The Future of Open-Source Hardware and Science - Open-Source Lab: How to Build Your Own Hardware and Reduce Research Costs - page 256

CHAPTER 7
The Future of Open-Source
Hardware and Science
Abstract
The open-source hardware design approach develops extremely low-cost, high-quality, customized sci-
entific instruments. The once onerous learning curve associated with open source has largely been over-
come due to innovation and rapid development of tools such as Arduinos, RepRaps, and Linux-based
software. The entire process of designing, printing and assembling new scientific research tools is facil-
itated by scientists drawing extensively on previously completed open-source work. As more scientists
take up this methodology and share back with the open-source scientific community, the time for anoth-
er group to build their own high-quality instruments will continue to decline along with the cost as the
quality of the instruments increases. This methodology promises heretofore unheard-of access to soph-
isticated instrumentation in underdeveloped and developing world laboratories. The future is bright as
a virtuous cycle is created with the benefits of sharing designs helping further accelerate research within
all of our laboratories.
Keywords
Free and open-source software, FOSH; Free libre open-source software, FLOSS; Future; Futures;
Open-source hardware, OSH; Open-source; Scientific hardware
7.1 Introduction to the Future
We are all somewhat accustomed now to the rapid advancement in technology and the younger
(or at least younger at heart) we are, the more likely it is that we are at home with embracing the
accelerated changes of bringing ever-greater technologies into our lives. In experimental science
and engineering, the tools to participate in the advancement of this technology have skewed the
costs so high that they are beyond the grasp of all but the most well-funded research groups.
The cost of equipment and the cost of access to the literature have provided some form of brake
to slow the progress. These brakes are wearing out and technological evolution is picking up
speed. I was fortunate to enter into the scientific community just as the Internet was taking of
and enjoyed the flood of knowledge that has driven the recent technological revolution. Today,
my children not only have this unprecedented access to pure information and learning tools 1 in
their home, but also with an evermore sophisticated version of the RepRap 3-D printers, they
have the capability to fabricate research-grade scientific tools in the house. If they want a micro-
scope to go look for tardigrades in the back yard, we can stop by Wal-Greens to pick up a few
free, disposable camera lenses and then print the open-source microscope shown in Figure 7.1
or upgrade it to a digital microscope with your smartphone as seen in Figure 7.2 (thanks to the