The Open Hand Project looks like a good idea, and realistic — I couldn’t discern the latter at a glance, but it seems several projects to greatly decrease the cost and enhance the functionality of prosthetic hands through use of 3D printing exist (e.g., another advanced project and a mechanical-only one).
Via and because Chris Webber’s film reference needs highlighting.
How many widely shared cultural references spring from recent free cultural works, apart from [citation needed]? Zero? If anyone was to pursue a kill hollyweb project as I sketched out, manufacturing many — and reviving more found in old public domain works — would be part of the plan.
I’ve mentioned in writing peer production of (free) cultural relevance a few times over the past couple years, and probably will more soon. I think it may be a major missing tool holding back freedom. Clearly most knowledge goods can be created without exclusivity (and if we can’t build or perform the knowledge equivalents of pyramids or mass games without, consider what we gain instead), but creation is not primarily what proprietary vendors offer — rather promotion and distribution is. Isn’t it time to compete directly?
I think one of the things from that interview with Ton Roosendaal I did a few years ago that was said and stuck with me by Ton was:
And at least one “free culture” aspect then: it’s quite amazing how our films have become some kind of cultural heritage already. People have grown fond of them, or at least to the memory of them. It’s part of our culture in a way, and without a free license that would have been a really tough job.
So I agree that references to free culture because they’re enjoyable to reference are a good metric of free culture’s success.
I wasn’t the one who made that reference though, I borrowed both the link and the quote from Aeva’s IM. ;)
I couldn’t tell from your notice if the quote and the reference, or only the reference was from Aeva. Had I written an epic post I’d have noted also that the Open Hand Project is using a printer from Lulzbot, where Aeva works, and various other connections to everything in the free universe, including Aeva’s cultural heritage site. ;)
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