| 2004-05-10 14:03:34 | Questions about this project |
|---|---|
| Arne Caspari (UNITED STATES) Message: 198 | I have some non-technical questions about this project:
I am currently involved in the development of an industrial firewire camera using the blackfin on a custom board ( I am maintaining the firmware for this camera ). Our company has outsourced the development of the hardware so I know how much the hardware development costs and also I have an idea on how much the needed equipment and software costs. So I am really curious how an open source project for such a system is possible? How dou you all get the money to make such a great project possible? -Arne |
| 2004-05-18 12:01:41 | RE: Questions about this project |
|---|---|
| Robin Getz (UNITED STATES) Message: 211 | Arne:
Open System Hardware is kind of an experiment we are trying. Open source software has changed the world, by constantly evolving, and improving via peer review, and volunteer contributions. It becomes better, than what you originally thought because of features, and functions that end users are requesting, or developers are submitting. We are trying to do the same thing with hardware. We believe that by making open hardware, that by peer review, and contributions, that we will end up with something better than what we have today. In order to do that, we have to cover costs, because unfortunately, atoms (hardware) cost more than electrons (software), but - if you want, you have the freedom to make your own, because we release the entire schematics, entire gerbers, bill of materials, etc. We have been contacted by folks in various countries that will do this, because it is cheaper to build things locally than import something due to government duty and taxes. That is OK. In fact, that is wonderful. We have grand visions (or delusions - depending on who you ask) of providing hardware systems that people will be able to develop open source software on. What good is open source or free software, if the hardware that is running on is closed? You are still locked into something, and have less freedom than with open hardware. If you take our hardware, and develop a real product based on it, you are free to change things, because you have 100% of the schematics, and drivers. If you don't like a RS232, converter, audio part, etc we used, change it - that is true freedom. But that doesn't really answer your question, "How do we get the money" - well, most of the manpower effort (schematics, layout, testing, etc), is done on a volunteer basis. As for hardware costs, we hope to make inexpensive hardware available soon, sell it, and recoup costs that way. We also take donations (as samples, not cash) from various semiconductor companies, that we work with. (Both ADI and SMSC have helped out, to help with prototyping). So the real cost (in dollars), is not that bad. The main cost, as in any open source project is always manpower. The group that is doing the effort, feel like we are changing our little part of the universe. In our opinion, this is the best way a hardware person can contribute back to the open source movement. Robin |
