Slashdot Log In
Open Source Hardware, For Fun and For Profit
Posted by
timothy
on Fri Oct 24, 2008 07:12 AM
from the make-it-so dept.
from the make-it-so dept.
ptorrone writes "Lots of open source hardware articles making the rounds this week, first up — Wired has an excellent piece on the Arduino project, an open source electronics prototyping platform, its founders and business model (they have sold over 50,000 units). And next up MIT's Tech Review has a profile on a few open source hardware businesses including NYC based Adafruit Industries best known for projects like the open source synth (x0x0b0x) and 'fun' projects like the Wave Bubble, the open source cell phone/wifi/GPS/RF jammer."
Related Stories
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Full
Abbreviated
Hidden
Loading... please wait.
Yes 'fun'... (Score:4, Insightful)
If someone on a cell phone is annoying you, ask them to keep it down or turn it off. Don't potentially block a call that may be to (or from) the emergency services or another life or death communication. There's a reason jammers carry stiff penalties in most Western countries.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Don't potentially block a call that may be to (or from) the emergency services or another life or death communication.
It's remarkable that the world managed to function at all before the age of cellular communication.
Re:Yes 'fun'... (Score:4, Insightful)
Don't potentially block a call that may be to (or from) the emergency services or another life or death communication.
It's remarkable that the world managed to function at all before the age of cellular communication.
It's remarkable that the world managed to function at all before the age of modern medicine.
Just because humanity survived through it doesn't mean it is responsible or ethical to strip it away in circumstances when you don't understand the consequences.
The truth is, people before modern medicine might stand a better chance of dealing with a given health issue because they knew folk remedies which may have helped (though they didn't always help, they were rarely harmful). Today, most of us have an almost total lack of ability to deal with major health issues without modern medicine. The same is true with cellular communication -- people were fine without it at the time, but they (we) have grown fairly dependent on it today. Take it away unexpectedly, and they're worse off than when it didn't exist.
Note that I don't say this as if it were a good thing -- I think it's a horrible thing. But that doesn't make it any less true.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Well cell phones don't bother me.
But whitespace-devices broadcasting over television channels do! If I'm trying to watch channel 17 from Philly, and suddenly it disappears because some teen's Ipod is broadcasting over-top of the same channel, you can be sure I'll do something to stop him. A "jammer" sounds like a great way to encourage him to turn-off the Ipod, so I can go back to watching the Philadelphia Phillies.
>>>Take it away unexpectedly, and they're worse off than when it didn't exist.
That
Re: (Score:3)
I was pretty sure that the point of whitespace was to broadcast BETWEEN the channels and not on top of them.....
Layne
Re: (Score:2)
True, they'll be worse off-- but only for a generation or two.
A good chunk of people will struggle by. Once they squeeze out a round of kids who weren't born with technology all around them, they won't be acclimated to it. Instead, they'll acclimate to the only living conditions they've ever known. Withi
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
But I don't want to be a farmer, plowing fields with rocks, hoping to save enough extra to survive the winter, and hoping I don't catch some fatal disease so I can live until I'm at least into my 40s.
Yes, I could live without it if I had to. But I don't want to, and I'm guessing that nobody else wants to either. We can't go back, and we can't stay where we are, so we only go forward.
But if it will put your mind at ease, you can be contented in the fact that 10 years from now, there will likely be some new
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
It's remarkable that the world managed to function at all before the age of cellular communication.
I'm sure that people were saying the same thing about land lines when telephone poles/wires started cluttering up the scenery.
While jamming cell frequencies in a local area is not the same as chopping down a telephone pole it's still illegal in most places.
Cell phones are here to stay, it's the people not the technology that is causing the problem.
Re: (Score:2)
Your emergency services comment is somewhere between stale and a clichéd.
It does contain a kernel of truth though. If you are going to the effort of building your own cellphone jammer, so you don't have to listen to other people's shit in public, don't.
