The Open Book
hackaday.io
This is a complete reimagining of the Open Book Project, but the original mission remains: As a society, we need an open source device for reading. Books are among the most important documents of our culture, yet the most popular and widespread devices we have for reading are closed objects, operating as small moving parts in a set of giant closed platforms whose owners' interests are not always aligned with readers'. The Open Book aims to be a simple device that anyone can build for themselves. The Open Book should be comprehensible: the reader should be able to look at it and understand, at least in broad strokes, how it works. It should be extensible, so that a reader with different needs can write code and add accessories that make the book work for them. It should be global, supporting readers of books in all the languages of the world. Most of all, it should be open, so that anyone can take this design as a starting point and use it to build a better book.

This is a complete reimagining of the Open Book Project, but the original mission remains:

As a society, we need an open source device for reading. Books are among the most important documents of our culture, yet the most popular and widespread devices we have for reading are closed objects, operating as small moving parts in a set of giant closed platforms whose owners’ interests are not always aligned with readers’.

The Open Book aims to be a simple device that anyone can build for themselves. The Open Book should be comprehensible: the reader should be able to look at it and understand, at least in broad strokes, how it works. It should be extensible, so that a reader with different needs can write code and add accessories that make the book work for them. It should be global, supporting readers of books in all the languages of the world. Most of all, it should be open, so that anyone can take this design as a starting point and use it to build a better book.

Check out the promo video as well:
https://youtu.be/vFD9V8Hh7Yg

  • oatscoopEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Not the person you ask, but it’s a good question and I’d like to weigh in.

    I’d argue the crux of “open hardware” should be accessibility.

    • No proprietary bullshit, no built-in DRM, no locked boot loaders, no patents, and no copyrights.
    • Components that are accessible and available to all – you should be able to easily buy or make every part of the device.
    • Every single design file is available to all.
    • Hardware that’s designed with “end user modification and repair” as a fundamental goal
    • Can have full functionality with 100% FOSS code/software.

    You should (if you want) be able to make and assemble the device at home. Or buy a ready-made assemblies or complete devices from anyone that wants to make and sell them.