The Open Publishing Lab is a cross-disciplinary center dedicated to researching and developing innovative, open source applications for publishing across various media.

A Publishing Sea Change

The printing and publishing industries are in a profound state of flux. In the past, research and development in publishing focused on workflow improvement. Since Gutenburg we have worked to produce “Bibles” faster and at a lower cost. Now disruptive publishing technologies are turning this model on its ear.

Across the world, more people are authoring content than ever before thanks to web 2.0 applications and integrated media devices. Meanwhile, the capabilities of digital presses are enabling new products and business models. Companies are discovering that their survival depends on refocusing on product innovation rather than technology upgrades and they are attempting to make this radical transition during difficult economic times.

A Uniquely RIT Solution

The Open Publishing Lab (OPL) at the Rochester Institute of Technology is a unique, cross campus effort to assist in this transformation. Based in RIT’s School of Print Media, the OPL has created a space where a diverse team of faculty and students from across the campus collaborate in creating next generation publishing platforms. At the OPL, Software Engineers work along side Industrial Designers, and Information Technology students collaborate with professors from Print Media. The results of these interactions are things like printable wiki’s, self-publishing guides, and a platform for instantly publishing web and print newspapers.

Leveraging the wide range of programs at RIT, the OPL is able to bring a unique, cross-disciplinary approach to solving real world problems. As solutions are developed, they are released, free of charge, to the greater community though our website and via our partners. Our goal is to become the “incoming tide” that allows all boats to rise. In doing so, we seek to meet a commitment to both industry and community service; empowering business and citizens alike to publish in new ways.

Our Three Goals (The Three "E's")

• Extend existing publishing platforms
• Enable new publishing products and business models
• Empower individuals and communities to easily tell their stories as never before