this post was submitted on 13 Oct 2023
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This is a complete reimagining of the Open Book Project, but the original mission remains:

As a society, we need an open source device for reading. Books are among the most important documents of our culture, yet the most popular and widespread devices we have for reading are closed objects, operating as small moving parts in a set of giant closed platforms whose owners' interests are not always aligned with readers'.

The Open Book aims to be a simple device that anyone can build for themselves. The Open Book should be comprehensible: the reader should be able to look at it and understand, at least in broad strokes, how it works. It should be extensible, so that a reader with different needs can write code and add accessories that make the book work for them. It should be global, supporting readers of books in all the languages of the world. Most of all, it should be open, so that anyone can take this design as a starting point and use it to build a better book.

Check out the promo video as well:
https://youtu.be/vFD9V8Hh7Yg

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[–] [email protected] 146 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

When they say build it yourself, they mean it:

  • 3D print case
  • Solder PCB
  • Compile your own firmware

For those interested, base price to build this might start at $85 based on one estimate linked from the resource.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

You don’t need the know-how compile the firmware! It’s available to drag and drop from GitHub: https://github.com/nvts8a/libros

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

DIY is like that. If you look up how to make a birdhouse they will tell you you need a saw, a hammer, nails, drill, paintbrush and something to measure with. Having a 3d printer and a soldering iron nowadays is pretty low entry, you can get into it cheaper that buying the saw, hammer and drill for the birdhouse. You don't have to buy the bambulab printer and the weller / hakko iron. You can print this case on an ender 3 you found in the dumpster. Or pay 10 bucks for someone and they will print it for you. On the other hand you will have a device you can infinitely repair unlike the kindles that are kicking the dust every few year for everyone.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

A friend of mine was showing me around a maker space when I was on a trip to where he now lives. They had an entire room full of various 3D printer. They've really gone mainstream in a big way. Getting a hold of one isn't out of the question for a lot of people.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Idk why everyone is even insisting on a 3d printed case, just cut a square hole in a cigar box. Done.

Shit, get a thick book nobody reads and cut the middle of the book out and house a screen inside the 📖 book, glue the pages on the outside together with some modge podge. Done for the price of a cheap novel with a hardcover and some glue and a knife if you don't have one.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

My local library offers a 3d printing service.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Heck, the Microcenter 15 minutes away from me has like a dozen different models to choose from nowadays

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

Is that $85 for all parts?

Calculate the extra cost if someone doesn't own a 3D printer (or doesn't have access to one) or soldering gear.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Right! I believe that assumes you already have necessary tools, and it certainly can't take into account the cost of your time or the cost of mistakes along the way.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It's a fair call from a practical point of view. But I'll also say you're very likely to keep using your 3d printer for all other things, so not fair to put all costs into this one project.

Besides there alternatives to buying the printer: friends and print shops. Besides where I live a few libraries let you use their printers (and I believe materials) at no cost.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I guess the E-Ink is 5"/6"? Because larger E-Ink get expensive.

Btw, E-Ink is the fallacy in openness there, because there's a monopolist who bought possible competition up.