Specific value in being open hardware

<p><a class="wikilink" href="/open_hardware/">Open Hardware</a> is very closely related to the overarching idea of doing <a class="wikilink" href="/open_science/">open science</a>. Quite often <a class="wikilink" href="/open_hardware_projects_focus_on_cutting_costs/">open hardware projects focus on cutting costs</a>, while there is also the possibility that they can deliver <em>value</em> beyond their price. I am still forming an opinion about it, but it seems that one of the most important values (which in this context equates to <em>impact</em>) is the ability to reuse and repurpose:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">well, yes :)<br>the ender 3 is open hardware, and the open software is Marlin <a href="https://t.co/FzAzEW2x5q">https://t.co/FzAzEW2x5q</a></p>&mdash; Vittorio Saggiomo (@V_Saggiomo) <a href="https://twitter.com/V_Saggiomo/status/1451653427797299201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>There may be some value in the oppeness as it increases the number of interaction points between scientists and citizens[@hohlbein2021a]. Although a bit idealistic when thinking about everyday citizens, it is very well possible that there's an increase in interaction between companies and researchers. </p> <p>In my case, the most valuable aspect of <a class="wikilink" href="/open_hardware/">open hardware</a> is being able to learn and build upon tools even if I do not own them, and this same feeling is starting to publicly appear in others[@hohlbein2021a]. I can understand the decisions made and how would they impact my own designs and work. It is, however, a bit abstract, but I do spend time scrawling through projects just to see what they have done. </p> <p>Moreover, there is more and more evidence that there is a path for an <a class="wikilink" href="/open_hardware_business_model/">open hardware business model</a> (or probably more than one), from the likes of <a class="wikilink" href="/arduino/">Arduino</a> or <a class="wikilink" href="/opentrons/">OpenTrons</a>.</p>