Open source is different from commercial production, as open source can be used freely and software can be edited by anyone. It allows for community involvement as it is open for everyone to access, improve and change. Open source software includes programs such as Open Office, Firefox and Linux which are available to everyone on the internet. Users can contribute to this type of programs using source codes, instructions written in programming language which tell the computer how to operate. This type of user collaboration benefits people who use the software as well as people whom create the software. The ability to have multiple users working on the same software provides a variety of ideas, faster development and faster turn around time.
In contrast commercial production consists of programs such as Microsoft Office, MacOS and Internet Explorer. These programs have to be brought and cannot be edited and copied unlike open source programs. The companies that produce these products pay people to create this software which cannot be edited by individuals, making this software closed. If flaws occur within these commercial products then they may not be able to be fixed immediately, unlike open source where users are continuously creating content and as a result can fix errors as they occur.
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I agree with the definitions in your post. Bruns (2008) claims community produsage is a concept designed to share resources and actively contribute to the language of codes in order to build stronger open sources of software (such as firefox). Raymond (in Muir, 2008) argues that within community produsage, "anyone can contribute, share and reuse code... Bazaar Style." Community produsage embraces the use of free tools and labour to create a greater source of freedom and democratic power.
However, commercial content production using open source software goes beyond definition. Proprietory sources (such as microsoft) have recognised the great potential that programming language has in the transformation of economic value within society. The shift from industrial economies to knowledge based economies and networks of information has seen programming and coding become an extremely valuable commodity. "Commercialisation has transformed code into a highly valuable commodity that must be guarded" (Muir 2008). Proprietory software now has control of its users and the ways in which they operate in everyday life.
Code as a commodity shapes the capacity and efficiency of how users perform tasks in the real world. Users of microsoft office in a work environment have to adhere to the strict windows functions or limitations which may potentially impact the output efficiency of the user and their work. In contrast to an open source of community based collaboration and co-creation which is continually updated and succeeded efficiently to produce a 'better' final product.
I can definately identify with the values of community based produsage. However, I still think that the weight of our using decisions rely heavily on the decisions of big companies and their fight for the 'big bucks' in an evolving global market.
References:
Bruns, A. 2007. Produsage: Towards a Broader Framework for User-Led Content Creation." http://produsage.org/files/Produsage(CreativityandCognition2007).pdf (accessed April 17, 2008).
Muir, A. 2008. Week 9 Lecture: Open Source Software. Queensland University of Technology, KCB201. http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp? tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_29175_1 (accessed May 8, 2008).
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