The ethical dimensions of Raspbery Pi: Why it should matter.

I'm on the bandwagon of folks who ordered a Raspberry Pi. Initially, I was attracted to the idea of a versatile low-cost computer that would be obtainable to most anyone who had a desire to work with computers. In the late seventies, I had friends who were bread-boarding there own Z-80 based computers, and the 'Pi' comes closest to the spirit of that endeavor. None of us had much money-- but we could obtain the components necessary to build such a modest system. It wasn't useful for anyone else in particular, but it was fun.

The world has changed a lot since then. Instantaneous communication has become the norm-- hand held computers in the form of cell phone are commonplace. We take for granted the ability to text or call someone from wherever we are. But it requires resources, and usually a long term contract with a cellular provider to be able to do so. The ability to communicate, and with it the ability to develop relational capitol, has become a necessity for empowerment. De-centralized  communication, as we witnessed in the Arab spring, is essential for change which serves the common good.

The 'RPi' is an easily affordable communication tool which makes accessible the language of machines, and with it the ability for children and adults of modest means to participate in the liberation, quality, and hopefulness which come whenever we move closer to all people having a place of the table-- the realm of open community.

I've watched from a distance the amazing development of open source software. Through an communal evolutionary process it has been transformed from a tool for geeks to a system for everyday users. It is remarkable. As affordable hardware moving in the direction of being open source, I believe the 'RPi" creates new possibility for pushing the boundaries of open source community. If we understand God to be 'open source' in that God is in relationship to all creation. Perhaps the creation of egalitarian communication capabilities moves us closer to this open source.

This seems like a tall order for such a small device. It can not be the ultimate manifestation of an emerging community ethos. But it can point to and participate in an ultimacy which is beyond itself: a community of belonging and participation where everyone is invited.