The BttT presentation was about using computing to design a better system to learn to identify plants. One of its goals was to become "self-obliviating technology", meaning that the more you use it, the *less* you need it and the less you depend on it. In this case: the more you learn, the less you need the system.

@vanderZwan The original core topic in permacomputing is the utopian idea that computer technology, including its production mechanisms, could work in a regenerative way in the biosphere. With the main questions being whether if it is possible at all, and what it would be like.

I genuinely believe it is possible, but it would require a lot of changes/reinventions even on the very basic material levels. Therefore, most "practical" permacomputing concentrates on extending the lifespans of existing hardware.