Open source software and the future of the world

David M Williams
Tuesday, 05 February 2008 18:35

Opinion and Analysis

ASUS themselves have spoken about how the Eee has been their most successful product to date, with more variations to come.

According to Torvalds, it’s entirely likely that the ramifications of the Eee’s performance will see an explosion of Linux based machines out of Asia. “It’s where the market really wants to go,” he says.

This is where open source really strikes; after all it’s possible for a vendor to make a piece of specialised hardware but to provide even rudimentary networking they will require their own operating system.

As said, the possibility is always there for a hardware company to develop their own OS. This is what Nokia have done with their Symbian OS for instance, as used on all their current range of mobile phones. Symbian took a significant time to develop. Yet, by contrast, the OpenMoko project are producing a complete open source mobile phone in a much more limited time period replete with a fully functional OS and suite of apps – thanks once more to the world of open source. OpenMoko tout their Neo 1973 handset as giving ubiquitous computing and putting control in the hands of the users.

There’s no need to look hard for another example. The One Laptop Per Child project – or OLPC – has lofty altruistic goals of providing low powered and easily manufactured portable computers, primarily for the youth of third world nations, but also for anyone who needs it. The design intentions impose some stringent hardware requirements – not in terms of grunt but in terms of availability and power consumption and other matters.

Once more it is Linux and open source software that helps out: firstly, a pre-written, pre-debugged operating system comes readily available. Secondly, the OS is freely customisable allowing full advantage to be made of custom hardware as well as stripping out items not required. Thirdly, a ready suite of software including tools and productivity apps is right at hand. Fourthly, there’s not a cent to pay to the open source developers; there’s no licensing or royalty fees, and this importantly keeps costs down.

There’s no doubt that what Torvalds says is spot on, and that Asian hardware manufacturers, buoyed by the popularity of the ASUS Eee, will begin producing highly usable, customised, specialised and niche products which innovate in their hardware and design choices. It has been, and will continue to be, open source software that enables this explosion to take place because of the freedom it gives to such vendors.

Open source software is all about giving freedom and control back to users and inventors. The future of the world’s hardware and technology will be intertwined with the rise of open source software. Bring the revolution to your desktop too. Take up the challenge to make 2008 the year you migrate to open source and liberate yourself from outside control and lock-in.