Re: [libreplanet-discuss] Free software and open hardware

[alexus / dotcommon]

Il 31.05.2012 18:03 Niels Serup ha scritto:

> 1. Free software is more important than free hardware design, because 
> it
>    is more useful. Free hardware design is still important.
> 2. Free software cannot be compared with free hardware design, 
> because
>    software is very different from hardware. Both are simply
>    important. There is no ordering.
>
> In both cases, free hardware design is important.

> I agree with conclusion 2. Hardware shouldn't be "punished" for being
> difficult to copy; just because it does not give me as many practical
> advantages as software, it is still just as important.
>
> I do, however, understand the pragmatism behind choosing conclusion 
> 1.


In my personal opinion, free software and free hardware are both 
relevant. More, there are many other general aspects which are relevant: 
formats, standards, copyright, patents, privacy... and other political 
and social points...

And they are ALL relevant the same way: freedom is something basically 
non-technical, and is dinamically related to relationships... it means 
self-definition and self-determination of ourself and of our ways of 
expression, as individuals and within self-organized and self-managed 
relationships among people... so freedom cannot be divided in separate 
chunks

> In the end, believing that something is x important or x + y 
> important
> (where x is the level of importance and y is positive) probably 
> matters
> little in the case of non-open hardware, as we have to rely on
> manufacturers if we want to use electronics. We can write free
> replacements, but those will have to be produced.

if in dubt of the importance and implications of free hardware respect 
to our freedom, please see also:

Schneier on Security: Backdoor Found (Maybe) in Chinese-Made Military 
Silicon Chips
https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2012/05/backdoor_found.html

Chinese Cyberwarriors in your Chips? - Unscrewing Security
http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/unscrewing-security/2012/05/chinese-cyberwarriors-in-your-chips/index.htm

Silicon backdoor: not an international crisis • The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/29/researcher_trolls_internet_with_silicon_backdoor/

Latest news on my hardware security research
https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~sps32/sec_news.html#Assurance


Regards
--
al3xu5 / dotcommon

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