AN open hardware movement led by computer engineers may lead to cheaper computer chips and other hardware. The popularity of open source software, which is challenging the dominance of the major computer companies, has inspired a push to free up computer hardware designs. Moves are now under way to popularise open hardware, along the lines of the revolution created by Linux. Open hardware proponent Jamil Khatib said he believed the price of computer chips and other hardware could fall if the movement took hold.
Open hardware is a design methodology.
Computer engineers had begun working together in 1999 to implement free hardware, and eventually formed a group, OpenCores, which has a website dedicated to open hardware. Anyone can suggest new design ideas or contribute his own design. He said talks were under way with computer companies to help in bringing designs to life. Up to now we have not implemented real designs. Over the past decade, millions of computer users have taken up the freely obtained and modified Linux operating system.