Innovation is rapidly becoming democratized. Users, aided by improvements in computer and communications technology, increasingly can develop their own new products and services. These innovating users—both individuals and firms—often freely share their innovations with others, creating user-innovation communities and a rich intellectual commons. In Democratizing Innovation , Eric von Hippel looks closely at this emerging system of user-centered innovation. He explains why and when users find it profitable to develop new products and services for themselves, and why it often pays users to reveal their innovations freely for the use of all. The trend toward democratized innovation can be seen in software and information products—most notably in the free and open-source software movement—but also in physical products.

创新正在迅速走向民主化。在计算机和通信技术进步的帮助下，用户越来越能够开发自己的新产品和服务。这些创新用户——无论是个人还是公司——经常与他人自由分享他们的创新成果，创建用户创新社区和丰富的知识共享空间。在《创新民主化》一书中，埃里克·冯·希佩尔（Eric von Hippel）密切关注这一新兴的以用户为中心的创新体系。他解释了为什么以及何时用户发现为自己开发新产品和服务是有利可图的，以及为什么它经常付钱给用户，让用户免费展示他们的创新成果供所有人使用。民主化创新的趋势可以在软件和信息产品中看到，最明显的是在自由和开源软件运动中，但也可以在物理产品中看到。