Build a tazer instead.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't potentially block a call that may be to (or from) the emergency services or another life or death communication.
Your emergency services comment is somewhere between stale and a clichéd.
So wait, your response to his concern is that it's "stale and cliche"? And you think that somehow means his concerns aren't valid?
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Gimme a cell phone jammer so I can use it while driving. That way assholes around me will get off their phones and pay attention to the road.
Counterproductive. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Gimme a cell phone jammer so I can use it while driving. That way assholes around me will get off their phones and pay attention to the road.
You, kind sir, are an optimist. Given your scenario I would break it down thusly:
1) 50% (the xx variety) will just keep yappin because they never stop talking long enough to realize the call dropped.
2) 20% will wildly shake their communication device in an attempt "squeeze" out more signal.
3) 15% will beat the device within an inch of it's life swerving across lanes wh
Re:Yes 'fun'... (Score:5, Interesting)
I work in a retail store and people are constantly coming up to the counter talking on their cellphones, oblivious to how rude it is to the people around them and how often it inconveniences other customers (customers talking on their phones generally will not be paying close attention to the transaction or myself, causing the sale to take longer). I can understand and agree with why cell-jammers are illegal, but still, everytime a particularly obnoxious customer comes up to the register on their cellphone, it's hard for me to avoid thinking about building a Wavebubble. What's stopped me thus far is that I really doubt it would do any good -- if I cut off their signal they're just going to try to redial whoever they were talking to, as distracted as ever.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
They if they checked the signal before someone activated the jammer they wouldn't know they were unreachable and they could be someone who's on call (doctor, firefighter, coastguard etc.) or waiting on a message.
Jammers are good (Score:2)
Sweet! (Score:5, Funny)
Open Source Kelly LeBrock Bot, here I come!
Links (Score:5, Informative)
I felt these links should be in this thread:
OPENCORES.ORG [opencores.org]
Open Hardware [openhardware.de]
OpenSPARC [opensparc.net]
The Wikipedia article on Open-Source Hardware, with many more links [wikipedia.org]
Don't forget Arduino! (Score:5, Informative)
Don't forget the Arduino official homepage [arduino.cc].
It's simple, very hackable, Mac- and Linux-compatible and it's a true free/open source design, so they don't have a monopoly on it and you can buy compatible boards from other sources or DIY!
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Arduino is nice as an introduction to microcontrollers, but there isn't a whole lot worth protecting in the first place; it's a microcontroller with an USB UART, a crystal and voltage regulator. There is nothing novel about the design, it's all copied from the reference designs in the datasheets. The board is nothing any remotely competent electrical engineer couldn't design in a couple of hours.
The Wired article makes it sound like it's a huge advancement in electrical engineering, and they're giving it aw
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Arduino is nice as an introduction to microcontrollers, but there isn't a whole lot worth protecting in the first place; it's a microcontroller with an USB UART, a crystal and voltage regulator. There is nothing novel about the design, it's all copied from the reference designs in the datasheets. The board is nothing any remotely competent electrical engineer couldn't design in a couple of hours.
The Wired article makes it sound like it's a huge advancement in electrical engineering, and they're giving it away!
Wish I had mod points ... this post sums up exactly how I feel about the whole Arduino thing.
I stopped reading Make because they just won't stop creaming their pants over Arduino. Yawn.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
hi, it's phill from MAKE - we cover and celebrate what *makers* are doing, over 50,000 sales of arduinos means a lot of people are doing projects and sharing them.
that said, we do feature articles on basic stamp and we had a huge article on the parallax propeller chip, picaxe, you name it. it's more about what folks are making more than a chip.
if you don't like arduino because it's simple and there's "nothing to it" that's likely the reason it's so popular and it's good to see so many people from all walks
Arduino EAGLE/Gerber files and name are NOT free (Score:4, Informative)
and it's a true free/open source design, so they don't have a monopoly on it and you can buy compatible boards from other sources or DIY!
