CRESC 2013 Annual Conference: in/vulnerabilities and social change: precarious lives and experi ental !

no"ledge# $th%&th Septe ber 2013# 'ondon#

(hat do a ra p and a co puter have in co

An experi ental test on matters of care for matter

on)

Toms Snchez Criado (UAB, Spain) tomas.sanchez@uab.cat Blanca Call n (!ancaster Uni"ersit#, U$) % b.callen@lancaster.ac.u&

a* (hat do a ra p and a co puter have in co

on) +,*: ,ntroduction

'n this session (e (ould li&e to thin& o) material care, on the reco*nition o) "ulnerabilit# there occurrin* and on the modes o) &no(led*e practices mobilized to come to *rips (ith it, to tac&le it, to understand it and, e"entuall#, to inter"ene it+ To be more speci)ic, (e (ould li&e to propose #ou to accompan# us in thin&in* on (hat (e ha"e come to call ,matters o) care )or matter.- But these matters are al(a#s o) a speci)ic &ind. .ence, )or the sa&e o) empirical situatedness, please allo( us to pose a more *rounded /uestion (e hope (ill help us in thin&in* (ith more care. What do a ramp and a computer have in common? This openin* /uestion directs us to the similarities bet(een t(o ob0ects. 'n our attempt at *i"in* a tentati"e repl# throu*hout this paper, (e (ill tr# to e1plore empiricall# ho( di))erent sets o) material care or ,care )or matter- practices mobilized in dealin* (ith (heelchair ramps and computers could also be considered as more *eneral epistemic repertoires, as po(er)ul resources )or ne( ethical *roundin*s. 'n other (ords, (e (ould li&e to sho( that di))erent practices around a 2'3 (heelchair ramp-s protot#pin* and discarded computers- reco"er# and reuse mi*ht ha"e somethin* in common. And in particular (e (ould li&e to ta&e them as (or&in* e1perimental trials or ,tests- o) "ulnerabilit# similar to the ones occurrin* not onl# in the implementation, repair and maintenance o) other di"erse matters, ob0ects and in)rastructures but also in the underpinnin* o) ethical orders and ecolo*ies that are bein* sustained, maintained and produced alon*side. 4ur aim, then, (ould be e1perimental. 'n proposin* these connections (e see& to elaborate a tentati"e narrati"e about "ulnerabilit# as an e"ent or condition allo(in* attenti"e practitioners to produce a particular )orm o) &no(led*e throu*h particular practices o) care and repair. $no(led*e that could help us in bein* more care)ul, to re)lect ho( to care ,better.- And (e (ould li&e to pa# attention to speci)ic practices because the identi)ication o) bro&enness and "ulnerabilit# has to be done throu*h e1ploration, e1amination and action o"er the particular matters at hand, in the course o) the continuous super"ision *uidin* practical e1ecution (.en&e, 5666). As (e see it, this &ind o) practical reco*nition re"eals the ne*lected, denied and )or*otten counterpart o) common modern assumptions re*ardin* sub0ects and ob0ects. 4n the one hand, "ulnerabilit# needs a di))erent theoretical and ethical repertoire to the liberal conception o) sub0ects as autonomous and )ree indi"iduals, because it rather tal&s to us o) di"isions, )ra*mentation, o) problems o) ho( to hold to*ether, as 7ol (8998) put it. 4n the other hand, an attention to bro&enness and response to decadence mobilizes other theoretical and practical en*a*ements (ith matter di))erent )rom the ones mobilized in usin* the concept o) ,ob0ect,as a closed%do(n and read#%made commodit#, a piece in the )urniture o) the (orld, at hand and eas# to use. 'n )act, (e belie"e an analo*# could be established bet(een care or repair : maintenance practices and those o) ma&in*. As 'n*old (895;) states about the <=+> rh#thmic repetitions o) *esture entailed in handlin* tools and materials =+> the# are set up 1

throu*h the continual sensor# attunement o) the practitioner-s mo"ements to the inherent rh#thmicit# o) those components o) the en"ironment (ith (hich he or she is en*a*ed? (895;@ p.55A). And, (ith !eroi%Bourhan, (e could sa# that material care, or repair and maintenance practices <is a dialo*ue bet(een the ma&er =or repair practitioner> and the material emplo#ed? (/uoted in 'n*old, 895;@ p.55A). 't is in this sense that, buildin* on 7aria Cui* de la Bellacasa-s re)lections (8955) (e (ill propose that repair, maintenance or other ,care )or matter- practices mi*ht be ta&en as epistemic repertoires pointin* at matters that, despite remainin* usuall# hidden or not easil# "isible are still crucial and necessar# )or the )ra*ile continuit# o) our common but une"en socio%material (orlds.

