Harnessing the Benefits of Open Electronics in Science

2021/06/30 by Michael Oellermann, Jolle W. Jolles, Jolle W Jolles +7 · 62 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Computer Science · Decision Sciences · Engineering · #Citizen science #Computer science #Computer security #Data Stream Mining Techniques #Data science #Documentation #Electrical engineering #Electronics #Engineering #Engineering management #Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation #Knowledge management #Open innovation #Open science #Openness to experience #Personalization #Political science #Public engagement #Public relations #Quality (philosophy) #Scalability #Scientific Computing and Data Management #Transparency (behavior) #World Wide Web #q-bio.QM

paper · pdf · open access · doi:10.1093/icb/icac043

published in Integrative and Comparative Biology 62(4), 1061-1075 (Oxford University Press) · 20 pages, 3 figure, 2 tables

arxiv created 2021/06/30 · openalex publication_date 2022/05/20 · arxiv updated 2022/07/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

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.

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