The hobbies that inspired the scientific curiosity of my generation were Erector Sets, Science Fair Electronic Kits from Radio Shack and model rockets with balsa wood fins that we meticulously assembled and painted. While these toys piqued our curiosity in science and engineering, our ability to share our discoveries were limited by geography. These fascinating distractions were often purpose-built and confined our creativity within their intended purpose.
Today’s budding scientists and engineers benefit from advances in technology and from a global network for them to share ideas. Our culture is becoming one of DIY, made possible by easier access to technology and the ability collaborate and create over a global network enabled by open source technologies.
Open Source as the Enabler
This year the Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to Peter W. Higgs and François Englebert “for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles” referred to as the Higgs boson.