b* -he ra p . the co puter: An ethnographic dra a in t"o chapters

Throu*hout this paper, (e (ould li&e to de"elop such ar*uments as a (a# to test the "iabilit# o) our o(n proposal but, be)orehand, let us e1plain a bit more about the ob0ects o) our empirical matters, i.e. the ramp and the computer (e (ill be re)errin* to )rom no( on. 5) The )irst empirical stance (e (ould li&e to re)er to is related to the ethno*raphic participation in a small acti"ist collecti"e called En torno a la silla since Do"ember 8958. 'n di))erent underta&in*s in Barcelona and 7adrid, Toms has per)ormed as the o))icial ,documentator- o) the *roup, pa#in* close attention to their attempts at inter"enin* disabilit#%oriented product desi*n, throu*h the participator# creation o) lo(%cost and open technolo*ies )rom a ,)unctional di"ersit#- approach. The latter term has been *ainin* momentum in di))erent acti"ist underta&in*s since the "er# inception o) the Spanish Independent-living Forum in 8995. Erom that moment on, their ideas ha"e started to spread and di))erent small ad"ocac# *roups ha"e started to criticise the publicFpri"ate ,care re*imes- associated to ,disabilit#- concepts and their ser"ice pro"ision in Spain. Throu*hout these processes, ne( discourses on the bod# ha"e emer*ed, )ocusin* on the di"ersit# o) the human&ind and, hence, ha"in* as an ob0ect o) their stru**le a )i*ht )or the di*nit# o) human di"ersit# in all its scope. .ence, the# )ocus not on the special )eatures o) a se*re*ated *roup such as ,people (ith disabilities-%, but on the loss o) di*nit# implied in the discrimination because o) (hat the# term ,)unctional di"ersit#.- This has entailed the proposal )or the creation o) di))erent sel)%mana*ement strate*ies in ser"ice and product desi*n, such as independent%li"in* centres )or the cooperati"e or*anization o) ,personal assistant- (or&, or the articulation o) di))erent lo(%cost technical aids desi*n (or&shops. But )inancial attention to these proposals )rom the part o) the state or the industr# has been scarce. Ghat-s more the spendin* cuts ha"e onl# made the (hole situation (orse )or the re*ular mar&et@ the technical aids- industries ha"e mostl# been attached to public )undin*, and remain so, their a"ailable products bein* subsidized b# the public administration because o) their hi*h prices. The *eneral lac& o) public )unds has a))ected the a"ailabilit# o) subsidies, hence limitin* man# people-s access to such technical aids, despite the *ro(in* emer*ence o) se"eral sel)%mana*ed reuse strate*ies. 'n this conte1t o) precariousness, the )railt# o) the En torno a la silla pro0ect, addressin* the situation o) a "er# )rail collecti"e, has been mirrored b# the )railt# o) the protot#pin* process o) a portable 2'3 (heelchair ramp, its main ob0ect o) attention in the past months. As (e (ill e1plain later on (ith an e1ample, in order to maintain the pro0ect-s hopes and aims the# ha"e had to ac&no(led*e the "ulnerabilit# o) its most "alued ob0ect%matter, as (ell as that o) its ma&ers, and the need to ta&e care o) all o) them. 8) The second ethno*raphic scener# that (e (ould li&e to e1pose is related to Blanca-s research pro0ect on in)ormal but inno"ati"e responses to e%(aste problem in Spain. Considerin* the unsuccess)ul results o) public policies on e%(aste and the relati"e no"elt# o) this emer*in* problem, her aim (as to e1plore the material and epistemic practices that arise )rom the mar*ins o) institutionalized mana*erial circuits around e% (aste and obser"e ho( the# contest, in some manner, the )inal pri"ile*ed solution o) rec#clin* and the mainstream consumerist conception o) (hat a computer is or stopped bein*. 'n other (ords, ho( these in)ormal e1periences per)orm (resistin*, a"oidin*, slo(in*, hac&in* or trans)ormin*) the usual transition bet(een computers and e%(aste. Speci)icall#, Blanca has been obser"in* a *roup o) in)ormal mi*rant (aste pic&ers (ho loo& )or metal pieces and components in the streets o) Barcelona. !i"in* and tradin* )rom a hu*e s/uatted (arehouse in an impo"erished nei*hbourhood, the# pic& up dail# their metal )indin*s, and precious ob0ects to sell them to bi**er scrap%traders. 'n the case o) still ,use)ul- computers and electronic de"ices, the# send them to second%hand mar&ets in A)rica throu*h in)ormal but trust(orth# net(or&s o) contacts in order to ha"e them repaired and sold a*ain. The second e1perience obser"ed (as Obsoletos, a small hac&ers and 3

