Open collaborative design/Intro

Open collaborative design involves applying the highly successful free and open-source software methodology to the design of machines and systems in the physical world. It will be no less than a revolution in the way objects are created.

The designs are licensed using a principle called copyleft that makes them freely available for anyone else use or build upon and any derivations also inherit the copyleft license effectively meaning the design and its progeny are gifted to humanity. New generations of free and open-source CAD programs will allow people to easily build designs from scratch, or choose from vast libraries of previously created components, assemblies or complete artefacts and evolve them further or customise them for their own use.

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.

Creating the designs physically will be quick due to modern and emerging high-speed and flexible manufacturing techniques.

The open design ecosystem will become an internet for physical objects and its impact will as great as the web has been for information.

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