Use Of Open-Source Hardware Is Growing

The impact open source hardware has had in the past year has been momentous. Educators, students and hobbyists have all traditionally been big proponents of open-source hardware, but in the last 12 months we finally saw large companies and professional engineers begin to openly embrace the open source movement as well.  Open source hardware is the affordable building option of the future and has assumed a position at the forefront of a growing electronic components market.

For the unfamiliar, open source hardware is hardware whose design has been made widely available to study, modify, distribute and build upon.  Any designs or hardware that use or modify this hardware may be sold by the developer. Some of the most popular open source hardware products include the hugely popular SBCs Raspberry Pi and Beaglebone Black.  Importantly, open source hardware provides people with the opportunity to take full control of the technology and freely share their knowledge with others – who in turn are encouraged to do the same...