Have your say and share your ideas. Join us on the road to simplicity. Latest discussions | Popular discussions | Conclusions (see all ) This section is where you'll find completed discussions. You can still browse the whole discussion and read the conclusions, however these are now closed. Open source product design "With the growing advent of open source programming, it seems as if we are moving toward software products created for the people and by the people. Could this same system be used to create new and innovative products for the home?" Although open source product design may be a great way to develop ideas, it can often lead to increased complexity. Groups often create complexity as a result of having too many opinions. A product cannot be all things to all people. It's important for product developers to define a product based on customer needs and create something specific to that need. Open source product development could prove to be more stifling than helpful in creating great products. 11 comment(s) so far warby thinks: open source is a great idea provided that corporations aren't exploiting the system to gain free development. Product development is one of the costliest sides of production. If that cost is removed the manufacturer can increase his margins. Profiteering by some individuals or organisations is one side of this system that may deter people from providing ideas and solutions. (89% of 9 votes AGREE) NixHex thinks: Sounds like a great idea but it would have to be strictly controlled by the manufacturer. The public knows what they want and provide great value in the product development lifecycle. A system such as this, done correctly, could revolutionize the way products are designed. (71% of 7 votes AGREE) More conclusions from this category Watering plants. Electronics & Planes Does the internet really make life easier? Radio's future? Movie downloads Digital Rights Management, problem or solution? Is physical media now absolete? RSS, not so simple syndication? Virtual World Why do I have so many remote controls? Is technology only for the young? Internet Simplicity Identity fraud - how secure are we online? Do books really need technology? Whatever happened to robots? Flat TV Minimizing Obsolescence with Technology Standardisation versus Personalisation Start new discussion You know something that puzzled you by being surprisingly simple or overwhelmingly complex? Share it, and get more opinions on it now! Conclusions & insights Business Communication General Internet & technology Lifestyle & social Wellness Search in discussions e.g. search for technology, christmas, future, bioscan This blog About this blog Login Register Help Terms of use