Open hardware (was: Re: FOSDEM lightning talk slides)
Sébastien Bourdeauducq
sebastien.bourdeauducq at lekernel.net
Thu Feb 4 15:58:41 EST 2010
On Thursday 04 February 2010 17:53:57 Ron K. Jeffries wrote:
> Copyleft hardware includes (to my mind) open hardware
> projects which incorporate complex silicon such as a processor
> where the programming API is open, but the chip manufacturer
> does not disclose detailed design at gate level.
>
> Arduino is a good example, where multiple outfits around the
> world design, manufacture and sell PCBs and kits that are
> clones of Arduino, or are "shields" that plug in and add functions.
Ok. So, please note that a x86 PC also fits into this definition of open
hardware: Intel discloses programming manuals for their processors and
chipsets, with a little research you can find schematics and gerbers of some
motherboards (which, anyway, aren't *so* hard to design nowadays, as the
chipsets do pretty much everything) and multiple outfits around the world
design, manufacture and sell PCBs, kits and devices that are clones of the
original IBM PC, or are "peripherals" that plug in and add functions.
It's good to see people believe in open hardware and start with easier
projects; but copyleft gate-level designs are the way to go, especially since
chips do most of the work in today's devices and are sometimes highly
specialized and quickly become obsolete.
Sébastien
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