????1998年1月，網(wǎng)景公司（Netscape）發(fā)布了一則聲明，稱(chēng)公司將使其網(wǎng)絡(luò)瀏覽器Navigator的源代碼完全免費(fèi)開(kāi)放，隨后有人創(chuàng)造了“開(kāi)源”這個(gè)詞。此后，“通用訪(fǎng)問(wèn)”和“免費(fèi)發(fā)布”的思想徹底改變了整個(gè)軟件產(chǎn)業(yè)。

????盡管大家都已經(jīng)了解開(kāi)源社區(qū)激發(fā)軟件業(yè)創(chuàng)造力和協(xié)作精神（比如Android應(yīng)用商店）的作用，但開(kāi)源并沒(méi)有在這一領(lǐng)域之外取得多大進(jìn)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(jìn)行改寫(xiě)。

????不過(guò)，開(kāi)源的思想在軟件業(yè)之外也有巨大的潛力可挖。要?jiǎng)?chuàng)建一個(gè)成功的開(kāi)源社區(qū)，只需要一些能共享內(nèi)容、從中獲益的參與者。這種透明、合作和相互信任的網(wǎng)絡(luò)在其他行業(yè)也會(huì)產(chǎn)生巨大的效益，比如制藥業(yè)和工業(yè)品領(lǐng)域。

????我們已經(jīng)看到，把開(kāi)源思想運(yùn)用于硬件開(kāi)發(fā)和生產(chǎn)會(huì)帶來(lái)令人滿(mǎn)意的成果。消費(fèi)者已在開(kāi)源硬件運(yùn)動(dòng)中發(fā)揮了領(lǐng)導(dǎo)作用，這在目前風(fēng)靡一時(shí)的“自造者運(yùn)動(dòng)”（Maker Movement，也有稱(chēng)“創(chuàng)客運(yùn)動(dòng)”，指消費(fèi)者利用3D打印等各種新興技術(shù)，自行設(shè)計(jì)制造各種產(chǎn)品的運(yùn)動(dòng)，近兩年風(fēng)靡歐美——譯注）中就體現(xiàn)得淋漓盡致。這種由業(yè)余愛(ài)好者組成的亞文化群體及DIY迷們已推動(dòng)緊密協(xié)作、社區(qū)化的“黑客空間”和備受追捧的“制匯節(jié)”（Maker Faires，首屆活動(dòng)于2006年在加州舉辦。目前已發(fā)展成為超過(guò)700名創(chuàng)客參展、吸引超過(guò)17萬(wàn)名參觀(guān)者參加的全球性盛會(huì)——譯注）在美國(guó)各地大行其道。商業(yè)界并沒(méi)有忽視這些“自造者”；實(shí)際上風(fēng)險(xiǎn)投資家們正密切關(guān)注著這些運(yùn)動(dòng)的發(fā)展。

????開(kāi)源硬件絕不僅僅是一場(chǎng)消費(fèi)者運(yùn)動(dòng)或初創(chuàng)公司熱潮而已；對(duì)那些成熟企業(yè)來(lái)說(shuō)，它也有重大的商業(yè)影響。Arduino是一家意大利的電子成型平臺(tái)（electronics prototyping platform）公司，它就已從開(kāi)源模式中嘗到了甜頭。Arduino公開(kāi)發(fā)布各種產(chǎn)品，包括其暢銷(xiāo)電路板的所有設(shè)計(jì)圖和電路圖，任何人都能拿來(lái)自行使用、修改或銷(xiāo)售。公司如何賺錢(qián)呢？它面向想要根據(jù)其電路板制造設(shè)備的人，大部分收入來(lái)自于為他們提供咨詢(xún)和設(shè)計(jì)服務(wù)。Arduino把自己打造成一家可信賴(lài)的咨詢(xún)公司，從而獲得了競(jìng)爭(zhēng)優(yōu)勢(shì)，同時(shí)還利用第三方的反饋，使自己每一代電路板都更臻完美。據(jù)《連線(xiàn)》雜志（Wired）對(duì)該公司的一次訪(fǎng)談稱(chēng)，免費(fèi)獲得Arduino設(shè)計(jì)的人會(huì)對(duì)編程語(yǔ)言和線(xiàn)路設(shè)計(jì)提出改進(jìn)建議，進(jìn)而大幅提高了產(chǎn)品銷(xiāo)量。

????盡管開(kāi)源模式還沒(méi)有廣泛用于工業(yè)品領(lǐng)域，但已涌現(xiàn)出一些前景看好的案例——尤其是在非盈利機(jī)構(gòu)這個(gè)領(lǐng)域中。如有一家名為“開(kāi)源生態(tài)”（Open Source Ecology）的非盈利集團(tuán)正在試驗(yàn)利用基礎(chǔ)原材料，采用多種方式，以低廉的成本從無(wú)到有生產(chǎn)50種重要的機(jī)械，從面包烘烤爐到反向鏟（back hoe），不一而足。這個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)的創(chuàng)始人馬爾欽?雅庫(kù)博夫斯基將其“地球村建設(shè)項(xiàng)目”（Global Village Construction Set）的藍(lán)圖和圖表都發(fā)布在維基上，提供所有的細(xì)節(jié)，供世界各地有意參與這個(gè)項(xiàng)目的人取用和修改。全美各地的團(tuán)體都已為“開(kāi)源生態(tài)”開(kāi)發(fā)了藍(lán)圖，同時(shí)位于密蘇里州鄉(xiāng)間的一家名為“Factor e Farm”的機(jī)構(gòu)正在制造這些機(jī)械的原型，并進(jìn)行改進(jìn)。據(jù)該集團(tuán)的網(wǎng)站稱(chēng)，50臺(tái)機(jī)械中有12臺(tái)正處于原型制造和文檔編制階段，包括小型拖拉機(jī)、反向鏟和電腦數(shù)控電路磨機(jī)（CNC circuit mill）。通過(guò)這一建設(shè)項(xiàng)目，“開(kāi)源生態(tài)”旨在降低那些需要重建的鄉(xiāng)村社區(qū)、城市社區(qū)以及發(fā)展中國(guó)家開(kāi)展農(nóng)耕、建筑和制造業(yè)的門(mén)檻。

????盡管開(kāi)源思想在上述領(lǐng)域已經(jīng)初步顯示了成功跡象，但必須承認(rèn)，在盈利性制造業(yè)應(yīng)用開(kāi)源原則還面臨著真正的挑戰(zhàn)。比如，開(kāi)源硬件項(xiàng)目往往要求參與者擁有工具和相應(yīng)的場(chǎng)地。但是，隨著黑客空間和業(yè)余愛(ài)好者運(yùn)動(dòng)變得日益普及，越來(lái)越多的個(gè)人和團(tuán)體也都應(yīng)該能夠接觸到這類(lèi)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.