Actually, it's not an open-source design; Arduino is an actively protected trademark and they do control who manufactures it, because they won't release the files necessary to manufacture the circuit board. Without them, you cannot (easily) make a compatible board; you have to reverse-engineer it. Which is precisely what some people, fed up with not being able to make their own Arduino boards, went and did.
Freeduino [freeduino.org], *is* actually free and open-source (and compatible) and they have specifically said that people are welcome to use the Freeduino name.
All Arduino proves is that people will slap "free" and "open source" on just about anything, and there's no shortage of people who will parrot it.
Also, I'm getting really fucking tired of LadyAda's antisocial, illegal devices. Her "TV-b-gone" redefines arrogance, and the jammers are *completely* illegal (funny how you all will get ripshit about data-over-powerlines interfering with your precious HAM hobby, but this device is completely ok?) Wouldn't be the first time she's gotten in trouble with 'the law'- when she was at MIT, she put a device in a parking garage which MIT campus police (used to dealing with all sorts of weird projects and devices) treated as a bomb, and she was punished by the dean for it.
Parent
Re:Arduino EAGLE/Gerber files and name are NOT fre (Score:5, Informative)
hey superbanana - i'm phil from MAKE i submitted the story and what you're saying is not accurate. i'll do my best to address your comments.
1. Arduinio is open source, anyone can make them and they released all the files. just check the site you'll see all the downloads, if you can't find them email me.
2. the *name* is trademarked, this is likely the confusion. you can make Arduino clones all you want in china, you just can't call them Arduino. just like you can make other versions of Firefox but you can't call yours Firefox.
3. as far as ladyada goes, the art project you're referring to at MIT never got her punished or "in trouble with the law".
4. lastly, the tv-b-gone is also used to turn TVs on, that's how it works.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Also:
FreePCB, http://www.freepcb.com/ [freepcb.com]
Why use Eagle, its not free?
Sparkfun has Eagle footprints for their parts incl Arduino, BUT those footprints are copyrighted by Sparkfun AND they clearly spell out that they are not for use with any commercial products. WTF?
So I used FreePCB. It worked just fine, made very nice Gerber files which I sent here, http://www.eiconnect.com/ [eiconnect.com] in Illinois. Fine PCBs made by Americans.
Another Link (Score:4, Informative)
Cheers,
Dave
Parent
Freely programmable hardware is more important (Score:3, Interesting)
Good timing (Score:2, Funny)
I recently received my Arduino kit with Ethernet shield. Haven't touched the soldering iron yet, that's probably this weekend's fun[0]. It's a really cool project and cheaper than the Basic Stamp to get going.
[0] "Your family is out of town, you're in bachelor more and this is what you do for fun?!"
Yeah yeah
One that's been sadly ignored in tech circles (Score:5, Interesting)
For the past 5 years I've been running my cars on open-source engine management hardware, firmware and software.
www.megasquirt.info
Given the potential benefits, financial, technological, and environmental, I'm surprised more people aren't interested in it. The project is actually pushing as close to the edge as some of the high end EMS from big car manufacturers.
Re:One that's been sadly ignored in tech circles (Score:4, Funny)
For the past 5 years I've been running my cars on open-source engine management hardware, firmware and software.
www.megasquirt.info
Given the potential benefits, financial, technological, and environmental, I'm surprised more people aren't interested in it. The project is actually pushing as close to the edge as some of the high end EMS from big car manufacturers.
While I appreciate the offer, I think I will wait until I am not on a work computer to I visit that link of yours. No err, hard feelings.
Parent
x0x0b0x Project Rocks! (Score:2, Interesting)
This is a particularly useful project for electronic musicians and synth geeks. The famous Roland TB-303 - whatever you might think of the sound - is to dance music as guitars are to rock music. The real deal is prohibitively expensive for most people these days if you can find one for sale.
