3 ms·

The open source washing machine project

14 points by chanux 17y ago

NathanKP 17y ago
Isn't "open source" usually used for projects that include source code? Maybe they made the original design diagrams open, but I still can't see calling it open source if it doesn't have a microprocessor or any code running in it.
- chanux 17y ago
  Open Source beer, Open Source Restaurant - Neither of these have a processor or code. But they are still called Open Source. Maybe you don't agree with those terms too. But taking the idea of free/open source software in to anything in real life is an interesting trend, IMO.
  - wlievens 17y ago
    Open Recipe, mayhaps?
    - stcredzero 17y ago
      It's the same sort of idea as the old Whole Earth Catalog. Give people access to information, resources, and enabling technology. Empower people to do it themselves.
  - chaostheory 17y ago
    I disagree. Both Open Source Beer and the Open Source Restaurant have 'code', recipes, or plans for building them: Open Source Beer Recipe: http://www.opensourcebeerproject.com/2007/07/15/open-source-beer-recipe-finalized/ http://www.opensourcebeerproject.com/2007/07/15/open-source-... Open Source Restaurant: "[a] restaurant that is completely made of, and only serves food based on the original instructables all the members on instructables.com have made or will make." Members of Instructables.com typically post step by step plans of what they've made. http://www.instructables.com/group/instructables-restaurant/ http://www.instructables.com/group/instructables-restaurant/ The Open Source Washer project is a misnomer until they release the step by step plans for building it.
    - chanux 17y ago
      Yes, Open source beer/restaurant had source code and the washing machine doesn't have one yet (I couldn't find). But my argument was against the idea of 'a project having to have a microprocessor or any code running in it to be an Open Source project'
jasongullickson 17y ago
I'm glad to see some brainpower being thrown at the washing machine. I'm sure that there are a lot of smart people at the established brands working on improving these devices but they all seem to be falling into the "cell phone" syndrome of adding features w/o fixing the root problem (i.e., dropped calls). I hope to be contributing to this or a similar project soon.

14 points by chanux 17y ago

Isn't "open source" usually used for projects that include source code? Maybe they made the original design diagrams open, but I still can't see calling it open source if it doesn't have a microprocessor or any code running in it.

chanux 17y ago
Open Source beer, Open Source Restaurant - Neither of these have a processor or code. But they are still called Open Source. Maybe you don't agree with those terms too. But taking the idea of free/open source software in to anything in real life is an interesting trend, IMO.
- wlievens 17y ago
  Open Recipe, mayhaps?
  - stcredzero 17y ago
    It's the same sort of idea as the old Whole Earth Catalog. Give people access to information, resources, and enabling technology. Empower people to do it themselves.
- chaostheory 17y ago
  I disagree. Both Open Source Beer and the Open Source Restaurant have 'code', recipes, or plans for building them: Open Source Beer Recipe: http://www.opensourcebeerproject.com/2007/07/15/open-source-beer-recipe-finalized/ http://www.opensourcebeerproject.com/2007/07/15/open-source-... Open Source Restaurant: "[a] restaurant that is completely made of, and only serves food based on the original instructables all the members on instructables.com have made or will make." Members of Instructables.com typically post step by step plans of what they've made. http://www.instructables.com/group/instructables-restaurant/ http://www.instructables.com/group/instructables-restaurant/ The Open Source Washer project is a misnomer until they release the step by step plans for building it.
  - chanux 17y ago
    Yes, Open source beer/restaurant had source code and the washing machine doesn't have one yet (I couldn't find). But my argument was against the idea of 'a project having to have a microprocessor or any code running in it to be an Open Source project'

jasongullickson 17y ago

I'm glad to see some brainpower being thrown at the washing machine. I'm sure that there are a lot of smart people at the established brands working on improving these devices but they all seem to be falling into the "cell phone" syndrome of adding features w/o fixing the root problem (i.e., dropped calls). I hope to be contributing to this or a similar project soon.