Chuck Harrison

WHO are you?
Chuck Harrison Seattle, WA, USA cfharr (at) gmail


 * Picture
 * Introductory Video
 * Resume/CV
 * here

WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?
I think open source culture covers quite a range. I support the expansive spirit of cooperation as healthy for the minds of the participants. I have observed with interest the philosophy and effect of the GPL/FSF in software and speculate on how that sort of structure translates to the hardware open source world.
 * Do you endorse open source culture?

I am intrigued by both the social and technical challenges.
 * Why are you interested in collaborating with us?

OSE/GVCS exemplifies the Ghandian "be the change you want to see." Empowering the "maker" capacities of people is worthwhile, at least as much for the improved life attitudes as for the specific objects created. I consider the ultimate macroeconomic effect to be uncertain but it has positive potential.
 * How do you think that the GVCS can address pressing world issues?


 * What should happen so that you become more involved with the project?


 * What is missing in the project?

As a designer, I don't see clear guidance on some important types of decisions. For example
 * We envision a village-scale community being pretty self-sufficient, but we must depend on some imports (e.g. integrated circuits, steel tubing). If "foreign content" improves performance, how much of it is acceptable?
 * What type of lifetime and user maintenance/diagnostic/repair capacity do we design for?

The product development tradition I am familiar with involves comparative measurements of performance under controlled conditions. It is hard to ensure comparable controlled conditions in a distributed development model and it will be hugely rewarding "meta-task" to discover how to drive the distributed iterative design process towards steady improvement of a "trunk" design rather than simply growing more and more "branches". This is going to be even harder in the hardware world than in the software world!

I think that documentation is a huge challenge, especially getting documentation fed back into the open source community from distributed "villagers" who have just made an improvement but are short on time, skills, or motivation to document it well.


 * What are your suggestions for improvement of the project?

WHAT are your skills?
I am a career electronics design engineer with broad exposure to electromechanical, optical, hydraulic, computer, and other technologies. Reasonable computer programming skills. Some CAD and manual machine shop experience.
 * List all of your skills in these areas: Communications - Organizational - Computer Support - Finances - Design - Natural Building - Electronics - Automation - Metallurgy - Engineering - Fabrication - Agriculture - Energy - Architecture - Video/Graphics/Art - PR/Marketing - Education - Construction - Industry - CNC - Chemistry - Product Design - Other


 * How have you already contributed to the project?

HOW can you help?

 * How are you interested in contributing to the work of GVCS development?
 * 1) volunteer labor (unskilled or skilled) at factor e farm in Sept 2011, to get a clearer view of the project and community. I live in Seattle but am visiting relatives nearby.
 * 2) most likely, "distance" design review via computer and/or conference call


 * Can you volunteer to work with us, and if so, how many hours per week?


 * Are you interested in working with us for pay? If so, what services can you offer, and what is your hourly or per-project rate?

Not at this time.
 * ''Are you interested in a Dedicated Project Visit?


 * Are you interested in purchasing equipment from us to help bootstrap development?


 * Are you interested in bidding for consulting/design/prototyping work?

no.
 * Are you a True Fan? If not, why not?


 * Would you like to see yourself working with us on a full-time basis?

I am intrigued but would need to have a much clearer idea of what this is.
 * Are you interested in being part of the world's first, open source, resilient community? The GVCS is the preparatory step for the OSE Village Experiment – a 2 year, immersion experiment (2013-2014) for testing whether a real, thriving, modern-day prototype community of 200 people can be built on 200 acres using local resources and open access to information? We are looking for approximately 200 people to fill a diverse array of roles, according to the Social Contract that is being developed. This may be the boldest social experiment on earth - a pioneering community whose goal is to extend the index of possibilities regarding harmonious existence of humans, ecology, and technology.