Reading on OpenSource

The literacy of the word OpenSource emerges from software development world, “The Emerging Economic Paradigm of Open Source” talked about how well the OpenSource model fit in the bussiness world. It is beneficial in the bussiness world that when non-differentiating intellectual knowledge is shared, we avoid re-inventing the wheels and risk and investment was reduced to the least compared to the retailed model. And efforts could be concentrated onto the differentiating part of the bussiness, which could provide customer with tailored service.

And now we see OpenSource is inevitably penetrating the design world. It was discussed in class the fashion products are being opensourced to the mass through stores like H&M the emerging modular electronics - like Lilipad Arduino made readily available to designers and developers. These activities foster a community for the technology and ideas that are being invented. The profit center has moved on from the direct technology/idea/products to the ability to communicate and the expertised consultancy. With the technology and product made available in the hands of a larger community, we benefit from the network effect, or the rippling effect of greater collaboration.