ma&ers research pro0ect in 7adrid, composed b# )our curious mates trained in di))erent scienti)ic and technical disciplines. Than&s to a *rant )rom the 7inistr# o) Culture the# or*anized se"eral (or&shops and meetin*s to teach ho( to rebuild ne(%old computers and to create other ,hac&s- )rom discarded components and de"ices. The# also publish a blo* dedicated to the anal#sis o) di))erent aspects o) technolo*ical obsolescence and to document all their creations, such as a soap bubble%ma&er, a hard dri"e spea&er or a laser oscilloscope. The third e1perience (as Cyclicka, a sel)%mana*ed computer repair (or&shop that operates as an in)ormal learnin* hub inside a hu*e social centre in 7adrid. The# are hosted in this centre and, as an e1chan*e, the# o))er some help (ith maintenance and repair ser"ices. There, old computers are deli"ered b# donators (mostl#, nei*hbours), "oluntar# people ta&e and *i"e lessons on computin* re)urbishment and some o) them participate on the (ee&l# repair (or&shop. The repaired and re)urbished computers can either be sold b# repairers (ho earn 8F; o) the mone# or *i"en )or )ree to social and acti"ist local pro0ects. The# mi*ht also be *i"en to schools and educati"e pro0ects all o"er the (orld, than&s to a sel)%mana*ed social net(or& called Labdoo.

c* (hat do a ra p and a co puter have in co on) +,,*: -ests/ or so e situated experi ents to experi ent "hat counts as vulnerabilit0
.ence, (hat do a ramp and a computer ha"e in commonH Cossibl# man# thin*s, but let-s sa# that it is, )irst and )oremost, their "ulnerabilities. 4r, to be more speci)ic, the "ulnerabilities )ound out in the inter(o"en practices o) redesi*nin*, hac&in* or repairin* them. .o(e"er, despite that "ulnerabilit# is in man# situations eas# to identi)# such as (hen (e produce a clear brea&a*e throu*h use it usuall# emer*es out as part o) an on*oin* process o) dia*nostic and practical manipulation, and it is not uncommon that its reco*nition mi*ht be unclear, not )ull# realized at once. .ence, in order to e1periment "ulnerabilit# and (hat it mi*ht be li&e (e need some tests. 'n clear analo*# (ith (hat !atour stated in Irreductions@ <=+> There are onl# trials o) stren*th, o) (ea&ness. 4r more simpl#, there are onl# trials. This is m# point o) departure@ a "erb, ,to tr#.- =+> 't is because nothin* is, b# itsel), reducible or irreducible to an#thin* else that there are onl# trials (o) stren*th, o) (ea&ness). Ghat is neither reducible nor irreducible has to be tested, counted, and measured? (!atour, 56II@ p.5AI) But, (hat is bein* tested and e1perimented in our empirical stances and ho(H Ge (ould li&e to )ocus on t(o ethno*raphic depictions o) speci)ic situations that mi*ht help us ans(er that /uestion. c. ! Will the ramp "ork? #arcelona. It is a cold evening in $ay %& '. ()ter having circumvented the many challenges )aced along the conception process* here "e have the de)initive* or so "e think* prototype in our hands+ a t"o-tracked 'cm-thick aluminium portable ramp )or an electric "heelchair. (lida* ,ai and I picked it up )rom the smith "orkshop a )e" days ago and* here "e are* ready to test it -in the "ild. "ith (ntonio* at last// 0onight "e have met each other so as to -assault. 1a "ord "e use 2okingly- an inaccessible pub* bar or restaurant. -Will the ramp "ork?*. is a 3uestion that all o) us )our ask in many di))erent "ays. We are almost sure it "ill* because "e have tested previous models* be it the )irst ra" prototype made in "ood and iron or a previous aluminium model "ith very similar )eatures* but one never kno"s. 0he thing is that there has been a great design improvement in the past t"o months a))ecting the )olding method+ in the previous models each track had t"o detachable pieces so as 4

