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

Internet of Things (IoT) products are becoming the default, with wireless connectivity and automation bundled into mundane household items, such as TVs, energy meters, toys and phones. Whilst the IoT can still be a consumer choice now, its growth means we may see it imposed upon us more in the future.

The Right to Repair and Equal-IoT project will draw together expertise in human computer interaction, design research, technology, law, ethics, and digital humanities to investigate how to build more equitable IoT devices that enable inclusive participation in the digital economy.

This is a 2 year project which is funded by the EPSRC and led by the University of Edinburgh, partnered by the University of Nottingham, Lancaster University.

External partners:

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.

Start Date 1/5/2022 – 30/9/2024 (EP/W024780/1) Project blogsite

University of Nottingham Press Release

University of Edinburgh Press Release

Lancaster University Press Release

Outputs:

UbiFix: Tackling Repairability Challenges in Smart Devices, UbiComp/ISWC 2023 Adjunct – Adjunct Proceedings of the 2023 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing and the 2023 ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computing, pages 802-806, 8 October 2023.