Open source hardware: the history, issues, and impact on digital humanities

Abstract

The history of free and open source software (FOSS) spans the better part of 20 years. We are now seeing the principles of FOSS spread to different media - including, notably, to hardware and its distribution models. Recently, the term open source hardware (OSHW) was defined at the 2011 open hardware summit. OSHW has the potential to redefine the way that goods are designed, transported, and consumed. Accordingly, researchers in the humanities and digital humanities in particular should pay attention and take advantage of this potential area of research. This thesis first provides a basic understanding of open source software including its history, definition, and business models. Next, it explores how open source ideas are applied to hardware as well as the history, critical issues, and future of OSHW. Finally, it presents a research project undertaken as a case study for how the digital humanities may use OSHW in research.