Harnessing the Benefits of Open Electronics in Science

TL;DR

Open electronics, which are low-cost and openly shared electronic tools, have the potential to significantly enhance scientific research by increasing accessibility, customization, and collaboration across various scientific disciplines.

Contribution

This paper reviews the benefits of open electronics in science and provides guidance for academics to adopt and leverage this emerging field.

Findings

Open electronics improve experiment customization and data quality.

They enhance access to high-end technologies and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

They promote transparency, reproducibility, and democratization in scientific research.

Abstract

Freely and openly shared low-cost electronic applications, known as open electronics, have sparked a new open-source movement, with much un-tapped potential to advance scientific research. Initially designed to appeal to electronic hobbyists, open electronics have formed a global community of "makers" and inventors and are increasingly used in science and industry. Here, we review the current benefits of open electronics for scientific research and guide academics to enter this emerging field. We discuss how electronic applications, from the experimental to the theoretical sciences, can help (I) individual researchers by increasing the customization, efficiency, and scalability of experiments, while improving data quantity and quality; (II) scientific institutions by improving access and maintenance of high-end technologies, visibility and interdisciplinary collaboration potential; and (III) the scientific community by improving transparency and reproducibility, helping decouple research capacity from funding, increasing innovation, and improving collaboration potential among researchers and the public. Open electronics are powerful tools to increase creativity, democratization, and reproducibility of research and thus offer practical solutions to overcome significant barriers in science.