Open is a term used in various contexts with different meanings, primarily focusing on accessibility, transparency, or public engagement:
Open Source Software refers to software whose source code is released under a license that allows users to view, use, modify, and distribute the software. The Free Software Foundation and the Open Source Initiative are key organizations that define and promote open source principles:
Examples include Linux, Apache, and Mozilla Firefox.
Open Access in scholarly publishing refers to making research literature freely available online without any access barriers or financial restrictions. Key aspects include:
The Budapest Open Access Initiative and Berlin Declaration on Open Access are pivotal in this movement.
Open Data involves making data freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents, or other mechanisms of control. This concept is crucial for transparency, scientific research, and innovation:
Organizations like Sunlight Foundation and Open Knowledge Foundation advocate for open data policies.
Open Government refers to the idea that citizens have the right to access the documents and proceedings of government to allow for effective public oversight. It includes:
The Open Government Partnership is an international platform promoting these principles.
Open Educational Resources are teaching, learning, and research materials that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license. They include:
Initiatives like Creative Commons support the creation and use of OER.
The concept of "open" in technology and information has its roots in the early days of computing, where software was often shared freely among developers. The Hacker Ethic from the 1970s emphasized free access to computers and information, which laid the groundwork for open source culture. Over time, this ethos evolved into structured movements for open source software, open access, and open data, each with its own set of principles and organizations.
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