As discussed on hashtag in the last few weeks, but from the other direction: What are the aesthetics of permacomputing as art? Do constraints matter / make it? Is it just nostalgia? Does using more-powerful computers to create promote the extraction/exploitation/wastefulness of their creation? Mulling over.
theluddite.org is under heavy traffic right now, and I want to take this opportunity to point out how much compute and energy the tech industry wastes.
I host theluddite.org on the absolute smallest linode server available, for $5/month, along with several other websites. It's currently receiving well over 10 requests per second, and has been for many hours.
Unfortunately the #permacomputing Berlin meet-up on 25.04. is going to be moved to another date.
No meeting on Tuesday but we will make it up some time soon (prolly mid-May).
Join us this Tuesday, April 23rd for the 3rd edition of the #Berlin Permacomputing Meetup! It starts at 19:00 (also known as 7PM)
We will hold an informal discussion of ideas and real-world practices around #permacomputing. And this week we will have @mntmn exploring some "tangents" around the MNT Reform
Bg : I’m in the process of upgrading my internet, switching to full fibre rather then old broadband.
I’ve now got a spare old router which should run #openwrt (plusnet 270N), I’ll likely upgrade the ram chip as a side project and perhaps the rom as it’s technically fairly easy.
But the question is what to actually do with it, I’ve already got most of the projects you find on the internet, any off the wall ideas? I’ll have serial, 1/2
As far as I can see, Perma Computing community is too focused on the artistic aspect of computing. Which hardly covers the most energy intensive, ubiquitous parts of the computing world.
Unless the conversation is taken to tackle higher impact fields, the output of the community is more like the conceptual fashion shows:
a vanity demonstration. A limited proof of concept.
@prma it somewhat feels like #permacomputing could use a forum structure for discussions and give the aesthetic conversations a dedicated area to be expressed without crowding out larger conversations about sustainable/resilient practices, collapse computing, &c.
i cannot get over how good this piece of writing by @neauoire is. this is (i think) the first time i've been brought to tears while reading about technology
Not liking other alternatives, such as "Icecreaming" (too vague), "Drink your own champaign" (too posh), and "Eat the food you cook" (too long).
A definition may be:
> Self Delivery is a continual improvement method whereby the creator of a solution is also a client that uses it, gaining insight in how the solution conforms to stated needs, that are fed back into the design proces.
In yet another link to The Photographer's Gallery, I found this project "The Image at the End of the World" showing a great diagram (2021) of "Less is more" #sustainable technologies.
The project focuses on finding alternatives that help bring down the carbon footprint of our networked environment. Diagram is a great way to visualise relationships to #Solarpunk#PermaComputing#MeshNetwork and connect to various communities and projects that exist.
Hey #Berlin! We're hosting a #permacomputing Meet-Up, tomorrow on Monday the 25th @ 20:00 lead by @praxeology!
Please join for a convivial discussion of Platform Detox, e-waste redemption and design for de-growth:
Watt-Wise Game Jam started yesterday, and the submission deadline will be on April 22nd.
Interestingly, the introductory text has been written from the point of view that the entire frame would be recalculated on every screen refresh. This is actually an approach that sometimes annoys me a lot. Especially in turn-based games that waste CPU cycles even when waiting or paused.
Berlin #permacomputing Meet-Up is on Monday 25.03. - 20:00 at offline.place. Please join us for a convivial discussion of Platform Detox, e-waste redemption and design for de-growth:
i need a new repair and restoration project like i need a third butthole.
but i couldn’t say no to this poor old IBM Selectric rotting in a government surplus warehouse for $5. once the pride and joy of some government office, it is completely gummed with sawdust and old lubricant.
besides, there’s something so wonderful about the premium burgundy/wine ones. i can’t wait to get the grime off and see the original colour. this will become a piece of functional artmaking equipment when it is done.
Please join us for the next monthly offline friends KüFa (solidarity kitchen) - this Thursday, March 7!
We will launch the first offline #zine 🧃, give talks about our #permacomputing meetup 💡 and a large cooperative producing their own vegetables #solawi 🎃 .. and of course there will be very jummy food!
Please invite along your friends and bring a side dish and/or drinks to share. All proceeds will go to help sustain offline. Hope to see you there! 🥳
what does #permacomputing networking look like? how would extremely simple computers like collapseOS etc talk to each other to exchange data?
there's the connection itself, like use skywave radio, actual wires, proxmity wireless?
and assuming we get some occasional connections with each other, do we need a Fidonet of the 21st century that runs on reclaimed IOT lightbulb CPUs? what are we even trying to send to each other? post-apocalypse email, updates to bespoke sofware, weather forecasts?
#Debian with #Gnome Flashback is actually pretty damn cozy. Firefox ESR runs surprisingly well too, on a #netbook nonetheless.
I think I'll make this my low-effort can-actually-get-work-done-on-this #permacomputing setup.
FREE EVENT
Thursday March 7 16:00—18:00
DeWillem at WdKA
Wijnhaven 61, 3011 WJ Rotterdam
At times where it is becoming urgent to understand at long last the materiality and energy usage of the digital, we've asked Benjamin Czaja, @becha and @l03s to help us follow these traces of power, and share with us some of the insights needed if we really want to rethink the role and environmental impact of computation in tomorrow's (dis-)connected worlds.
Are you interested in #permacomputing and are in #Berlin? Would you like to meet other people who are also interested this movement? Then come to this inaugural #meetup organized by @praxeology in our lovely community space next week!
Berlin Permacomputing Meetup
Wednesday, February 28th at 8pm
Lichtenrader Str. 49, 12049 Berlin
Please come to the inaugural #berlin Permacomputing Meet-Up:
Berlin Permacomputing Meet-Up
Wednesday 28.02.2024 at 20:00h
generously hosted by offline (the collective, that's their name) https://offline.place/
Lichtenrader Str. 49, 12049 Berlin
Please spread the word and join us!
If you have things you would like to present, try or discuss at a future meeting, please let me know.
My kid, a computer science major, said that the way programming is taught is "too capitalist" because it emphasizes efficiency and time saving over everything else, and I haven't stopped thinking about it.
@TeamMidwest@katykaty I'm a slow programmer that's for sure, and getting slower every day, just ask my coworkers :-)
But seriously, this is great to hear new people in the field are sensitized to these issues. I think the #permacomputing community is trying to change the course of an industry obsessed with growth and speed towards one that's oriented around simplicity and sustainability. Your kid should also check out https://computingwithinlimits.org/2024/ !