Actually, the EAGLE files to almost all the Arduino products are online (including those of the Duemilanove, which was only released last week). Yes, the name is trademarked, but so are the names of most open source projects (e.g. Linux, Firefox, Ubuntu, etc.). It is, in fact, an open-source project.
I think there are a few problems with web communities.
One, that's already been mentioned, in the sheer number of people that can access any web page or USENET group. Related to that, is the lack, IMO, of any usable web-based discussion forum. No webboard I've used is able to put a thousand messages in readable for. One that could would be a big help.
A second problem is the horrible interaction that the internet provides. Real life encounters are incredibly more rich; imprinting them in our memories. No one remembers the poster of a message they read, they would remember the name of someone they had a talk on the street with. There needs to be some way to communicate with people over the web that provides more than just text.
Third there's the question of the basis of an online community. Real life communities tend to be based on shared experience, or close physical proximity, both of which encourage common interaction. On the internet, you'll probably never hear from most people again, and therefore don't feel as close to any of them.
Then, I would ask if Internet-based communities are even desirable. Shouldn't we just meet people in real life and use the Internet for keeping in touch with them, or for other uses altogether?
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, the EAGLE files to almost all the Arduino products are online (including those of the Duemilanove, which was only released last week). Yes, the name is trademarked, but so are the names of most open source projects (e.g. Linux, Firefox, Ubuntu, etc.). It is, in fact, an open-source project.
I think there are a few problems with web communities.
One, that's already been mentioned, in the sheer number of people that can access any web page or USENET group. Related to that, is the lack, IMO, of any usable web-based discussion forum. No webboard I've used is able to put a thousand messages in readable for. One that could would be a big help.
A second problem is the horrible interaction that the internet provides. Real life encounters are incredibly more rich; imprinting them in our memories. No one remembers the poster of a message they read, they would remember the name of someone they had a talk on the street with. There needs to be some way to communicate with people over the web that provides more than just text.
Third there's the question of the basis of an online community. Real life communities tend to be based on shared experience, or close physical proximity, both of which encourage common interaction. On the internet, you'll probably never hear from most people again, and therefore don't feel as close to any of them.
Then, I would ask if Internet-based communities are even desirable. Shouldn't we just meet people in real life and use the Internet for keeping in touch with them, or for other uses altogether?