Hardware-DiDIY

Here's a placeholder page with some of the things we're working on in the DiDIY project.

DiDIY Project Summary

Digital do it yourself (DiDIY) is a new socio-technological phenomenon in which the widespread availability of digital devices supporting the convergence of physical and informational components and the growing accessibility of knowledge and data through open online communities presage scenarios in which the distinction between users and producers of physical artefacts is fuzzy and new opportunities and threats emerge. DiDIY-related technologies and social practices amplify the creativity and skills of individuals who affordably develop digitally self-made objects, e.g., unique-by-design objects designed by 3D modelling software and generated by 3D printers or networked smart objects equipped with microcontrollers dealing with context information via sensors and actuators. Two network effects catalyse DiDIY: what is custom produced by an individual could be the outcome of contributions from a world-wide community of developers sharing their interest towards open innovation, thus operating as knowledge multiplier; what is made available here and now by a smart object could be the aggregation of signals from a set of sources in the network, thus operating as information extender.

In this (presumed) industrial revolution the project aims at:

• setting a conceptual framework to explore the impact of DiDIY,
• producing information, models and guidelines to support education and policy making on DiDIY that, while enabled by technology, should be driven by social and cultural strategies.

The project will study how DiDIY is

• reshaping organization and work, education and research,
• impacting on social and legal systems
• changing creative design and ethics.

The development of a systemic interpretation is the challenge for the multidisciplinary project team, which will collaboratively explore a complex phenomenon with implications on identity, privacy, reputation, responsibility and safety and will offer a roadmap fostering a DiDIY-based human-centric European development.

WP6: Exploring the impact of DiDIY on laws, rights and responsibilities

• list relevant bibliography
• list main issues to be studied
• create an in-depth overview and analysis of open hardware licenses
• For task 6.1 Legal Advisory Board:
  • inform initially confirmed Legal Advisory Board members with the start of the project
  • list relevant legal experts that may be invited to complement the LAB

For task 6.2. Investigation of legal issues

• list potential cases to be studied, e.g.
  • Ultimaker using an NC clause,
  • Liberator / ghostgunner producing semi-automatic guns without government license,
  • biotech lab: OpenTrons?
  • road vehicles safety regulations,
  • warranty of DIY kits vs finished products
• prepare a questionnair to interview relevant projects, experts and stakeholders
• realise interviews

For task 6.3 Policies for open dissemination of DiDIY Project results

• prepare a draft document structure
• lay the foundations for the establishment of a permanent reference about the main legal issues associated with the social diffusion of DiDIY