Master disassembler iFixIt is promoting the Self-Repair Manifesto. The slogans are music to the ears of anyone who believes in the joy of discovery, whether you’re learning about nature, abstract properties, or technological artifacts. They’re giving away 1,500 posters of the above image at no cost; you can also download it as a PDF. The theses:
Repair is better than recycling.
Repair saves the planet.
Repair saves you money.
Repair teaches engineering.
If you can’t fix it, you don’t own it.
I’ve repaired a number of my devices in recent years, from washing machines to Apple laptops, and felt that I’ve learned, saved, and greened, all with the smug little pleasure of defeating The Man. Whoever That Man is.
iFixIt has a vested interest in this campaign worth noting: the company sells spare parts and upgrades, mostly for Apple equipment. On the flip side, iFixIt is assembling a giant directory of free repair manuals for all manner of manufactured goods. The company also publishes near-instant dissections of popular new electronics, like Microsoft Kinect and the iPhone 4, as a combination of promotion and exploration.