to enhance its portability* united "hen being used by a very rustic 4-shaped tube helping tracks to )it into each other* and impeding detachment "hen being trod over by the "heelchair. 5o"ever* this method had one main problem+ the 4-shaped tubes stood out o) the bag "hen transporting them and "ere a bit too dangerous )or sa)e manipulation. 5aving gathered around & dra)t versions* (lida and ,ai* reached the conclusion that they had )ound the per)ect match1or at least a good ne" improvement-. 0he ne" method allo"s the parts o) the detachable track to turn together "hen )olding* creating a slight ne" problem )or storage and transportation* but making the ramp much sa)er and usable. We still don.t kno" i) the ramp "ill bend too much in the middle because o) the heaviness o) the "heelchair. (nd "e are still unsure i) the ramp might need improvements in the parts serving as 2unctures to the side"alk and the step to be climbed* or entre*as as ,ai and (lida called them in 6panish+ a very beauti)ul technical term re)erring to 2unctures* having the 2oint connotations o) consignment* encounter and commitment. We need to check i) aluminium "ill be too slippery in its entre*a or encounter "ith clay* and have imagined that "e might need to recycle used bike tires so as to create a rubber band system to enhance the ramp.s grip. We are an7ious and start searching )or possible inaccessible spaces. We need to )ind a step "here "e might put the ramp to "ork* "here "e might understand i) it "orks or not and "hy. 0hen* "e )ind out the #ar $undial* "hich has a huge step in its entrance o) around %8cm high. (t )irst "e are doubt)ul* )or our ramp has been designed )or %&cm steps on the ma7. (lida says+ 9:o* it "on.t "ork* it.s too high* it might be dangerous/; #ut (ntonio is con)ident to give it a try and climb the step "ith his "heelchair. (lida gets into the bar and asks the o"ner i) "e could open the entrance.s door standing lea). Once this is done* ,ai and (lida take the ramp out o) the plastic bag and ,ai places the t"o tracks ne7t to each other* checking the height. 9It.s too tall*; he "arns (ntonio* but he "ants to give it a go. ,ai places in the rear o) the "heelchair so as to hold (ntonio.s chair "hile he care)ully moves his 2oystick. (nd then* all o) a sudden "e made it/ (ntonio is up and sa)e* the ramp has resisted una))ected. It is "orking/ 5appy as "e are "e are immediately received by the o"ner* trying to hide his guilt o) not complying to the accessibility norms "ith over-in)atuated )riendly manners. ()ter eating and drinking something "e leave. It "orks again. ,ai )olds the ramp.s tracks* and stores them again. It has been a very happy day* but there are still many 3uestions and tiny aspects to be solved. 0he )uture is uncertain. $any more tests need to be undertaken and some small design aspects need to be solved so as to be able to launch our cro"d)unding campaign ne7t autumn. #ut "e are surprised by the e7traordinary po"er o) the situation created by our assault. We never thought about it. In the )ollo"ing days "e laugh many times at the odd o"ner.s )ace "hen he sa" (ntonio entering the bar* as "ell as many bystanders. gestures o) surprise. 9<robably it is the )irst time they have seen someone using a "heelchair so close in their lives*; said (lida one o) those times. (nd given the strange sta)) look no doubt it "as the )irst time a "heelchair user had been able to access the bar* at least in a long time= We posted the action in our blog several days later* not "ithout irony+ 90he #ar $undial* "hich e7isted peace)ully inaccessible )rom >%?* all o) a sudden became accessible* but no ramp could make accessible its prices/; c.%! @oes this or that computer still "ork? 0he )irst speci)ic e7ample that I "ould like to share "ith you concerns ho" "astepickers in #arcelona )ace material vulnerability and "eigh the value o) their )indings+ it re3uires them both to recogniAe di))erent kinds o) materials 1especially metals1
1

http://entornoalasilla.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/poniendo-en-uso-la-rampa-mayo-2013/

