Participants: Alex, Michael, Bronwyn, Shah, Ting, Matt, Thomas
Summary: In this session we discussed the challenges (and some potential solutions) to gaining access to equipment/materials for OSH projects as well as repair information. We discussed locational barriers, including lack of distributional infrastructure in some countries, import-export regulation barriers, and lack of local knowledge or expertise regarding specific pieces of equipment. We discussed several potential solutions to these challenges, such as a platform for equipment/documentation sharing and a ‘stuff swap’ arrangement for the next GOSH unconference.
Questions:
- How to support community (outside university) who don’t have resources
- Finding intangible and tangible resources
- How to house information that has been developed in different projects – centralized storage
Emphasis on physical resources, information and sharing
Notes:
- Access to equipment: collaboration with diverse people/travellers
- To get materials, take advantage of people travelling
o Limited: physical barriers to transportation - Online orders: difficult to get to Cameroon
- No policy to overcome these practical barriers
- Developing your own tools/materials
Challenges
- Repair information source
- Broken down equipment: lack of money or expertise to repair
- Giving/taking on forums: more reciprocal arrangement
- Good tools but poor documentation (how to use)
- Material/Hardware source
- Physical barriers
- Political barriers (import-export)
- Online deliveries are limited
- Open Source software vs. Freely available software quality
- Managing surplus and scraps of material: will necessarily be local – how can this be replicated, including in areas where there isn’t the infrastructure? Will form around existing community
- Dealing with bureaucracy/company protocols
- Liability of sharing space and equipment
Solutions - Travellers : network to bring/distribute hardware
o Tips/tricks on how to bring materials/hardware - Platform to build resource collaboration (import-export issues?)
- Wishlist
- GOSH forum: one designated place to organize this collaboration
- Self-sustainable material generation
- Informal network of people with equipment (laser-cutters etc.) that communicates to use equipment in down-time (navigating back/forth, shipping costs, etc.)
o Something for small community: send files in and print/deliver - Educational component: how to repair (via video, picture etc.)
- Online request system for hardware, similar to Stack Overflow
- Can also source information directly from developers
- Sharing materials/e-waste centers: generally localized solutions
- Freecycle lists, Facebook Marketplace
- Informal: “Geek Christmas” – organize with friends to share e-waste
- Slack platform (Matrix by Riot)
- Tips/maps on available resources/local knowledge
Deliverables
- GOSH forum dedicated to bringing resources together
o Share advice, cross-boundaries knowledge-base - Platform for sharing repair information and material exchange
- List of reputable sources for hardware
- WIKI for hardware sources
o Also software FreeCAD, Open S CAD - GOSH Swap Meeting: organize for GOSH meetings in 3-4 weeks prior
o Incorporate tips/tricks on import-export processes - Tagging system for material/immaterial resources
- Knowledge/Skills Exchange: list of who has what equipment (frame with guidelines: here to help to certain extent – bigger projects are collaborations; no credit system – this should take no more than ½ day; beyond which it will be considered a collaboration; don’t ask with an immediate deadline)