Do you know Buglabs? Because I can't wait to see their BUG!! To quote the site: "BUG is a collection of easy-to-use, open source hardware modules, each capable of producing one or more Web services. These modules snap together physically and the services connect together logically to enable users to easily build, program and share innovative devices and applications.". The first modules they'll release are the GPS, videocam, touch sensitive LCD screen and accelerometer/motion sensor. The SDK is based on Eclipse and will be freely available. It aims to be an entirely opensource project (like the Chumby which is based on a linux stack and freely distributes the electronic schematics): "We are using Linux 2.6.19. In addition, the hardware schematics, BOMs and so forth will be made freely available to encourage users in forums and so on to hack, extend and enhance it (from #165 LinuxJournal)."
I'll hope they'll succeed. Currently nothing is actually available but it seems they made some demos in SF and NY. Opensource hardware is a huge thing though not so novel. Remember the beginning of Apple and the Homebrew Computer Club. Back to the source! Back to the garage! :)
