@320x200 @eli_oat It's true that I cannot find the...

@320x200 @eli_oat It's true that I cannot find the pmc concept of self-obviation(which is what is being talked in the OP) anywhere on the wiki, that could be added somewhere in principles as it's something people often do not infer from the rest of the principles? 🌻

http://postgrowth.art/self-obviating-systems-En.html

Articulating the Value of Absence

There are attempts at drawing a line at the edge of one's computing needs, advised by the concepts of permacomputing, and personalized systems to address those needs, but there are no permacomputing products. Permacomputing is concerned about finding these limits, and not their artifacts.
Flower drawn with simple geometric shapes.

Computation is intrinsically self-obviating, which is to mean that the computational system, by design, tries to make itself less and less necessary to the realization of its purpose, and gradually allow people to provide for their own welfare.

Like 28 August at 17:16 | Wall-to-wall | Open on merveilles.town

3 comments

Kartik Agaram

@neauoire There's a powerful difference between articulating constraint and tendency.

Constraint: "Use computation only when it has a strengthening effect on the ecosystem." This can seem overwhelming, because we're talking about intrinsically non-linear systems where consequences are hard to predict.

Tendency: "Try to make yourself less and less necessary to the functioning of the ecosystem." Oh cool, now I know which way is up!

@320x200 @eli_oat

28 August at 17:32 | Open on merveilles.town

ultrageranium

@neauoire @eli_oat yes it's only very very very anecdotally present in https://permacomputing.net/getting_started/

"Approach computer use and acquisition with longevity in mind, considering things like whether you need to buy new hardware, or could you repurpose an old computer or device instead? Does it need to use a computer at all?"

But you need to know the context to read between the lines. I think we can do better :)

I agree that this aspect needs to be in the design principles. More generally, I think the current principles could do with a thorough revision and update. I think we are in a good place now to rethink a few things.

@neauoire @eli_oat yes it's only very very very anecdotally present in https://permacomputing.net/getting_started/

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28 August at 17:42 | Open on post.lurk.org

Alexander Cobleigh

@neauoire @320x200 @eli_oat chiming in to share that "what is permacomputing?" has been on my mind for the past months, despite reading both pmc.net and xxiivv wiki; for me it has predominantly been "a vibe"

i wonder if in the future there will be a well-defined category twinning with pmc, e.g. consider agroecology: the well-defined study of agriculture within ecological bounds and logics. compare it to permaculture's lack of clear boundaries & definitions, at least wrt academic usage afaiu :)

28 August at 17:44 | Open on merveilles.town