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  [Hardware]

I was browsing the web for info on open collector outputs and stumbled into a project promoting open hardware. It doesn't seem popular, but the idea behind it consists of three rules. In the words of OpenCollector.org, for open hardware to exist...

1. Information on using the hardware must be available
2. The design of the hardware must be available
3. Design software for the hardware must be availble

Elaborating on these bullets, OpenCollector.org explains:

1. The interface to the hardware must be explicitly made public, so the hardware can be used freely.
2. The design of the hardware must be made public, so that others can implement it and learn from it.
3. The tools used to create the design should be free, so that others can develop and improve the design.

I'm a fan of numerous open source projects. I think a big reason that open source works is because of the nature of the internet. Without the internet, it would be more difficult (maybe impossible?) to develop and distribute an open source software project. Schematics and VHDL code could easily be made available on the internet, but a physical module or system would be difficult to build without a lump sum of money.

If you're interested, another similar (and more recent) source for open hardware can be found here: OpenHardware.de

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