[Discuss] the significance of oshw

[Catarina Mota]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about the real significance of open source hardware. We
spend a lot time discussing how to do OSHW right. We usually explain its
advantages by saying that it allows people to copy, modify, and transform
hardware, which leads to faster development and better technologies. But I
think there is more to it than that. In some recent conversations, a few
people mentioned the sense of empowerment and liberation that comes from
creating and modifying technologies, which makes me think that there are
deeper cultural implications here.

So I was thinking that it would be nice to compile a series of testimonials
about what people perceive as the personal, practical, political, cultural,
social or economic advantages and disadvantages of open source hardware.

If OSHWA agrees, we can create a page for these testimonials/opinions on
oshwa.org. Or, if for any reason, that is problematic, I can find another
place to publish them. I just think that it's important to put a more human
face on our outreach efforts (rather than just publishing technical and
legal information).

Does anyone want to contribute? There's no structure, just whatever you
want to say about this topic. If you post your opinions on this list I can
collect, compile and publish them (on oshwa.org or somewhere else).
Hopefully this can also trigger an interesting discussion :)

Cheers,
Catarina
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.oshwa.org/pipermail/discuss/attachments/20131105/cc130eff/attachment.html>