable futures when living with IoT by targeting needs of different citizen, government, and industry stakeholders.
If you are interested in collaborating or discussing the work get in touch with us or speak to the project’s Principal Investigator Lachlan Urquart.