and to kno" i) the electronic devices )ound are still )unctional or not. 0hese variables "ill help them to mark the right price in negotiating "ith others. 0he magnet is a key tool )or doing so+ i) the piece attracts something* it.s )errous/ I) not* you 2ust need to scratch a bit to distinguish brass )rom aluminium. In case it.s brass* the colour o) the scratch must be yello"ish and it is usually better paid than iron or aluminium. #ut the best paid is copper* kno"n by its reddish colour. $arcel* the closer in)ormant "ho teaches me the trade* and I "alk. 5e e7plains to me that it.s also very important to kno" ho" to open "hat you.ve )ound+ 9Bou never kno" "hat you can )ind inside;. In the case o) a lamp that turned out to be hiding a very big piece o) copper inside* he suspected it because o) the sound and the "eight o) the component "hen manipulating it. I had asked him be)ore i) it might not be better to sell it as a "hole* that is* as a lamp. #ut he shook his head saying it "ouldn.t+ 9because it doesn.t -look. like an anti3ue;. I) it "ere an anti3ue* it "ould have some value* but it isn.t. In the case o) computers* he seems to kno" much better "hat to do "ith them+ one o) the C<4.s )ound "as completely taken apart. 0he o"ner had told him that it "as very old "hen he )ound it and this "as evident because o) the e7ternal -aspect.. 0he most precious piece )or him is usually the motor* the electricity supplier* because there is more copper insideC then the hard disk* either because o) its aluminium or because some people buy them separatelyC and also some small copper pieces that are "elded to the motherboard. I) the computers or electronic devices are still )unctional and don.t look too old* he sells them to the $oroccan neighbour traders. 0he method to discern this is a pretty simple one+ he plugs them. I) they turn on* they are ok. I) not* they aren.t. 6upposedly* he only sells "orking devices to $oroccan traders but they do not al"ays check them. :o"* "ith the e7cuse o) temporary electricity cuts and troubles in the "arehouse "ere he "orks and lives* he tries to sneak them as much as he can. :evertheless* he sustains that everything should be repairable in ()rica* 3uite unlike "hat happens in Europe. #ut let.s go back to Europe and* more speci)ically* to $adrid. 0here* the guys )rom 4bsoletos told me the story o) "hen they )ound a computer in the bin+ the only thing that "as "rong "ith it "as the graphic card. <robably* the o"ners thought that since they couldn.t see anything it had stopped "orking. 0hey 2ust changed it by a reused one that "as e7tracted )rom other obsolete computer and the original one "as put to "ork again. 9In any case* i) you rescue t"o obsolete computers* you have >DE o) possibilities o) getting a "orking one. I) you have ' computers and it still doesnFt "ork* you are a 2in7;. In an analogy "ith scienti)ic trials or industrial strength tests on materials* the isolation o) di))erent variables* elements or scenarios* in such humble -trial G error. gestures* until the e7act problem or the right solution is )ound* become crucial... For instance* "hen one day participating in a C#clic&a "orkshop I thought "e could thro" a"ay a damaged hard disk )rom a broken computer* Havier* the C#clic&a )ounder* e7plains me that "e could still use it as an e7ternal data hard disk. 0he same "ith a damaged C@ player* "hose motor could still be use)ul )or making or hacking ne" devices. Or "ith several old )ashioned keyboards* "hose printed circuits could still be used )or videogame consoles. #ut also depending on the )oreseen usage o) the computers* the 9strength; trials need to modi)y their value and criteria+ I noticed that a)ter repairing the a)orementioned computer* that o) the damaged hard disk* people )rom C#clic&a put a stick on it "ith the name o) the collective to "hom it "as being donated. When they came to pick it up that very same day* the repairer asked them straight as an arro"+ 9What e7actly are you going to using it )or?; 9Editing te7ts and designing some )lyers*; they said. 90hen* it.s ok;.

