We have all heard of our share of open-source software, now this company plans on revolutionizing the electronics industry with open-source hardware. In a discussion with our friends from Engadget (we wish they were our friends), Bug Labs describes how they will provide young (or old) designers with a kit containing a small Linux-based micro-PC with USB, WiFi, Bluetooth, and several other ports for connecting with this device. The system is designed to run home-cooked Java apps to develop software for the device. Numerous components will be available for the design including a small or large screen, QWERTY keyboard, GPS, camera, or speaker, all of which will be accessible and web addressable. For those that will chose to move down to the circuit level, all the hardware component schematics and interface protocols will be available online. There is also potential for the best designs to be submitted for production. This has to be one of the coolest ideas I have ever heard of, and when the kits are released later this year, you can bet I’ll be checking it out. You can read the Engadget article here.
Bug Labs Releases DIY Electronics Kit
by Michael Chappell · July 31st, 2007 · 6 Comments
Categories: Technology
6 responses so far »
1 Matthew Smith // Jul 31, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Yea that kit looks pretty sweet – we should consider purchasing one for a little investigation of sorts.
Could lead to all sorts of fun things….
2 David // Aug 1, 2007 at 12:59 pm
With this new open device, everyone can try their hand at computer / software engineering. Many will fail.
It’s definitely going to be cool seeing what you two could come up with.
unfortunately, unlike open-source software, this hardware can’t possibly be free. you’ll be spending your own money to develop things on an open platform that, technically, anybody could copy. That is very cool for project-minded people with a passion for this stuff, but this resembles the home-brew computer club more than open source software.
Just my speculation, but even if the world’s coolest gadget was designed on one of these, i think joe blow would rather buy a prefabricated copy from Micro-Designer Inc. over having to buy the parts and put it together himself. Not exactly turning the CE industry on its ear.
3 Matthew Smith // Aug 1, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Remember, it’s free as in speech, not beer
Meaning, I will give you the information and the right to modify my design at will. Open doesn’t necessarily mean free, money-wise.
But yea, that’s a good point Dave. But then again, don’t you ever wish that your guitars and amps came with full schematics (from the manufacturer), code for any firmware, and a license that allowed you to modify them as you wished? That would be “open,” though I’m sure you’d still have to buy the amp and guitar.
4 David // Aug 2, 2007 at 12:27 am
P.s. matt, my fender amplifier came with a complete schematic…
5 Matthew Smith // Aug 2, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Ahh exactly!!
6 Mehrshad Mansouri // Aug 21, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Hey Michael, thanks for the coverage. Wanted to drop a line to let you know that Bug Labs announced its beta program yesterday:
http://www.bugblogger.com/2007/08/getting-beta-al.html
Thanks again, and keep spreading the word!
Mehrshad Mansouri
Bug Labs
Press and Blogger Relations
mehrshad@buglabs.net
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