Open Source and Sustainability

Many open source networks have flourished on the internet and in the field of software. Open source is an interesting way to explore changing the design process to make outcomes more sustainable, allowing for collaborations of developers that would perhaps not normally work together on the same project. The free nature of the software means anyone from business people to hobbyists can develop a program or technology. Open source allows for (but does not restrict to) non commercially driven projects which could create products more focused on real user need. The closed nature of the development of the vast majority of products means that only a small number of people influence how they are developed over time. When a product is open source its development can evolve in a more natural way, and also allows individuals to customise it to suit their own needs. In this way the user can have a better connection to the product, making it more emotionally durable and therefore more sustainable.

One of the most controversial areas of the open source knowledge debate is in medicine and pharmaceuticals. This is an extreme case where strict intellectual property rights can make drugs too expensive and slow research progression unnecessarily, ultimately costing lives. This is one example where perhaps the loosening of intellectual property law would be effective.