Photo/Illutration Printed circuit boards are at the heart of smartphones and other electronics equipment. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

I sometimes wonder what it would be like to travel back in time.

What if I am asked to explain science and technology of the 21st century? I don’t even have the slightest inkling of how computers and smartphones work.

My days of assembling my own radio are long gone. Every new electronic device today is a veritable black box.

A new movement said to be gaining momentum in Europe and the United States calls on users of electronics to snap out of their sense of resignation and empower themselves to fix problems on their own.

The purpose is to get manufacturers and governments to grant the “right to repair” to consumers.

The trend nowadays is for people to simply purchase new smartphones and other devices when they develop problems. This is not only an expensive solution, but also a waste of resources.

That is why the right to repair movement is calling for product designs that facilitate repairs, disclosure of information for repairs and keeping spare parts readily available.

In response, Apple Inc. has started selling self-service repair kits for its smartphones in the United States.

The New York state legislature has approved a right to repair bill, according to U.S. media.

The movement also covers farm machinery and medical equipment.

Just as I was wondering if it will reach Japan, I came across a news report about abuse of the metaphorical “black box” by an employee of a subsidiary of precision equipment manufacturer Shimadzu Corp.

The employee allegedly tampered with the company’s medical equipment installed at a hospital, which led to an apparent operational failure and demand for a fee to fix the problem.

We may be living in a state of being kept deliberately in the dark about electronics around us, leaving people resigned to paying a high price in the belief the equipment they use is beyond their comprehension.

This is what the right to repair movement is trying to point out.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 3

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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