# The Hard Work Hypothesis

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2010-12-22
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 22
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis/

## Summary

Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the 'Hard Work Hypothesis,' arguing that publicly exposing component failures via YouTube videos creates a competitive advantage by forcing companies like DigiKey and Maxim to respond faster and more thoroughly than they would to private complaints. They detail instances where public scrutiny led to high-level engagement and product improvements, contrasting this with the lack of response to private issues. The conversation extends to the state of open-source hardware, the economics of engineering education, and the philosophy of work-life balance in the electronics industry.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis#t=7) Introduction and Moon Discussion
- [3:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis#t=197) Dodgy Components from DigiKey and Maxim
- [15:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis#t=923) The Competitive Advantage of Public Exposure
- [29:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis#t=1748) Open Source Hardware and Mass Production
- [37:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis#t=2235) Low-Power FM and Near-Field Communications
- [43:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis#t=2634) Corporate Ethics and Executive Compensation
- [51:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis#t=3066) The Economics of PhDs and Hard Work

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- DigiKey (company)
- Maxim (company)
- Burns (company)
- X-Tech (company)
- National Public Radio (company)
- Liquidware (company)
- BeagleBoard (product)
- Arduino (product)
- SparkFun (company)
- Artifruit (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 9](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-08-12-the-spark-gap-episode-9) (The Spark Gap)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-11-11-the-spark-gap-episode-43) (The Spark Gap)
- [Episode 099: Out of your control.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-12-02-episode-099-out-of-your-control) (Making It)
- [408: If You Build It… Some people might come.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-08-18-408-if-you-build-it-some-people-might-come) (Making It)
- [111: With Great Power](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2024-05-01-111-with-great-power) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-22-the-hard-work-hypothesis. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.