5 ms·
> It should not force companies to build parts for you. If a company is unable to provide long-term support in the form of replacement parts, then they shouldn
by Sakos 2y ago
> It should not force companies to build parts for you.
If a company is unable to provide long-term support in the form of replacement parts, then they shouldn't be allowed to sell it to consumers. For decades, and for most devices, it was trivial to find replacement parts and/or swap out identical parts, even if they weren't made by the original manufacturer. You can get replacement parts for cars made in the 90s, 80s, 70s.
It should not be acceptable to buy something as important and life-changing and expensive as this exoskeleton, and the manufacturer just fucks off and provides no way to maintain it long-term.
Freedom doesn't exist. Every corporation is bound by laws and regulations. "Forcing people to do work they do not want to". We aren't talking about regular people like you or me. We're talking about corporations. They're regularly "forced" to do things they don't want to, to the benefit of their customers and society as a whole. You need better arguments if you want to argue against regulating companies.
- from-nibly 2y agoSo just no exoskeletons ever then.
- jwagenet 2y ago> For decades, and for most devices, it was trivial to find replacement parts and/or swap out identical parts… This seems like a stretch for anything other than cars, pcs, and large appliances. I doubt this has been true for a long time for anything under $100 and more electrically complicated than a switch and a motor.
- raincole 2y agoHow long is long term? Forcing companies to support cutting-edge prototypes (like exoskeleton) for decades is the best way to ensure there won't be any company making them.
- malfist 2y agoExcept plenty of cutting edge prototypes were made in the past when companies did provide parts
- raincole 2y agoWere the companies required to provide parts for decades by regulation? And the regulation had been there when they were selling the first prototypes? When the earliest cars/PCs were pushed to the market, did the government tell the manufacturers that they have to provide parts for decades, otherwise they'll be punished in this or that way? Not a rhetorical questions. I genuinely don't know the answer. But adminttedly I'd be quite surprise if the answer is yes.
- anigbrowl 2y agoIf the sales pitch is that a product can help someone with a massive permanent disability, but there's no sort of long-term vision for after-sales service, that seems borderline scammy. You know going in that the customer will need to keep using it, and also that technical products sometimes break down and need repairs.
- thayne 2y agoWas the customer told that the expected lifetime for thos undoubtedly extremely expensive equipment was only five years when he purchased it? Also, supporting early models for a long time is a great way to learn about the ways that it fails, and fix those failings in future generations. Although, it seems like companies these days don't seem to care at all about the longevity of their products, and that is the real problem.
- z3phyr 2y agoSkunkworks airforce projects of old did provide long term support to their customer, even when a lot of their initial prototypes remained just that.