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Open source hardware.

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Aloone_Jonez:
I didn't know where to post this, I thought of the GNU/Linux section but this is nothing to do with it, I then thought of the hardware section but that's MS hardware only.

Anyway, I made a point here that most hardware is closed source, i.e. you can buy a TV  and the company won't let you have access to the schematics,engineering drawings and firmware source. Now I've discovered I do have a point as someone's come up with the idea of open source hardware, they believe some of the arguments for software apply to hardware too and I agree with this.

What are your views on this?

I believe it's great to share knowledge and ideas whether it be software, hardware or anything else for that matter.

piratePenguin:
Sweet.

Soon as free hardware starts appearing on the market, I'll use it where I can. And when it gets to the point that not-buying or otherwise supporting non-free hardware isn't a huge inconvenience, I'll use and support free software only.

--- Quote from: Aloone_Jonez ---I believe it's great to share knowledge and ideas whether it be software, hardware or anything else for that matter.
--- End quote ---
COMMMMUNIST! ;)

Jenda:
I agree. Perhaps another possible area is pharmacology. I can't imagine this happening in food, though, since there is no progress possible in the area.

Aloone_Jonez:
piratePenguin,
This is already happening to an extent with firmware as Linux is really taking off in embedded systems, developers love it because they can tweak the source but they have to release the code they've alterd. I haven't any evedance of any of the other source such as engineering drawings and PLA code becomming more open though.

Jenda,
I did consider bringing up pharmacology in the GNU borg debate but I didn't for some reason. Some drug companies are bad for patenting their medicines, there again lot's of money is required to develop new ones (in fact a lot more than sending people into space) and they do sell them cheaper to developing countries so I'm not sure on this one.

Food is slightly different as in the EU the producers are required to list the ingrediants on the label but they don't have to disclose the exact proportions, processes and composition so for all intents and purposes it's closed.

Jenda:
Ad food:
There is no invention or innovation in the area, apart from the problem of food production (eg. GM food). Opensourcing is no good. (And in Europe, you do NOT have to disclose the flavouring - saying artificial/identical/natural flavour is good enough.
Ad pharma:
This would only change the development process, not the sales or distribution.

OT:
Sorry to be so court lately. I'm graduating this year (for the second time - I already did in Canada) and for Czechs that is a big thing, and big oral exams too. I am being overwhelmed by school. It's not even lack of time, it's lack of energy. And to add to that, typing is still rather difficult, although much more comfortable, with the DVORAK.

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