Welcome to my Open Source Research Blog!
My name is Thomas King and I am Junior at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute. I have recently been provided the opportunity to conduct
some research through the Rensselaer Center for Open Source Software
(RCOS). RCOS strives to “…provide a
creative, intellectual and entrepreneurial outlet for students to use the
latest open-source software platforms to develop applications that solve
societal problems.”(rcos.rpi.edu)
But let me back up a second… What is open source?
Open-source is usually used to describe software whose
source code is free for anyone to use in whatever way they see fit. Whether you
want to use the whole product, or you want to use some of the design for a
particular section, you will not have to jump through hoops with copyright
lawyers and such.
Open-source does not just apply to software, though. It can
also be an object or product that the designs are made free for the public to
view or use to build the product.
A great example of the open source concept is the Linux
operating system. Linux is a computer operating system (such as Windows 7 or
Mac OS X) that is free to download, install, copy, edit in whatever way the
user sees fit. This allows for “More Eyes” on the code to search for needed
changes and improvements resulting in a better product.
(There is a great
video on how Linux is built here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVpbFMhOAwE )
So what is my research about?
I am currently working on a project with David Banks (www.davidabanks.org) that aims to provide an open-source condom
vending machine with the intended goals of “1) Provide a safe space for
individuals (especially women) to purchase condoms; 2) Provide new entrepreneurial
opportunities for Ghanaians; 3) Gain insight into mobile phone usage in
"non-western" societies and; 4) Increase the use of condoms thereby
reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. “
(More information can be found on the project http://www.davidabanks.org/condom-vending-machine/
)
My personal role in the project is to provide open source
code that will allow the vending machine to send a text message to owner of the
vending machine to let him or her know when it needs to be refilled. This will allow for a more efficient business.
This will prevent a person from having to waste time checking vending machines
that still have condoms in them and it will minimize the time a vending machine
will be out of condoms.
For this project I will be using the Arduino. The Arduino is
an open-source microcontroller that is designed to be easy to use with both
software and hardware. The Arduino community is very active, open and friendly when
it comes to providing help with different projects which I think will be
helpful for me as I design the software, as well as future users who wish to
adapt or build upon my work.
The Arduino will be acting as the ‘brain’ of the operations.
It will tell gather information from sensors and instruct different peripherals
how to act.
(More information on the Arduino platform can be found at http://www.arduino.cc/ )
This blog will be updated regularly with progress on my work
with this project, as well as interesting news about other open source
projects. Check back to learn more!
