[OSGeo-Discuss] Open vs Proprietary, the Yin and Yang of Innovation

[Hogan, Patrick (ARC-PX)]

In the Open vs Proprietary discussion, both have their features and detractors. But, there is much more than the yin-yang of their details if we are to embrace each for their contribution to ^our^ world and how they advance the quality of life for all, not just a few. 

Our society and the 'engine' that drives innovation requires a yin-yang balance.  Today's severe dichotomy of haves and have-nots is the lead cause of the terrifying friction we are experiencing in our delicate world. And will assuredly increase if cannot find more 'open' ways to address our common needs, such as life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, according to one nation's declaration of basic human rights. 

Suchith first raised the question regarding the quality of 'open' because of his great concern for access to open geospatial tools serving education, as well as small business and government alike. Suchith is engaged in a kind of hand-to-hand combat for OSGeo equality. It's probably a result of those rose-colored OSGeo-like glasses he got from his grandmother. ;-0

'Open' is a key element to a world where we have a future, more importantly, a fruitful and inclusive one. Monopolies, the epitome of closed, are the real problem, mega-corps ruling a medium, not a luxury medium but one we all need. They depress the opportunity for 'open' to have a say. And they no longer operate on the 'free market' principle of 'open' and fair competition. 

Proprietary should be a very exciting and dynamic arena. The opportunity for value-added needs to continually challenge status quo, this is essential for innovation, whether that comes from the open source community, the business community or academia. When this opportunity is diminished, we become 'yoked' to essentially one solution, without stimulating the market of innovation.

At the very least we can all agree on open standards for information exchange, this is essential, and is the life-blood of our ability to communicate with each other. Just ask OGC! Yet LAS vs LAZ is a good example of the 'open yet not open' issue. So the dialogue is necessarily complex, with 'open' having several degrees of freedom. 

The world is desperate for innovation today! We have changing weather patterns that are leading to low-level conflict and worse, followed by subsequent mass migrations. We cannot afford for poorer students, cities or nations to be left behind. 

Recall that just 150,000 or so years ago 'we' migrated out of the Olduvai Gorge. We are all children of migrants. We have so much to learn about ourselves and such joy to experience in beautifully indulging each other with music, dance, love, art and fantastic software solutions, with innovation being 'openly' challenged on every front! 

My favorite quote, aside from one by Eleanor Roosevelt about the future belonging to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, is one from the PBS website "There's more genetic diversity within a group of chimps on a single hillside in Gomba than in the entire human species." 
http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-01-11.htm

We have everything to gain in openly sharing, and everything to lose if we don't.
-Patrick