as far as the manufacturing world goes. I think there are going to be some new standards. first and foremost standard I expect to come about is the drawings.
The software being used today to develop parts on CAD and other formats won't require language such as english to describe the part. I'm certain the future drawings will be completely universal. and standard. There will be something like a post processor for the language you wish to view it in. the post would translate things such as material, hardness, processes and the geometry of the part.
secondly G and M code. This is fastly becoming a language its own. frequently I find myself literally speaking it to my toolmakers.
a mix of english and code to convey a message about the part. you should see my wifes expression when she hears it?????
G code will evolve to be a standard and if you don't know it, you lose. your not going to accomplish much of anything in the toolroom the manual machine is dead.
Like latin is used for medical terminoogy a style of code will be used for the parts to be described in. And it will stick too because the world seems to realy want to work together on this.
So finally after there is a standard "language" for the parts to be described in and all who need it or want it are fluent in it. Then is about the time open source hardware will finally take hold because it would need the standards set in place to do so. open sourcing hardware is seriously handicapped untill everyone is on the same page about manufacturing, and for now they aren't even close.
And just like what happened with medical knolledge when Latin was introduced as a common denominator so too will happen with open sourcing hardware, but only when you can produce a file on the hardware that nearly anyone can interpret with no help or assistance.
