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Tractor Hacking: The Farmers Breaking Big Tech's Repair Monopoly

Motherboard · 3.4M views · 2018-02-01 · 11:31

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Overview

A Motherboard documentary episode from Nebraska about farmers and mechanics fighting manufacturers like John Deere over access to the diagnostic software needed to repair modern tractors. It shows how software locks have taken away farmers' traditional self-reliance.

On Hacker News

Offered as a concrete, human example in right-to-repair discussions of how software lock-in affects expensive equipment.

Recommended by 3 HN people across 2 months · HN mentions 2018–2018

Topics

Repair, teardowns & right to repairEnvironment, agriculture & food systemsDocumentaries & storytelling
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john deeretractorsfarmingdiagnostic softwarerepair monopoly

What people said

anfractuosity · 2018-10 · Recommendation

I thought this was quite interesting: Tractor Hacking: The Farmers Breaking Big Tech's Repair Monopoly - [VIDEO]

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samcampbell · 2018-03 · Recommendation

Here's a relevant video in regards to farmers and their equipment that drove the impact of the ‘Right to Repair’ bill home for me. [VIDEO]

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OrwellianChild · 2018-03 · Recommendation

I appreciate the dialogue. We may have to agree to disagree on the final point. I'm not convinced that there is always a competitive market filled with alternatives that meet customer preferences. For example: I have to choose between iMessage and a headphone jack for my cell phone. There are other phones , but I don't have a totally ala carte menu - there are always trade offs. This likely won't change your opinion either, but it's a good piece that adds color to this conversation about right-to-repair: Motherboard published a video about John Deere's tractor/maintenance lock-in that looks at the issue from the perspective of 6-figure industrial equipment. [1] It's worth a look. [1] [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by Motherboard, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

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