????1998年1月，網景公司（Netscape）發布了一則聲明，稱公司將使其網絡瀏覽器Navigator的源代碼完全免費開放，隨后有人創造了“開源”這個詞。此后，“通用訪問”和“免費發布”的思想徹底改變了整個軟件產業。

????盡管大家都已經了解開源社區激發軟件業創造力和協作精神（比如Android應用商店）的作用，但開源并沒有在這一領域之外取得多大進展。部分原因在于，軟件本身就是模塊化的，能從任何地方快速獲取，也很容易進行改寫。

????不過，開源的思想在軟件業之外也有巨大的潛力可挖。要創建一個成功的開源社區，只需要一些能共享內容、從中獲益的參與者。這種透明、合作和相互信任的網絡在其他行業也會產生巨大的效益，比如制藥業和工業品領域。

????我們已經看到，把開源思想運用于硬件開發和生產會帶來令人滿意的成果。消費者已在開源硬件運動中發揮了領導作用，這在目前風靡一時的“自造者運動”（Maker Movement，也有稱“創客運動”，指消費者利用3D打印等各種新興技術，自行設計制造各種產品的運動，近兩年風靡歐美——譯注）中就體現得淋漓盡致。這種由業余愛好者組成的亞文化群體及DIY迷們已推動緊密協作、社區化的“黑客空間”和備受追捧的“制匯節”（Maker Faires，首屆活動于2006年在加州舉辦。目前已發展成為超過700名創客參展、吸引超過17萬名參觀者參加的全球性盛會——譯注）在美國各地大行其道。商業界并沒有忽視這些“自造者”；實際上風險投資家們正密切關注著這些運動的發展。

????開源硬件絕不僅僅是一場消費者運動或初創公司熱潮而已；對那些成熟企業來說，它也有重大的商業影響。Arduino是一家意大利的電子成型平臺（electronics prototyping platform）公司，它就已從開源模式中嘗到了甜頭。Arduino公開發布各種產品，包括其暢銷電路板的所有設計圖和電路圖，任何人都能拿來自行使用、修改或銷售。公司如何賺錢呢？它面向想要根據其電路板制造設備的人，大部分收入來自于為他們提供咨詢和設計服務。Arduino把自己打造成一家可信賴的咨詢公司，從而獲得了競爭優勢，同時還利用第三方的反饋，使自己每一代電路板都更臻完美。據《連線》雜志（Wired）對該公司的一次訪談稱，免費獲得Arduino設計的人會對編程語言和線路設計提出改進建議，進而大幅提高了產品銷量。

????盡管開源模式還沒有廣泛用于工業品領域，但已涌現出一些前景看好的案例——尤其是在非盈利機構這個領域中。如有一家名為“開源生態”（Open Source Ecology）的非盈利集團正在試驗利用基礎原材料，采用多種方式，以低廉的成本從無到有生產50種重要的機械，從面包烘烤爐到反向鏟（back hoe），不一而足。這個機構的創始人馬爾欽?雅庫博夫斯基將其“地球村建設項目”（Global Village Construction Set）的藍圖和圖表都發布在維基上，提供所有的細節，供世界各地有意參與這個項目的人取用和修改。全美各地的團體都已為“開源生態”開發了藍圖，同時位于密蘇里州鄉間的一家名為“Factor e Farm”的機構正在制造這些機械的原型，并進行改進。據該集團的網站稱，50臺機械中有12臺正處于原型制造和文檔編制階段，包括小型拖拉機、反向鏟和電腦數控電路磨機（CNC circuit mill）。通過這一建設項目，“開源生態”旨在降低那些需要重建的鄉村社區、城市社區以及發展中國家開展農耕、建筑和制造業的門檻。

????盡管開源思想在上述領域已經初步顯示了成功跡象，但必須承認，在盈利性制造業應用開源原則還面臨著真正的挑戰。比如，開源硬件項目往往要求參與者擁有工具和相應的場地。但是，隨著黑客空間和業余愛好者運動變得日益普及，越來越多的個人和團體也都應該能夠接觸到這類資源。

????The term "open source" was first coined in response to Netscape's January 1998 announcement that the company would make freely available the source code for its web browser, Navigator. Since then, the philosophies of universal access and free redistribution of source code have revolutionized the software industry.

????While we have seen how open source communities can foster creativity and collaboration in software (think of the Android app store), open source has not ventured too far beyond this space. This is partly because software is inherently modular, instantly accessible from anywhere, and easily altered.

????Yet open source ideas have tremendous potential beyond software. All you need to create a successful open source community are participants who both contribute to, as well as benefit from, shared content. Such networks of transparency, collaboration, and trust can be tremendously beneficial in other industries as well, from pharmaceuticals to manufactured goods.

????We have already begun to see promising results from applying open source philosophies to hardware development and manufacturing. Consumers have taken the lead in the open source hardware movement, embodied by the popular "Maker Movement." This subculture of hobbyists and Do it Yourself (DIY)-enthusiasts has driven the rise of collaborative, community "hacker spaces" as well as the hugely popular Maker Faires in cities across the country. The business community has not ignored these makers; venture capitalists are certainly paying attention to the developments.

????Open source hardware is more than just a consumer movement or startup fad; the business implications for established firms can be significant as well. Arduino, an Italian electronics prototyping platform, has benefitted from its open-source model. Arduino publishes all the designs and schematics for its products, including its popular circuit board, for anyone to use, modify, or sell themselves. How does Arduino make money? The firm makes the bulk of its income from delivering consulting and design services to those looking to build devices based on its circuit board. By building a reputation as a trusted advisor, Arduino has developed a competitive advantage while still capitalizing on third party input to make each generation of its circuit board better. According to a Wired interview, contributors with access to Arduino's designs have offered improvements to the programming language and wiring, which have significantly boosted sales.

????Although the open source model has not yet been broadly applied to manufactured goods, there are promising emerging examples -- particularly in the not for profit sector. One nonprofit group, Open Source Ecology, is experimenting with ways to cheaply construct from scratch over 50 crucial machines, from bakery ovens to back hoes, with basic materials. Founder Marcin Jakubowski publishes all the blueprints and schematics for each piece of his Global Village Construction Set (GVCS) on a Wiki for contributors from all over the world to access and tweak. Groups throughout the country have developed blueprints for Open Source Ecology, while machines are prototyped and improved on the Factor e Farm in rural Missouri. According to the group's website, 12 of the 50 machines are in their prototyping and documentation phase, including a microtractor, backhoe, and CNC circuit mill. Through this construction kit, Open Source Ecology aims to lower barriers to entry for farming, building, and manufacturing in rural communities, urban neighborhoods in need of renovation, and developing nations.

????Despite early signs of success, there are, admittedly, real challenges to implementing open source principles to for-profit manufacturing. For one, open source hardware projects often require participants to have access to tools and space. However, as hackerspaces and hobbyist movements grow more popular, more individuals and groups should have access to these kinds of resources.