Here is an email that was sent reminiscent of several I received when
trying to do this in the past. Some good ideas for sure, however, a few
won't make it happen unless they can contribute much more than $100.
I'm not being a wet blanket, just a realist as to what it takes for
STABILITY....I detest flaky enterprises that fall within weeks or months
of creation....my feeling is we should be committed enough to do it for
a reasonable long term, say 3 years minimum to see how it works out, if
nothing useful comes out within that period, time to fold our cards and
go home...<g>..here is the email;
================
Hey jerry this cooperative lab idea sounds terrific count me in.
Some suggestions;
1. Limit financial support to XX dollars per person so all have equal
interest.
2. all expermenters must agree that all findings are in the public
domain thus prohibiting greed and pitfalls with patenting
3. property (tools) must be donated not loaned to prohibit (if you don't
like the way I play I'll take my ball and go home) type of problems.
4. have regular brainstorming with investors to show progress and
failures (or successes)
5. encourage the most knowlegable individuals to participate in the
grand experiment(s).
Sounds like a great concept let's DO it.
============
Definitely good points and I appreciate the enthusiasm. With the
mention of investors, it almost sounds like there is an expected return
on investment, though I think the real meaning is one of let them be
kept abreast with the most detail of what is being worked on, future
projects, status, success/failure as mentioned....this way, they could
SEE their money working, though not necessarily to any financial gain.
The earlier comments about just 'happening' to have working devices
ready to sell when the information is released could be a tie-in though
that smacks of owenership.
The idea is to freely post the tabletop proof of principle on which such
devices will be based.
It then becomes up to the reader of the experiment to work out the
scaled up, more useful version, while the insider investors already have
one version ready and are working on the next....at most they might get
3 shots at capitalizing on their investment by staying ahead of the
competition who will without doubt catch up and possibly excel rapidly.
I kind of like that idea, investors in a pure R&D center that is devoted
to public domain release of the information in proof of principle
forms. This way, many could prove it to themselves and it is up to them
to figure out how to scale it up or just buy the working devices from
the investors...<g>...not bad, still free, still shared, everyone
wins....Mikey Likes It!
-- Jerry Wayne Decker / jdecker@keelynet.com http://keelynet.com / "From an Art to a Science" Voice : (214) 324-8741 / FAX : (214) 324-3501 KeelyNet - PO BOX 870716 - Mesquite - Republic of Texas - 75187