Ghat (e ha"e in both cases are practices that could (ell be read as e1periments o) a &ind. Eollo(in* that lead, 'sabelle Sten*ers- (8959) ar*uments on the importance o) e1periments mi*ht be o) *reat interest to appl# here. She tal&s o) e1periments as de"ices (hereb# (e *rant di))erent a*encies and situations, such as non%humans, the po(er to ma&e us spea& other(ise. That is, as ,causes )or thin&in*.- The conditions o) e1perimentation in"ol"e acti"e and attenti"e testin*, pa#in* attention to (hat the situation bein* e1perimented can deri"e into. 'n the a)orementioned empirical stances (hat (e ha"e are di))erent tests (hereb# concrete and situated )orms o) "ulnerabilit# appear, are "alued and ta&en into account. And the "ulnerabilities that appear as rele"ant in such an e1perimental conte1t are not o) sub0ects or ob0ects, but rather o) ecolo*ies o) practices mobilizin* di))erent epistemic repertoires, o) particular di"isions o) labour (hereb# responsibilities and (ho (e are and (hat (e can be are at sta&e. 'n a (a#, such tests re"eal ,(ho,- ,in (hat (a#,- ,under (hat conditions- and ,e1posed to (hat ris&s- ta&es into account the )ra*ilit# and "ulnerabilit# o) our e"er#da# material in)rastructures and ,ans(ersit (ith material care. 'n the case o) the (heelchair ramp situation, the use test sou*ht to understand the ade/uac# o) its desi*n, in order to identi)# its )la(s and problems. But such a test (as important because it ser"ed as part o) a process o) small and precarious e1periments o) di))erent &inds to elucidate its potential as a )uture lo(%cost product and not an eternal beta%product, since the ramp has to be use)ul to meet the needs o) a "er# "ulnerable tar*et collecti"e, li"in* in conditions o) semi%po"ert#@ )or instance, the eas# a"ailabilit# o) cheap%#et%resistant materials used, the search )or an eas#%to%build solution, the clarit# o) the in)ormation pro"ided to others to start their o(n 2'3 process throu*h dra(in*s, tutorials, and an open access and easil# a"ailable documentation o) the desi*n process are under permanent test, ha"in* become sources o) an1iet# and o) e1ploration throu*hout the pro0ect. But it is not onl# the desi*n as such that (as bein* tested in ,assaults- li&e the one per)ormed in the Bar 7undial. Ghat is bein* tested is also the capabilit# to a))ect the places the ramp is helpin* to inter"ene, because this protot#pe is not onl# thou*ht o) as a read#%made piece o) urban )urniture so as to allo( (heelchair access. Bi"en the acti"ist aspirations o) the collecti"e buildin* it, the ramp needs also to be part o) (hat (e mi*ht call the ,material culture o) protest,- a s#mbol o) ad hoc and "isible inter"entions, see&in* to ma&e access issues a matter o) public concern. And, )inall#, (hat is also bein* tested is the "er# "ulnerabilit#, precariousness and )ra*ilit# o) the collecti"e buildin* it@ indeed, their personal and collecti"e aspirations and hopes are bein* tested e"er# timeJ but also the necessar# pro)essional and user collecti"e alliances to ma&e the pro0ect a bit more stable, and their stren*th to (or& (ith a no%bud*et horizon in a pro0ect in (hich the# are learnin* a lot, but (hich ta&es a lot o) time. 3es, it mi*ht become part o) the (a# in (hich the# mi*ht ma&e a li"in* in the )uture, but none o) this mi*ht happen i) the lo(%cost ramp does not become a mar&et product, allo(in* them to earn some mone# to either continue )reein* ob0ects or actin* as paid technical aid ,hac&ers.- All o) these bundled "ulnerabilities mi*ht onl# be reco*nised and (or&ed out in tests such as the one depicted be)ore, needin* o) subse/uent collecti"e situations to articulate in (ords (hat there happened (such as the con"ersations (hen preparin* blo* posts). 'n the case o) the three di))erent situations in"ol"in* potentiall# discarded computers, (e mi*ht identi)# di))erent &inds o) tests, ma&in* a"ailable di))erent considerations on the material "ulnerabilities and hopes there appearin*. Eirst, )or (aste% pic&ers it is important to be able to distin*uish bet(een the di))erent materials mainl# di))erent t#pes o) metals and special ob0ects, such as CCUs )ound out in the street, (here (hat is bein* tested is their abilit# to "alue them appropriatel#@ these tests and their precarious methods spea& o) the economic ur*e and "ulnerabilit# o) (aste%pic&ers, usuall# ille*al mi*rants, to ta&e ad"anta*e o) dumped ob0ects in order to ma&e a li"in* throu*h irre*ular (a#s and in)ormal circuitsJ but also, it also spea&s o) the much more precarious 7

