[SpikeFri] What else should be Open Sourced Walk your bike, Christmas Fact#30

Dana Blankenhorn over at ZDNet has written a good blog entry asking us to think about what other areas could benefit from the open-source principal.  Is open source really only applicable to software or can it stretch to embrace and energise community involvement.  It's important not to confuse this with open standards.  For example we have open standards everywhere we look, from the electrical plug right to the size of the cup-holder in our cars.

• http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=504

Engadget spotted this rather unique bike which is a great illustration of what happens if you are a bicycle architect that runs out of ideas.  You start marrying up pieces of gym equipment with wheels!  You literally walk on a treadmill that then powers your bike forward.  Still not sure what happens when you hit a downhill - do you have to run to keep up?  It definitely be more work to walk this bike, since there is no notion of putting your legs up and free wheeling!  For more wacky bikes check out the site.

• http://www.bikeforest.com/tread/index.php

Countdown to Christmas Fact #30:
One of the earliest known customs of giving presents around the time of the winter solstice was during the Roman festival of the Kalends, which occurred on the first day of January. Such gifts were known as strenae.
Courtesy of http://www.christmas-time.com/cp-presents.html

tags: open source  christmas  gadget  

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