Open-Source Hardware for Interactive-Textiles (OSHIT)

Aside from being a great acronym, I think its an idea that should be considered. Over the next few days I hope to explore this idea in detail. What exactly does "open-source hardware" entail? It is the idea that a design for a technology component is not proprietary and is open for anyone to use -- HOWEVER, any resulting product made from the open-source component is considered open itself. A handful of groups around the world have dabbled in open-source hardware, probably the most popular lately is the Italian group Arduino.

Lest we forget that there are both open-source for electronics, but ALSO for sewing.

The first question that comes to mind is "how will companies make money?" Well, they're going to have to sell products...good products.

The idea is that commoditization of technology will expedite its incorporation into products hitting the marketplace and lower development costs in the meantime. This notion does not decrease the value of quality to the consumer -- so it will reward the companies who make the best products in the eyes of the consumer (not the ones with the biggest legal team).

I know that this discussion can't be completed in one post -- so hopefully some interesting counterpoints will be raised to challenge the OSHIT notion...