Open Source Manufacturing
The open source philosophy enables developers from all over the world to collaborate and create great software products like Linux, Apache, and Ruby. What happens when open source ideas are applied to hardware?
When open source meets hardware, you no longer need to be a big manufacturer to create great products. For example, if your idea requires a custom electric motor, go to Alibaba.com. The site will not only have the motor you’re looking for, but you’ll have your choice of makers. If you need a digital controller, check out the Arduino project. And so on.
An article in the Feb2010 issue of Wired goes into greater depth.
The open source hardware movement gives us another opportunity for global collaboration. Working together, doing constructive things, will certainly yield benefits beyond anything we can imagine right now.