Lowell Deeds

Yesterday’s Business section of the Globe had an interesting article about “high-tech tinkerers.” Most of you are probably familiar with the “open source software” movement in which software writers place their basic code out in the open, granting the whole world to modify or change it. The pessimist would say, “that’s crazy” while the optimist would say “what a brilliant concept.” I’m more of an optimist. This approach taps into our collective intelligence, with many people who’ve never met working collaboratively to improve some software for the benefit of all. This practice of tinkering with computer code seems to be spreading to the physical world. More and more individuals are prying the covers off of electronic consumer gadgets, pulling out parts, and mixing and matching them with components of other devices. Parts manufacturers are getting into the act, producing inexpensive, generic components that plug together like a bunch of Lego blocks. I wonder if I can get my cell phone to replace the TV remote or turn on the house lights.