The Things Network: 4x Commons for the Internet of Things

The Things Network is an initiative to build a distributed wireless data network for connecting "things" to the net, fully owned and controlled by its users. The Internet of Things (IoT) typically consists of electronic devices with sensors and actuators that transmit small bits of data to the net. The Things Network (TTN) uses a free spectrum radio technology called LoRaWAN, that is Long Range, using low bandwidth and low power. Their newly designed gateways by the TTN are low cost at 200 €, while Arduino UNO nodes go for 40 €.

The Commons Law Perspective, Open Hardware and Digital DIY

Photo of David Bollier by Joi Ito - originally posted to Flickr as David Bollier. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DavidBollierJI1.jpg#/media/File:DavidBollierJI1.jpgOn October 1st I had an interview with David Bollier. Given his decade long work on the commons, as researcher and activist, author of books like Viral Spiral and in particular his work on Laws and the Commons, I thought that his perspective would be meaningful for our research in the DiDIY project. In particular for our work on rights and responsibilities, but also more in general to the various workpackages that make up the project.

The Free Knowledge Institute participates in "Digital DIY" Project

Digital Do It Yourself (DiDIY) is a new socio-technological phenomenon, centered around digital devices that support, often through open online communities, the convergence of "atoms" and "bits".

The DiDIY Research Project, which addresses the Horizon 2020 call for a "Human-centric Digital Age", is studying how DiDIY and the increasing social adoption of ABC devices are:

Selected Readings on Digital DIY

General introductions about digital fabrication technologies and how our societies are changing right now and in the foreseeable future:

  • Neil Gershenfeld (2005). FAB. The Coming Revolution On Your Desktop – From Personal Computers To Personal Fabrication. Basic Books. About FabLabs and How to make almost anything. Ebook. Neil's famous TED talk.

FKI Board strengthened with two new members

The Free Knowledge Institute is proud to welcome two new members to its Board: Joe Corneli and Marco Fioretti. Both have been active community members within the free knowledge - free technology community. Both bring in new energy, large networks, ideas and initiatives that are expected to strengthen the Free Knowledge community.

Can we liberate the market through commons governance?

In the Barcelona-based Escola dels Commons we study the commons and right now we are discussing about the market, how current markets work and how they could work, if redefined under commons logic. Monday 17th December we hold a public debate about this in the offices of the Xarxa d'Economia Solidaria (XES) a Barcelona.

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