Instant Kafé is an Open Source Initiative. This refers to Open Source principles of community-building for the sharing of skills and knowledge, and public awareness of the importance of non-proprietary forms. All aspects of production in Instant Kafé are referred to in this way, including the planning and design of physical artifacts/technologies collectively referred to as Open Source Hardware (OSHW) and offered in the same manner as Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
Instant Kafé is Free as in Free Speech (not as in Free Coffee)
Taking the cue from FOSS, Instant Kafé aims to grant anyone the freedom to run, copy, share, change and improve Instant Kafé. This is understood in a similar way to Richard Stallman’s explanation of “Free software” as a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer”. Instant Kafé’s suggestion is that “Free Coffee” should be conceived and consumed in a similar manner, to support free (or relatively unregulated) conversation not free coffee as such.
As far as is possible to apply to Instant Kafé (given the restrictive notions of ownership), Instant Kafé is release under Creative Commons Navngivelse-IkkeKommerciel–DelPåSammeVilkår 2.5 Generisk (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5)
Add Coffee and…
Instant Kafé connects people in real-time and face-to-face. Using open formats, Instant Kafé can be mixed the way you want it. Experience Instant Kafé through the professionally hosted mobile talk show, Talkaoke; though the easy-to-set-up open wireless network unCloud; or through the sensors and visualizations of DUL Radio. Then just add to brand.
Talkaoke is a mobile talk show where everyone can join in. A professional, trained talk-show host is in the center of a donought-shaped table, and people are encouraged to join the conversation, and bring their own agendas to the table. Everything is recorded and transmitted in a live, public media spectacle. Talkaoke was originally developed by the Instant Kafé partner The People Speak in London. See it in action and see how to build a Talkaoke.
unCloud lets you control the cloud. It is a plug-and-play application that enables anyone with a laptop to create an open wireless network and distribute their own information. Users in a public space such as a café can access information wirelessly through the browser of their smart phone, tablet or laptop while at the same time remain disconnected from the internet. unCloud was originally developed by the Instant Kafé partner INTK in Rotterdam. See how to use unCloud.
DUL Radio is a sensor system as tiny as a pair of matches. DUL Radio is an easy-to-use interaction toolkit. It can measure sound, visuals, temperature, movement and much more. All data is transmitted via radio frequencies for you to play with. With the information DUL Radio provides you can gather statistics, create images, video, sound, or anything a creative mind can think of. DUL Radio was originally developed by the Instant Kafé partner Digital Urban Living at CAVI, Aarhus University in Denmark. See how to use DUL Radio.