We've started using Google Sketchup to share designs of our Worldbike technologies. For the first example of this please check out the Big Boda plans. Sketchup was aquired by Google in the Spring of '06 and released a free version shortly thereafter. When compared to other 3d packages, it is much easier to learn. However, it's not quite as 'engineering-ready' as other software packages like Solidworks. Nevertheless, the fact that it's free is a big plus, as it means our partners in Kenya could feasibly collaborate with us directly, keeping the designs current. I should point out that when I tried to teach our Kenyan employees how to email us, I discovered they had never used a computer. They typed v e r y s l o w l y. Our shop manager Moses had poor eyesight in addition to never using a keyboard before. They are metalworkers, not office workers.

However, it isn't hard to find university-educated people who are ready to help at very reasonable wages. Sketchup might be a little advanced for this type of direct collaboration right now, but it's not hard to export JPGs with dimensions, which anybody can follow.

We use the pay version of Sketchup, which costs $500, but the free version is nearly as good and works fine for printing plans.