Introduction to Open Source Product Development

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Volume Title

School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Bachelor's thesis

Date

2019

Department

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Muotoilu

Language

en

Pages

23

Series

Abstract

This thesis is a literature review about open source product development (OSPD). The open source model is mainly known as a method of producing, and developing computer programs, and it is introduced as such within this thesis. More extensively, this work focuses on open source product development, that being, how this method, for developing intangible products performs, when physical products are targeted. The thesis also addresses economical, and legal aspects of the open source concept as well as social aspects. Traditionally, product design, and development often involve copyright laws, confidentiality agreements, and strict regulations, which will secure the product, but will make product development slow, and expensive in the future. Open source enables open, rapid, and cost-effective product development cycles in a way that traditional, highly protected product-based operating models cannot. The open source computer software industry, which was born in the 1980s, is still young, and its correlation with product design is still in its infancy. However, the success of open source software programs suggests that open source product development can also have a favorable future. This bachelor’s thesis introduces open source product development, and the information around some tangential topics required to understand it. Because the subject is relatively young, some texts have been used as sources that deal with the open source method through intangible computer programs only. The subject of hardware in open source is still relatively unknown, and this is a main motivation behind writing this thesis. The aim of this thesis is to provide the reader with sufficient knowledge about OSPD, and to present to them some platforms that it currently operates on, what its strengths, and weaknesses are, and what its role, and importance will look like in the future. This Bachelor's thesis is aimed at design students, professionals, or others interested in open source development of physical products who have no previous comprehensive knowledge of the subject.

Description

Supervisor

Mc Grory, Peter

Thesis advisor

Uusitalo, Severi

Keywords

open source, product development, design, OpenStructures, WikiHouse, open source ecology, creative commons

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