# Sean Cross

> software developer and researcher

**Wikidata**: [Q112074941](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112074941)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sean-cross

## Summary
Sean Cross is a software developer and researcher known for his work in open-source computing hardware. He is the co-creator of the Novena open-source computing hardware project and is recognized online by the alias "xobs." Cross is based in Singapore and has contributed to both software development and hardware research.

## Biography
- Born: Not publicly available
- Nationality: Not publicly available
- Education: Not publicly available
- Known for: Co-creating the Novena open-source computing hardware project
- Employer(s): Not publicly available
- Field(s): Software development, hardware research, open-source computing

## Contributions
Sean Cross is best known as the co-creator of Novena, an open-source computing hardware project designed alongside Andrew Huang. Novena was developed as a fully open-source laptop that allowed users to modify both hardware and software, representing a significant contribution to the open-source hardware movement. The project gained attention for its transparency and hackability, appealing to developers, researchers, and hardware enthusiasts who wanted full control over their computing platforms. Cross's work on Novena demonstrated the feasibility of creating high-quality, open-source hardware alternatives to proprietary systems, influencing subsequent open-source hardware initiatives.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Sean Cross known for?
A: Sean Cross is known for co-creating the Novena open-source computing hardware project with Andrew Huang, which was designed as a fully open-source and hackable laptop.

### Q: What is the Novena project?
A: Novena is an open-source computing hardware project that Sean Cross co-created, designed as a laptop where users can modify both hardware and software components.

### Q: Where is Sean Cross based?
A: Sean Cross is based in Singapore, according to his Crunchbase and GitHub profiles.

## Why They Matter
Sean Cross matters because his work on Novena helped demonstrate that high-quality, open-source hardware could be both practical and commercially viable. By co-creating a fully open-source laptop, Cross challenged the conventional wisdom that hardware must remain proprietary to be successful. His contributions have influenced the open-source hardware community by showing that transparency and user control can coexist with sophisticated computing devices. The Novena project has inspired other open-source hardware initiatives and continues to serve as a reference point for discussions about hardware freedom and user rights in computing.

## Notable For
- Co-creating the Novena open-source computing hardware project
- Being known online by the alias "xobs"
- Contributing to open-source software and hardware communities
- Maintaining an active presence on GitHub under the username "xobs"
- Being recognized as a software developer and researcher on Crunchbase

## Body
### Open-Source Hardware Contributions
Sean Cross's most significant contribution is the Novena project, which he co-created with Andrew Huang. This open-source computing hardware initiative was designed to be completely transparent, allowing users to modify both hardware and software components. The project represented a departure from traditional proprietary computing devices and demonstrated the viability of open-source hardware at a sophisticated level.

### Online Presence and Identity
Cross is known online by the alias "xobs," which he uses across multiple platforms including Twitter (where he has been active since October 2007) and GitHub. His website, xobs.io, serves as a hub for his projects and contributions to the open-source community.

### Geographic and Professional Context
Based in Singapore, Cross operates within a global context of software development and hardware research. His work bridges the gap between software development and hardware engineering, contributing to both fields through his open-source initiatives and research activities.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/sean-cross-2)
2. [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/sean-cross-2)
3. [GitHub](https://github.com/xobs)