I am also in favour of open source manufacturing whereby products are made by end users and sw is developed by a community. It might mean the alternative to an iPad is the size of a encyclopedia but the community would have the fun of building it and knowing how it works.
Actually Phil, thanks in no small measure to the internet, there is a fair amount of that sort of thing already going on.
The "Retro Computer" scene, for example, is very strong ... with some of the recent "home grown" stuff better in many ways than the original(s). Check out
this thread when you have time.
Us Brits are good at that sort of thing, are we not? The Classic Car (Motor-cycles, Tractors
et al* ... Caravans, even) scene also comes immediately to mind. It's great that
enthusiasts club together (literally) to keep all that good old stuff going ... now well beyond the design life (if indeed the designer at the time considered that at all - probably not is my guess).
And, of course, Open Source software has always been well supported.
*
Check out one of my favourites:- www.spiritburner.com!
