Cape Town-based innovator Evan Robinson claims he has developed the world’s first open source, do-it-yourself (DIY) smartphone that anyone can build from off-the-shelf components.
Robinson says he came up with the idea after getting frustrated by the limitations and lack of privacy provided by consumer smartphones.
“I wanted people to have more control and optionality over their most personal smart devices, so I built an Open source, Upgradeable, Repairable Smartphone that is completely big tech free. It’s not theirs – it’s OURS,” he says.
It may not be that compact yet, but he is looking to collaborate on the Github project around ideas. Like any open-source phone (on the software side) it may face challenges by banks, for example, which test for rooted devices for security authentication, but hopefully ideas can also help solve that challenge. And yes, most people may not be able to build it themselves, but the recipe could be used by those who can and can sell the completed device.