situation in (hich the ori*inal computer users- tests ha"e put to di))erent ob0ects, unable to see (hat (aste%pic&ers see in (hat the# thro(, (here (hat (as thou*ht to be a (aste stops bein* so, because it still has "alue and mi*ht be reused as ra( matter )or industr#. But it mi*ht also be loo&ed as a "ulnerabilit# o) the "er# de"ices thro(n a(a#, pointin* at ho( current industrial manu)acturin* processes o) computers as commodities produce (ea&ness b# desi*n and planned obsolescence in increasin*l# speed# c#cles o) *oodsconsumption, to the ad"anta*e and increasin* pro)it o) some companies. .o(e"er, these tests also sho( other )orms o) precariousness@ (aste pic&ers- situation pre"ents them )rom seein* other potential circuits to continue *i"in* li)e to (hat the# )ind, since the# ma&e a li"in* mostl# o) tr#in* to the meet the actual demands o) the scrap mar&et-s better%paid metals in (ei*ht bou*ht b# )oundries. 'n this "ein, (e mi*ht also identi)# a second set o) tests in (hat some (aste%pic&ers and people )rom Obsoletos and Cyclicka did. These (ere concerned (ith the abilit# to assess the )unctionalit# o) computers, be the# ta&en as (hole de"ices or as components. Be it in the precarious tests o) (aste%pic&ers, merel# plu**in* the de"ice to see i) the# (or&, or in more attenti"e trial%and%error methods openin* up the reco"ered computer, it couldn-t be considered as a closed piece or a read#%to%consume ob0ect (ith a uni/ue )unction an#more. 'nstead, throu*h these tests, i) success)ul, it appeared as a ,s#stem- composed o) a m#riad o) components, co%)unctionin* at the same time. And it this reco*nition o) its openness and modularit# resides the possibilit# o) reuse repair or hac&s. De"ertheless, it is not onl# a computer-s materialit# or )unctionalit# that is bein* tested. 'n the end, (hat all these e1periments put to test is the *o"ernmental cate*or# o) ,e%(aste,- to*ether (ith the le*itimate distribution o) tas&s and propert# re*imes it entails, mar&in* clear distinctions on (hat counts as le*al paid labour and (here this labour ou*ht to ta&e place in. 'n other (ords, (hat is bein* test here are, in a broad sense, the ethical, political and epistemic normati"e orders that rule (ho and under (hich conditions, has the capacit# or obli*ation to test and maintain our dail# in)rastructures@ Ghose (or& matters, and (hose doesn-tH

d* Matters of care for matter: -a!ing care of vulnerable things

Buildin* )rom this, (e belie"e that the thin*s bein* tested and the (a# in (hich "ulnerabilit# is bein* e1perimented in our empirical e1amples could "er# (ell point out to a more care)ul )orm o) &no(led*e production. !et-s call it ,care )or matter,- or more simpl# care in the broad sense *i"en to it b# Koan Tronto as <=+> e"er#thin* that (e do to maintain, continue and repair ,our (orld- so that (e can li"e in it as (ell as possible? (Tronto, 566;@ p.59;). .o(e"er, care )or 7aria Cui* de la Bellacasa care (ould impl# somethin* more@ <=+> countin* in participants and issues (ho ha"e not mana*ed or are not li&el# to succeed in articulatin* their concerns, or (hose modes o) articulation indicate a politics that is ,imperceptible- (ithin pre"alent (a#s o) understandin*? (Cui* de la Bellacasa, 8955@ p. 6A). To ta&e these statements seriousl# (ould certainl# mean to pa# attention to the thin*s bein* put to test throu*h practices o) material care as the ones seen be)ore. 't is not o) care o) isolated entities be the# sub0ects or ob0ects% that the# tal& us about. 'nstead, the# ma&e "isible to us the ecolo*# o) practices (Sten*ers, 8959) necessar# to ta&e care o) "ulnerable thin*s, that is the practical epistemic repertoires needed to tac&le the processual (ea&nesses and stren*ths o) our sociomaterial (orlds. .o(e"er, care practices ha"e a some(hat comple1 relation to "isibilit#. 2espite bein* easil# identi)iable in such temporar# and spar&%li&e moments o) acti"e repair, the# remain mostl# unseen. And here lies the most important di))icult# in ma&in* such care practices a matter o) public concern@ (hilst the absence o) care puts us in dan*er, i) care is practiced the dan*ers, "ulnerabilities or )ra*ilities it ta&es into account are rele*ated to the bac&%sta*e. .ence, ho( could (e ma&e such &no(led*e repertoires a"ailableH .o( to ac&no(led*e and put 8

