[Discuss] discuss Digest, Vol 10, Issue 13

[Tom Igoe]

Gooid points all, Malcolm.  All the more reason to articulate the differences in needs of hobbyists, and of professionals, and what the overlap is.


On Mar 3, 2013, at 11:36 AM, malcolm stanley wrote:

>> Nobody's worried about the hobby projects being open, they're worried about the for-profit projects (see Makerbot).
> 
> Are you sure about that? I heard disagreement on that point a couple days go. My own interests are around the commercial projects (for-profit and not-for profit; it is possible to be commercial and not-for-profit). But I can't say for sure that "nobody's interested".
> 
> 
> 
> Hobbyists are a large potential source of members.
> 
> Hobby projects are a crucial source of ingenuity and research into areas that are not currently deemed commercially viable, but may be some day.
> 
> The conversion of Hobbyists to Entrepreneurs is an important potential outcome of our activities, as it may provide future growth in commercial membership and commercial products released under the OSHW philosophy.
> 
> Politically, that conversion is an engine of job growth, not to be overlooked when we need support and assistance in places that value that sort of thing.
> 
> So we have many reasons why we might "worry" about the Hobbyist projects.
> 
> But you are right, its not clear that as a community here gathered that we do.
> 
> 
> 
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