As a society, we need an open source device for reading. Books are among the most important documents of our culture, yet the most popular and widespread devices we have for reading are closed objects, operating as small moving parts in a set of giant closed platforms whose owners' interests are not always aligned with readers'.

The Open Book aims to be a simple device that anyone can build for themselves. The Open Book should be comprehensible: the reader should be able to look at it and understand, at least in broad strokes, how it works. It should be extensible, so that a reader with different needs can write code and add accessories that make the book work for them. It should be global, supporting readers of books in all the languages of the world. Most of all, it should be open, so that anyone can take this design as a starting point and use it to build a better book.

Check out the promo video as well:
https://youtu.be/vFD9V8Hh7Yg

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] henfredemars 135 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (44 children)

When they say build it yourself, they mean it:

3D print case
Solder PCB
Compile your own firmware

For those interested, base price to build this might start at $85 based on one estimate linked from the resource.

[–] dansity@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

DIY is like that. If you look up how to make a birdhouse they will tell you you need a saw, a hammer, nails, drill, paintbrush and something to measure with. Having a 3d printer and a soldering iron nowadays is pretty low entry, you can get into it cheaper that buying the saw, hammer and drill for the birdhouse. You don't have to buy the bambulab printer and the weller / hakko iron. You can print this case on an ender 3 you found in the dumpster. Or pay 10 bucks for someone and they will print it for you. On the other hand you will have a device you can infinitely repair unlike the kindles that are kicking the dust every few year for everyone.

[–] tocopherol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It sounds wild to think about making your own electronic device, but after getting into woodworking I think it could be simpler to build this than a quality birdhouse lol.

[–] Juno@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

I get that 3d printing is cool. It is, but new doesn't always mean better.

You can still "analog 3d print" anything with know how and the right tools. So why not a simple box frame out of oak? Can't be that hard.

load more comments (3 replies)

load more comments (41 replies)