A microcredit co-op bank has sprung up in Northern California, using money pooled from hardware hackers to fund other open source hardware hacking projects. They've found 70 lenders,
Two open source hardware enthusiasts, Justin Huynh and Matt Stack, have started the Open Source Hardware Bank to fund hardware projects such as the microcontroller board pictured above.
The fledgling bank is funding only open source hardware projects using capital raised from other hardware geeks. It's like a community of Facebook friends borrowing and lending among themselves – a peer-to-peer bank.
"This speaks to the rise of the do-it-yourselfer, someone who is not just a consumer but also a producer, inventor and investor," says Huynh. "But someone also ought to be thinking about the money problem when it comes to open source hardware and we are doing just that."
So, this is a major plot element of my science fiction novel Makers, coming from Tor next October: microcredit-funded open source hardware hackers laboring in dead malls (the first third of the book was syndicated on Salon as "Themepunks"). It's always a little weird when sf starts to leak into reality.
Open Source Hardware Hackers Start P2P Bank
Liquidware Antipasto: site for Open Source Hardware Bank
The HP Spectre Folio is a laptop made of leather. As in: you cannot remove the leather, because the leather is part of the case. It’s a premium ultraportable 2-in-1 with HP’s Tilt Pen and 4G LTE. A 4K display option will be available, but not at launch. Prices start at $1,299. The “product exterior […]
For weeks, Honeywell Home customers have been complaining about outages with their Honeywell "Total Connect Comfort" apps, which allow them to remote control their smart thermostats; several days ago, customers started complaining that the app had stopped working altogether.
I love the Punkt MP01, a basic candybar-style cellphone whose few features are polished to perfection. But it has a big drawback: as a 2G device, it’s effectively locked to T-Mobile in the U.S. and coverage is getting patchy. Enter the Punkt MP02, a 4G version with some other interesting upgrades: it’s also a WiFi […]
Whether you’re designing for print or digital, a modern career in graphic design requires more than just an eye for a decent font. Professionals in this fast-growing, artistic field need to be just as nimble with the latest software as any tech worker. If you want to learn graphic design, The Complete Learn To Design Bundle […]
Whether you’re looking at art for a career, a passion or (ideally) both, the only way to learn is by doing. And thanks to online learning, there’s an easy way to make sure you’re doing it right. The Fundamentals of Drawing Bundle brings a studio full of established painters, portrait artists, and illustrators to your desktop, […]
That persistent ringing in your ears after a long night at the club or a marathon concert? It’s not just an annoyance. It’s a warning. Tinnitus is no joke, and long exposure to sound levels over 85 decibels can permanently damage your ears. But if you really love the music, make sure you can listen […]
