Difference between revisions of "Open collaborative design/Intro"

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−	[[Image:Open design two notebooks.jpg|150px|right]] '''Open collaborative design''' involves applying the highly successful [[free and open-source software]] methodologies to the design of machines and systems in the physical world.	+	[[image:Open_design_two_notebooks.png|right|180px]] '''Open collaborative design''' involves applying principles from the remarkable [[free and open-source software]] movement that provides a powerful new way to design physical objects, machines and systems. All information involved in creating the object or system is made available on the Internet {{en}} such as text, drawings, photographs and 3D [[Free and open-source computer-aided design/What is computer-aided design|computer-aided design]] (CAD) models {{en}} so that other people can freely re-create it, or help contribute to its further evolution. It is essentially the same principle that is used to progress scientific knowledge, however in reality it is much more open and transparent than much of contemporary scientific research.
−	The designs are licensed using a principle called copyleft that makes them freely available for anyone else use or build upon. New generations free and open-source [[computer-aided design|CAD]] programs will allow people to easily build designs from scratch, or choose from vast libraries of previously created components, assemblies or complete artifacts and evolve them further or customise them for their own use.	+	A core element of this development model is a principle called {{wp|Copyleft|'copyleft'}} (symbol: [[Image:Copyleft.png|12px]]) which is a way of applying copyright to a creative work in a way that makes sure that ''anyone'' can freely use it or build upon it - and also that derivative works inherit the same terms, ensuring anything based on the original is freely available too. This principle means that 'copylefted' items {{en}} whether they are designs, text, artwork or computer code {{en}} are effectively gifted to humanity, adding to an ever increasing universal 'commons'. Because this principle is to the benefit of everyone, it completely changes the way that many people think about contributing their time and effort to this type of project. It already works very effectively with many high profile, successful [[Free and open-source software|software projects]], so this is not merely wishful thinking.
−	These design principles can apply to the simplest things that can be made by individuals and groups, all the way up to large-scale and complex systems of national and global infrastructure. Because the designs are not closed and proprietary people will be encouraged to contribute knowing their involvement not only benefits themselves but anyone else who chooses to use the results of their efforts.	+	Open collaborative design is a nascent field that has huge potential to radically alter the way we create goods, machines and systems {{en}} not only for personal items but all the way up to components of national or global infrastructure.
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−	There will be many high speed methods to then have the design created physically ranging from getting your own hands dirty in addition to using off-the-shelf components to having the CAD files sent to [[rapid prototyping machines|rapid prototyping]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNC CNC machines] or if enough people with shared parts get together they could be made by contract manufacturing companies.	+
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−	What is it's ultimate killer power?	+
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−	Physical internet	+
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−	<noinclude>{{refresh|Open collaborative design}}</noinclude>	+

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Latest revision as of 21:16, 2 January 2012

Open collaborative design involves applying principles from the remarkable free and open-source software movement that provides a powerful new way to design physical objects, machines and systems. All information involved in creating the object or system is made available on the Internet – such as text, drawings, photographs and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models – so that other people can freely re-create it, or help contribute to its further evolution. It is essentially the same principle that is used to progress scientific knowledge, however in reality it is much more open and transparent than much of contemporary scientific research.

A core element of this development model is a principle called 'copyleft'  (symbol: ) which is a way of applying copyright to a creative work in a way that makes sure that anyone can freely use it or build upon it - and also that derivative works inherit the same terms, ensuring anything based on the original is freely available too. This principle means that 'copylefted' items – whether they are designs, text, artwork or computer code – are effectively gifted to humanity, adding to an ever increasing universal 'commons'. Because this principle is to the benefit of everyone, it completely changes the way that many people think about contributing their time and effort to this type of project. It already works very effectively with many high profile, successful software projects, so this is not merely wishful thinking.

Open collaborative design is a nascent field that has huge potential to radically alter the way we create goods, machines and systems – not only for personal items but all the way up to components of national or global infrastructure.