As supposedly elite, “objective” scientific journals are revealed to be bought advertorials —
Nobel Winner Declares Boycott of Top Science Journals
— open-source is a welcome alternative.
And it’s not just digital!
James Corbett gives history, description, and possible futures.
“The difference between open-source and consumer culture is stark. . .”
“Openness means I trust you. I give you my trust.”
“Open-source transforms people from passive consumers into active members of the community. . . This change in perception brings the possibility of a true change in the global economy, and in human understanding, itself.”
Published on Dec 9, 2013
Essentially, open source software is software that allows users to inspect, change and share the source code of the program. Instead of passive consumers of a program, users become part of a community to which they can choose to contribute if they are capable and inclined. The difference from everyday consumer culture, where shoppers simply line up to buy products that are already in their final form, and it is almost never expected that shoppers will actually try to open up or modify those products.
Find out more about the open source idea and how it is transforming human interaction in this week’s GRTV Backgrounder.
