Understanding the Role of Supportive Tools in Repair: Exploring Repair as an Embodied Practice

Abstract

Community-based electrical and electronic repair cafés rely extensively on tacit knowledge, presenting challenges for designing supportive tools in non-standardised and dynamic environments. Without adequate tools to capture this knowledge, community repair initiatives may face challenges in sustaining effective retention and sharing of repair knowledge. To address this, an ethnomethodological study was conducted in a UK-based repair café. Through immersive observations and conversations with expert repairers, we examined how they approach diverse range of repairs presented to them. Focusing on understanding their diagnostic strategies and the tools they employed. The preliminary findings revealed the intricate socio-technical dynamics among repairers and devices, where repair unfolds in an experiential, collaborative, and adaptive manner. The interplay between intuitive practices and systematic approaches emerged as a key feature, emphasising the importance of situated actions. By exploring these practices, we sought insights into how future tools could better support repair's nuanced and collaborative nature. These tools could enhance trouble-shooting capabilities and extend the lifespan of devices.