them in circulation so as to redistribute them in )airer (a#sH .o( could (e ta&e care o) ,care )or matter- practices so as to, e"entuall#, care betterH Le)errin* to the care )or )ree so)t(are *i"en the monopolistic challen*es o) cloud%space concentration, Chris $elt# (895;) has recentl# stated@ <All desi*n, all administration, all maintenance is politics.? 'ndeed, practices o) material care brin* to the )ore particular &no(led*e repertoires (e belie"e are o) *reat importance )or political concerns. 7ost importantl# the# pro"ide us (ith tests on the "ulnerabilit# o) matter. But also (ith tests on (ho, ho( or under (hich circumstances and ris&s responds to the obli*ations o) a li)e in common (ith such "ulnerable matters that constitute our "er# in)rastructures. This (ould e"en be truer i) (e ac&no(led*ed that such in)rastructures are usM That is the reason (h#, in this session, (e (ould li&e to )ocus empiricall# on di))erent sets o) &no(led*e practices related to ,care )or matter- matters, bearin* in mind ho( these could help us to ta&e care o) oursel"es and our thin*s in better (a#s. That is the reason (h#, in this session, (e (ould li&e to )ocus empiricall# on di))erent sets o) &no(led*e practices related to ,care )or matter- matters, bearin* in mind ho( these could help us to ta&e care o) oursel"es and our thin*s in better (a#s, as crucial, thou*h lar*el# in"isible processes o) tin&erin* (7ol, 7oser : Cols, 8959). As crucial care)ul practices )or the on*oin* per)ormation o) our sociomaterial orders (Braham : Thri)t, 899N)@ practices o) mendin* : repair, inter"entions on technolo*icall# dense en"ironments, (a#s o) dealin* (ith bro&en or (orn%out in)rastructures, etc. But e1perimental tests as the ones commented be)orehand don-t 0ust put these orders to test. 'n the "er# same "ein as Bar)in&el-s (56ON) ,breachin* e1periments,- brea&a*es in the per)ormation o) order, mi*ht produce the need )or subse/uent reparator# acts, but the openin* the# entail mi*ht also e"o&e other )orms o) normati"it#, ne( (a#s o) bein* and doin*. 'n sum, ho( do (e &no( somethin* needs to be ta&en care o) and ho(H .o( could (orld%ma&in* be trans)ormed i) (e thou*ht o) those acti"ities o) ac&no(led*in* and dealin* (ith thin*s- bro&enness and disposalH Ghat sort o) carin* and ethical orders are thus producedH Ge belie"e that ta&in* into account the "arie*ated &no(led*e practices o) ,care )or matter- (ould be o) *reat interest as an ethical *uide in our (orld%ma&in* endea"ours, in our (a#s o) carin* )or "ulnerable (orlds.

References
Bar)in&el, .. (56ON). 6tudies in Ethnomethodology. Pn*le(ood Cli))s, DK@ Crentice%.all. Braham, S., : Thri)t, D. (899N). 4ut o) 4rder@ Understandin* Lepair and 7aintenance. 0heory* Culture G 6ociety, %8(;), 58A. .en&e, C. L. (5666). The 7echanics o) Gor&place 4rder@ To(ard a Sociolo*# o) Lepair. #erkeley Hournal o) 6ociology, 88, AAI5. 'n*old, T. (895;). $aking+ (nthropology* (rchaeology* (rt and (rchitecture (Loutled*e., p. 5O;). De( 3or&. $elt#, C. 7. (895;). There is Do Eree So)t(are. Hournal o) <eer <roduction, '. Letrie"ed )rom http@FFpeerproduction.netFissuesFissue%;%)ree%so)t(are%epistemicsFdebateFthere%is%no%)ree% so)t(areF !atour, B. (56II). 'rreductions. 'n 0he <asteuriAation o) France (K. !a(, Trans.J pp. 5A;8;O). Cambrid*e, 7A@ .ar"ard Uni"ersit# Cress. 7ol, A. (8998). 0he #ody $ultiple. Ontology in $edical <ractice. 2urham@ 2u&e Uni"ersit# Cress. 7ol, A., 7oser, '., : Cols, K. (8959). Care@ Cuttin* Cractice into Theor#. 'n A. 7ol, '. 7oser, : K. Cols (Pds.), Care in <ractice. On 0inkering in Clinics* 5omes and Farms (pp. N8A). Biele)eld@ Transcript. Cui* de la Bellacasa, 7. (8955). 7atters o) Care in Technoscience@ Assemblin* De*lected Thin*s. 6ocial 6tudies o) 6cience, 8 (5), IA59O. Sten*ers, '. (8959). 'ncludin* Donhumans in Colitical Theor#@ 4penin* Candora-s Bo1H 'n B. Braun : S. K. Ghatmore (Pds.), <olitical $atter+ 0echnoscience* @emocracy* and <ublic Li)e (pp. ;;;). 7inneapolis, 7D@ Uni"ersit# o) 7innesota Cress. Tronto, K. (566;). $oral #oundaries+ ( <olitical (rgument )or an Ethic o) Care. !ondon@ Loutled*e.