Serving a Slice of Open Source

I've been doing quite a bit of research on open source in the past few months. I've been impressed with it because it follows the philosophy of community and sharing. Something very opposite to the end result of 'practical' capitalism where money and stake is the goal.

Open source Software is especially popular in the internet age because software is easily distributed and because the result is better in most situations (Firefox vs. IE anyone?) especially when 1 billion new users with 3rd world GDP will be going online in the next decade. Hardware on the other hand is a little different because it's harder to implement. It costs money to develop R&D, takes labour and cost to distribute products, costs to manufacture the copies - unlike software. The most popular open source hardware is the arduino. In short, it's a tiny computer you can program and have it do neat things like controlling a robot. However, there really isn't actually a functional purpose to it. The arduino basically is like a linux kernel. You can create a lot of things with it, but unless you have money your special creation is never going to be used by the masses. The closest thing I can think about is the BakerTweet or the OpenBook . In conclusion, OpenHardware is an entirely different animal compared to OpenSoftware due to the fact that in OpenSoftware all you need is a computer and time.

I've been tinkering with the arduino and being the overachiever I am (unfortunately... only when I'm passionate and focused on something lol!) I created something entirely new. It's called the Tarq and am currently creating a website for it.

A short description: A 'sleeve' you attach to a punching bag. On this sleeve are LED's which flash. It will flash in patterns which are actually intructions on what combinations of punches to throw. It also records your reaction time, and hopefully in the future accurately record the power of your punches. The Tarq has the elements of the Hitmaster and the GoHerman!. But those don't tell you what combinations to throw. Anyone who has ever used the punching bag for any other reason than imagining throwing bombs at their boss knows why it can become extremely boring.

Anyways, so what is a boy to do with no cash and no interest in taking a risk with his first marketable, sellable, possible ROI'able (although very niche) creation? Patents cost in the range of $2k - $18k (design vs. utility patent, lawyers, etc.) and don't provide anything but empty promises. Open source would be the best idea. I may not make any money from this, but at the very least it'll be a good portfolio for myself. Kind of like but not remotely close to what this guy has done (>'.')>.

Many individuals who have an 'idea' tend to become paranoid that someone will steal it. The fact is 9/10 inventions don't receive a positive return. Ideas are a dime a dozen, if you have an idea, work on it and turn it into something real. What you learn from that work is everything and more than what you'd learn in school. One persons creativity can only go so far. Innovation expands exponentially when a collective of brains works together on a problem. After spending over 500 hours on the tarq I want to give it away more than ever. If art is what we're creating, why be selfish? Why not share it? Because green is god... and I'm not talking about this either.

..getting kinda hungry now ;).

- A.C.