2020 Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Community Survey

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2020 Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Community Survey [Copy link]

From: https://www.oshwa.org/2020/10/16/oshw-c ... rvey-2020/

In 2020, we conducted our third OSHW Community Survey (see 2012 and 2013 ), collecting 441 responses. All questions are optional, so you may notice that the response count does not always add up to 441. In particular, many people were dissatisfied with the demographic questions. We ask these questions as part of our effort to promote diversity in our community, but these questions are also optional and anonymous. There are a few key points about this year's survey compared to the 2013 survey:

• The proportion of people switching from open source software to open source hardware increased from 14.6% to 23.9%
• In 2013, 42.8% of respondents said they had worked on or contributed to an open hardware project. By 2020, that number had jumped to 85.6%.
• While 2013 saw a large number of people using blogs to publish design files, this year’s survey shows that public repositories are the most popular choice. The increase in people with open source software experience and improved repository collaboration offerings are likely contributing factors.
• This year’s survey showed a significant increase in attendees for the 2020 Open Hardware Summit. This could be due to 2020 being the first virtual summit. Although it was moved online due to unfortunate circumstances, the virtual platform has the advantage of greatly expanding the audience reach.
• Small progress was seen in the community's gender diversity, with people identifying as female or other accounting for 18% of respondents, compared to 7% in 2013.

How did you first get involved in open source hardware?

Have you ever used open source hardware products?

How do you use open source hardware products?

For open source hardware products that you use, how important is each of the following criteria in your decision to use and open source hardware product?

For situations where you want to use an open source hardware product and currently use a proprietary product, how important is each of the following factors in preventing you from using the open source product? Have

you ever used someone else's open source hardware design

Have you ever worked on or contributed to an open source hardware project or design?

In what year did you start working on or designing or contributing to open source hardware projects?

On average, how many hours per week do you spend working on or contributing to open source hardware projects or designs?

Why do you work on or contribute to hardware projects and/or designs?

For a hardware project or design that you decided to open source, how important was each of the following criteria in your decision?

Have you ever?


Tell us more about how you publish and document open source hardware.

Which license did you use to publish the hardware files?

Do you use the Open Gear logo on your hardware?

If you use the Open Gear logo on your hardware, why do you use it?

Are you aware of the OSHWA Open Source Hardware Certification Program?

Have you ever used the open source hardware certification program?

Why do you use the Open Source Hardware Certification Program?

Why don't you use the open source hardware certification program?

Does any of your revenue come from open source hardware?

What percentage of your income comes from your work on open source hardware?

In 2019, what was your total personal income from working on open source hardware?

Does your open source hardware-related revenue come from…

Did you attend the Open Hardware Summit in…?

Demographic Questions Regarding your hardware work, do you consider yourself to be…

Are you a member of a hackerspace/makerspace?

Age?


Gender:


Do you consider yourself to be:

What is your highest level of education or degree you have completed?


What is your primary work status?

The open hardware community is made up of many innovative people from many different backgrounds. What areas of experience would you consider?