[p2p-research] help please - open source hardware bottlenecks

[Samuel Rose]

Ps. there are more possibilities/potential forms of wealth generation
by keeping the designs open. The benefits may actually outweigh the
risks there.

On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 11:27 AM, Samuel Rose <samuel.rose at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 10:58 AM, Tere Vaden <Tere.Vaden at uta.fi> wrote:
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I'm requesting your help. The eCars Now -project
>> (http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/ecorolla-running/2009/09/04) is entering a
>> new phase. A prototype is ready and some sort of "mass production" has to be
>> started next. The problem is: this implies Open Source Hardware production
>> (especially with regard to the electronics; the motor & batteries can be
>> bought ready made). Now the community needs to make some decisions about the
>> road to be taken. One possibility is to keep all the interfaces of the
>> electronics open and hope to attract several companies as producers, another
>> possibility is to outsource the electronics development to a company that
>> probably will want to close some parts of the boxes. Both possibilities
>> contain severe risks and potential for failure. In order to make a better
>> informed decision, the community wants to prepare some sort of list or table
>> of comparison between the differences between os software and hardware
>> development. It would also be very helpful to know examples of failed and
>> succesful open hardware projects. (Like, e.g., why OpenMoko is not taking
>> off). I made a quick try:
>> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2109396/OpenSourceSoftHardComparison_eCars.pdf
>> All comments and input are very welcome! Especially insights with regard to
>> the two possible roadmaps.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Tere
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Is there a co-editable table online somewhere?
>
> I was talking with Paul the other day about why OpenMoko may have
> failed. I think the problem with OpenMoko may have been the attempt to
> mix conflicting models
>
> Open source hardware may be a poor vehicle for short term, quick ROI
> venture capital. I think it is, so that is my opinion. I thunk
> OpenMoko sought that short term quick ROI venture capital, but since
> there are no guarantees with Open Hardware, then this may have scared
> off those investors.
>
> It's my opinion that Open Hardware is better matched with long term,
> stable, self-sustaining growth. A support service organization can
> help steward this, and interact with the companies that do the
> development. I think this could be bolstered by people actually doing
> the legwork of seeking out qualified companies and participants. Plus,
> supporting the open source output with some form of not for profit
> organization.
>
>
>
>
>
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> --
> Sam Rose
> Social Synergy
> Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
> Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
> skype: samuelrose
> email: samuel.rose at gmail.com
> http://socialsynergyweb.com
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>
> "The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human
> ambition." - Carl Sagan
>



-- 
-- 
Sam Rose
Social Synergy
Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
skype: samuelrose
email: samuel.rose at gmail.com
http://socialsynergyweb.com
http://socialsynergyweb.org/culturing
http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
http://socialmediaclassroom.com
http://localfoodsystems.org
http://notanemployee.net
http://communitywiki.org

"The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human
ambition." - Carl Sagan