Meanwhile, consumer companies including Apple and Samsung have begun to make their hardware products available for independent repair and congressional approval. Pressure. For companies like John Deere to do the same. There are still many companies that oppose the right-to-repair movement. A medical device company that makes machines for heart surgery recently told hospitals This means that technicians within their company will no longer be allowed to repair equipment themselves. Hospitals will now be required to contract repairs directly with manufacturers.
Terumo Cardiovascular created a product called the Advanced Perfusion System 1 Heart Lung Machine, which redirects blood during open heart surgery. To keep the patient alive during surgery according to 404 mediaTerumo told hospitals last month that it would stop offering certification classes for equipment repairs.
The work of independent repairmen used to be more common. There are people who can repair everything from TVs to dishwashers and cars. But today's hardware Loaded with chips and software And companies like Apple have said that the software on their devices is copyrighted intellectual property. Allowing anyone to spy on and take tampering can lead to security or trustworthiness risks.
Apple has begun to ease up on repairs. This comes after years of criticism over the hypocrisy of its commitment to environmental sustainability. At the same time, it prevents repairs that could extend the life of the equipment. Now the company has presented Official replacement parts and repair tools for select devices, with plans to expand this support in the future. Reports suggest that is the case. It is still complicated to repair the iPhone independently.But it's a start. Samsung also supports independent smartphone repairs.
However, in many cases, today's devices are more like services. Instead, buy a refrigerator or smart thermostat once and it can do whatever the owner wants. Any upgrades or modifications It usually has to be returned to the company that sold it. Research suggests that it is Basic reasons We have a lot of garbage in the world today. The TV won't turn on? Either repair it under warranty or throw it away. Because it might be cheaper to replace it with a new one.
The actual transformation of hardware into a service often expands due to lock-in. If there's an open market for repairs for devices like Terumo, it's possible for hospitals to get better prices. Case in point: In a report by the Federal Trade Commission, it was found that medical device manufacturers sometimes charge money. 2-3 times How much will an independent technician charge? and medical costs in the United States It's already very high.
To see how things are What will it be like? Look no further than cars from the past. For a long time, independent auto body shops flourished. BMWs or Fords could be repaired by anyone with a wrench and a elbow. But since cars are increasingly using computers, Access to digital data is therefore necessary to diagnose and fix problems, such as a malfunctioning backup camera.
Lawmakers have recently complained that automakers are like medical device companies. make it difficult For independent repair companies to access software and diagnostic data under the same guise as a potential security risk And they are violating Right to Repair laws passed in various states. Obviously including Massachusetts. To provide independent shops with access to software diagnostics
The dangers of lock-in are clear. Few independent repair shops can service Teslas, aside from their high prices. Owners of those vehicles also complain that the company's official technicians provide slow or poor service. In Terumo's case, what happens if it responds too slowly when critical equipment needs repairs to perform surgery?
Terumo argued that medical devices are sensitive and complex. And allowing anyone to repair those devices risks patient safety, he said. 404 The company has seen demand for its training programs decline, but if Apple can find a way to do third-party repairs, Terumo might as well. There is a hospital repairman. technician In the end They should be able to do everything Terumo's in-house technicians can.