open source has been transforming the distribution model for software, in large part because it’s so easy to make and distribute software nowadays. at the same time open-source has been proposed as a better way to design products, initially by now-defunct thinkcycle and more recently through opensourceproductdesign. the idea is that a lot more efficient development can happen if people work together to identify needs and brainstorm solutions. unlike software, however, products are still very difficult to design because they require expertise in numerous fields and there remains no easy way to distribute product prototypes as easily as software releases. maybe we need a more intuitive product development platform which permits sharing of physical designs as fluidly as computer programs, so that people can ‘download’ the latest version and make changes rapidly available to the community.
via amanda