commit 2fc4419802ed29c7ab076cfd0503ec3bdaebbfd3
parent 0b5ca4836ec32b374776dad33cbdb06f6aad83a2
Author: viznut_web <viznut_web@web>
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2022 12:51:05 +0200
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-**Permacomputing** is a holistic approach to [[computing]] and [[sustainability]] inspired from [[permaculture]]. For introductory material, refer to the following [[WWW]] documents:
+**Permacomputing** is a radically sustainable approach to computing inspired by [[permaculture]]. The term was originally coined and described by [[Viznut]] in July 2020.
+
+Permacomputing asks the question whether we can rethink computing in the same way as permaculture rethinks agriculture. Is there even place for high technology (such as computing) in a world where human civilizations contribute to the well-being of the biosphere rather than destroy it? Permacomputing wants to imagine such a place and take steps towards it. It is therefore both utopian and practical.
+
+"Perma" refers to permanence. A technology that depends on a wasteful use of finite resources can hardly be permanent. This is why a radical reduction of that wastefulness is a major concern to us: maximize the hardware lifespans, minimize the energy use. And this is not just about a set of technical problems to be fixed – the attitudes also need a radical turn. Small is beautiful, understandability is beautiful, "virtual" is not immaterial, online time should be used wisely, not everything needs to be constantly available, doing things with less is not "returning to the past".
+
+As for now, permacomputing is more like a set of interrelated ideas and practices than a coherent system of thought. Different people have different views to it. Also, many people have independently come up with similar ideas, so there's a lot of overlap between permacomputing and other concepts such as:
+
+* [[Frugal computing]]
+* [[Degrowth computing]]
+* [[Computing within Limits]]
+* [[Salvage computing]]
+* [[Collapse computing]]
+
+It is perhaps more fruitful to think about all these ideas as different viewpoints to the same thing rather than independent "movements" whose borders need to be unambiguously defined. Also, even when there are major differences, similar ideals and practices can often be applied: minimization of resource use, extending hardware lifespans and upcycling of waste are just as relevant to collapse scenarios as to [[Solarpunk]] utopias.
+
+Ideas and movements that have some similarities but are not as closely related:
+
+* [[Sustainable ICT]]
+* [[Permaprogramming]]
+* [[Rustic computing]]
+* [[Appropriate technology]]
+
+## External resources
+
+Many people have written general articles about permacomputing:
* [Viznut's initial text from July 2020](http://viznut.fi/files/texts-en/permacomputing.html)
* [2021 update including information about related movements](http://viznut.fi/files/texts-en/permacomputing_update_2021.html)
* [Introduction at Devine Lu Linvega's XXIIVV Wiki](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/permacomputing.html)
* [Introduction at Sejo's Compudanzas.net](https://compudanzas.net/permacomputing.html)
+* [A medium.com blogpost by Robert Engels](https://medium.com/data-ai-masters/redefining-our-needs-permacomputing-and-vernacular-computing-ba703bb0f1d9)
+
+Texts about similar ideas:
+
+* [Frugal computing (Wim Vanderbauwhede)](https://wimvanderbauwhede.github.io/articles/frugal-computing/)
+* [Degrowth computing (Neil Selwyn)](https://criticaledtech.com/2022/04/08/what-might-degrowth-computing-look-like/)
