Open Source Ecology

As I read the chapters of Burke, I started to think about if it's possible to do open source projects "in real life" (not related to computers or software products). Is it possible to make an open source project for hardware, farmer tools or machines? Or doesn’t an open source project work when you have to add expensive material?

After some searching on Google I found this page:

http://opensourceecology.org/

It’s an open source project with DIY-fabricated industrial machines can be used to build a sustainable civilization with modern comforts. A network of farmers, engineers, and supporters are the contributors of the project and they say that they are “lowers the barriers to entry into farming, building, and manufacturing”. The project aims to help poor countries and create a sustainable development.

Inside Google's Android and Apple's iPhone OS as business models

We will see sooner or later a big match between Google's Android and Apple's iPhone OS in smart phone platforms. This two platforms are following different business models: Google's Android is free and open-sourced, and Apple's iPhone OS is proprietary and exclusive right-based.
This interesting article is talking about the different business models of Android and iPhone OS, and mostly focused on estimated problems of the open source software, Google's Android. (You would expect this if you saw the website address. It's from appleinsider...) However, I want to believe the power of global collaboration in Open Source Software. What do you think?

The article: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/10/inside_googles_android_and_apples_iphone_os_as_business_models.html