The designer (?) of this exact replica has made the real analogue sound available to anyone that with half a brain and a light wallet. You can build it your self which might then inspire someone to build other instru
Open Computer? (Score:3, Interesting)
Has anyone ever considered putting the available pieces out there together and seeing what we still need to achieve a fully open computer? It's expected it will be slow by modern standards but a completely open PC would be nice.
I'm waiting .... (Score:3, Funny)
OBDuino (Score:3, Interesting)
Programming the Arduino is very easy as you do it in C and upload through a serial port or USB. You can also develop/compile in Minsys and upload with a parallel programmer, etc.
See the wiki on the OBDuino
http://code.google.com/p/opengauge/wiki/OBDuino [google.com]
Trotting out reprap-relevant stuff again (Score:3, Interesting)
The RepRap is able to use an Arduino board, but the RepRap Research Foundation [rrrf.org] have recently developed a modified variant called the Sanguino [sanguino.cc]. That Sanguino link shows some differences between the two board designs.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
The next time I grab a 15-year-old girl to rape and kill her ...
I'm all for freedom of speech, but could we exercise a little self-control over what we say and publish?
Oh the irony....
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I agree. Please run for president and I shall vote for you so you can establish a Ministry of Acceptability that ensures that people only do and say things that are in line with your definition of peace and safety.
Maybe you'd better read it again. (Score:2)
I oppose governmental controls on speech and prefer self-control. Ministries of Acceptability are not acceptable. Saying, "Hey, everybody! Here's how you can totally screw up the emergency services!" is just, well, sort of a bad idea, don't you think?
The only defense against anarchy in a free society is self-control.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
If it becomes a crime to have radio frequency jamming equipment then only criminals will have radio frequency jamming equipment.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
>>>The next time I grab a 15-year-old girl to rape and kill her....... I'm all for freedom of speech, but could we exercise a little self-control over what we say and publish?
>>>
Well if that girl were carrying a gun, it wouldn't matter if you jammed her cellphone. She'd be teaching you a lesson about the God-given right to self-defense of her body, as she blasts a hole through your chest.
Rapists don't deserve to live, and it is because of the existence of rapists/thieves/et cetera that
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Funny, it worked for the Soviets
... and something like fifty million people died.
Funny, it worked for the Nazis too. And the Cambodians. And a number of other dictatorships.
Over one hundred million people died in the 20th Century alone because of gun control.
Sorry, but it's NOT funny.
Re: (Score:2)
P.S.
Watch this tale about a poor woman who foolishly left her gun in her car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhyuJzjOcQE [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
An interesting Open Source hardware project is the Mico32 CPU than can be freely implemented in FPGAs or ASICs:
So can the T1 and T2, and the OpenRISC architecture. It's surprising how many good, open source, CPU designs there are. The cost of fabricating them is still very high, but if you're making a consumer electronics device then it may be cheaper to tweak one of these and get a few hundred thousand ASICs fabbed than pay to license a design from someone else.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
My implementation is merely targeted for VLIW processor research; it is a highly customizable design where the instruction issue-width, the number of registers and the number of functional units can be easily changed. Even c
Re:Open "source" hardware (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
BUT theres no usable free synthesis tools???
You either have to Buy Altera or Xilinx tools.
Hell, even the Commercial tools suk ass. And cost $.
Ditto PICs, altho there is a open pic compiler that is getting close, still better to buy one tho.
Arduino uses Atmel because Atmel 'gets it'. Their dev tools are free to use.
This is why I like Arm7/Arm9.
The c tools are gnu. And the asic designs are open, so theres no vendor lockin for parts.
Re: (Score:2)
Digital hardware, like processors and such, are usually designed in a hardware definition language, like VHDL or Verilog, so it's not very different from computer software. Instead of compiling to machine code or byte code, it's compiled (synthesized) into something that can be loaded in an FPGA, or processed further for ASIC production.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)