Reading up on open source hardwares, and the rise of makers movement. The 70s and 80s era were the rise of hacker culture and the punk movement, moving away from mainstream ideologies.

While they were different subcultures, they shared common values of DIY ethos, anti-establishment sentiments, and a desire for autonomy and self-expression. Both movements encouraged experimentation, creativity, and questioning of authority and played a heavy role in promoting innovations.

If you were to rewind to the 50s era post WW2, inventors had to patent their creations and license them to manufacturers as setting up their own manufacturing was too expensive. As a result, inventors typically didn't establish businesses around their inventions but earned royalties through licensing agreements instead.

One of the best examples of the 70’s open source era where inventions rose is the Apple story as told by Steve Wozniak in the book ‘Founders at Work’ by Jessica Livingston.

During his highschool days, he badly wanted a computer but apparently computers at that time were as expensive as a house? So his dad said no.

He couldn't afford to build it on his own either so he would read up journals and manuals and design them on paper (and redesign on paper to optimize and simplify it)

He had some hobbyist gigs and eventually worked with HP in designing calculators. When he first popped into the Homebrew Computer Club which was a precursor to the open source hardware club he came across microprocessors and it triggered his desire to build computers all over again.

He couldn't afford the Intel one which was $400 so he got the cheapest from Motorola for $20, connected to his TV as a monitor. His most expensive gadget was his keyboard for $60.

He would bring his schematics and share them at the computer club and tell people they can make their own computers really cheap - but the club had more SW than HW folks and didn't pick up.

He tried to sell it to HP twice but they said no, and even gave a letter to emphasize that no.

Eventually Steve Jobs found orders for it - 150 orders, small but enough for magazines to pick it up and make comparisons. The name Apple stood out and the rest was history.

Fast forward to today the internet democratized access to tools for invention and production - raspberry pi, arduino, CAD models, 3D printer, fab labs, rapid prototyping, makers faire, hackathons.

The world is still figuring out the balance of makers but I think there is def more opportunities to rise in today’s world compared to what it was