What lies behind our interfaces? What is the physical impact of virtual data? How can we connect the tiny devices in our hands to the expansive architecture that powers them? What ideologies underpin the “cloud”? Can we (re)use digital technology within the boundaries of our planet? These are some of the questions explored during the fifth edition of FIBER’s nomadic Reassemble Lab, titled Practising Permacomputing.

Said with tongue in cheek, permacomputing is a radically slightly more sustainable approach to computer and network technology inspired by permaculture. At a time where computing epitomises industrial waste, permacomputing encourages the maximising of hardware lifespans, minimising energy use, and focusing on the use of already available computational resources.

Throughout the span of three months, the Lab offered a platform for reconsidering our connection to computation through a workshop series and a one-day symposium. From turning old computers into functional servers and building small cybernetic systems integrating plants, humans and electronics to exploring new tools and methods for fostering collective imagination, Lab participants had the opportunity to take a closer look at their role in the digital environment they inhabit. 

This dossier is one small step toward creating an archive of collective knowledge, interventions, and documentation around the practice of permacomputing, featuring contributions from Lab participants who situate it within their own research and practice.