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Sustainable Computing

  • Original Paper
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Poiesis & Praxis

Abstract

The term Sustainable Computing is used to transfer the political concept of sustainability to computer systems, including material components (hardware) as well as informational ones (software), development as well as consumption processes. Six dimensions of Sustainable Computing are being distinguished. Empirical discourses, initiatives and social movements within the IT industry are assigned to these dimensions. The introduced Sustainable Computing Concept serves as a classification system to better understand different discourses or debates within the IT world, partly historical, partly current. It allows to synthesize these discourses by emphasizing what they have in common: the aim to balance economic, social and ecological interests.

Zusammenfassung

Unter dem Begriff des Sustainable Computing wird das Konzept der Nachhaltigkeit auf Computersysteme, ihre materiellen (Hardware) wie informationellen (Software) Bestandteile, ihre Entwicklungs-, Nutzungs- und Entsorgungsprozesse bezogen. Es werden sechs Dimensionen des Sustainable Computing begrifflich unterschieden. Empirisch beobachtbare Diskurse, Initiativen und Bewegungen innerhalb der IT-Welt werden diesen Kategorien zugeordnet. Das vorgestellte Sustainable Computing Konzept dient als Heuristik, um verschiedene, teilweise historische, teilweise aktuelle Diskurse und Debatten aus der IT-Welt besser zu verstehen. Es ermöglicht, diese zu synthetisieren, indem es ihre Gemeinsamkeit betont: das Verhandeln eines Ausgleichs zwischen ökonomischen, sozialen und ökologischen Interessen.

Resumé

Le terme de Sustainable Computing a été crée afin d’appréhender le concept politique du gestion durable informatique, incluant les composants matériels (hardware), les logiciels (software), le développement, l’utilisation et le processus de mise en valeur des déchets. Six dimensions de la notion de Sustainable Computing ont été distinguées. Les discours empiriques, les initiatives et mouvements sociaux dans le monde informatique sont inclus à l’intérieur de ces dernières. Le concept présenté de Sustainable Computing est utilisé comme un schéma de classification pour mieux comprendre les différentes parties historiques, les discours contemporains et les débats dans le monde informatique. Il permets de synthétiser ces discours en accentuant les points communs: l’objectif étant l’équilibre des intérêts économiques, sociaux et écologiques.

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Notes

  1. The establishment of Environmental Information Systems(EIS or ENVIS) (Günther 1998) and the branch of computer science referred to as Environmental Informatics (Rautenstrauch and Schenk 1999) are valuable exceptions. Combining “...computer science topics such as data base systems, geographic information systems, modelling and simulation, knowledge based systems and neural networks with respect to their application to environmental problems” (Avouris and Page 1995), Environmental Informatics mainly aims at applying the potential of information technology to consulting policy makers. Especially remarkable is the attempt to “...assess the impact of ICT (information society technology)...on energy, transport and other fields...” (Hilty et al. 2004, p. 56) by using simulation models. Mostly these approaches focus on the ecological dimension of sustainability. Furthermore they apply information technology to politics whereas in this article politically, socially and ethically motivated debates within the world of computing itself are addressed.

  2. Projects like Seniorenlotse for senior citizens in Bremen should be mentioned here (http://www.bremen.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=17_seniorenlotse, accessed 15.10.05).

  3. GNU is a recursive acronym standing for GNU is not Unix.

  4. Hilty et al. (2004, p. 22) stated about the rebound effect of information technology: “The rebound effect is a special case of a third order effect. According to basic economic mechanisms in a market economy, higher efficiency usually leads to lower prices and lower prices to an increase of demand. Another type of rebound effect is based on time efficiency in consumption: If people can consume a product or service in less time, they tend to demand more of it.

  5. See for instance http://www.sustainablecomputing.com (accessed 29.09.05).

  6. See http://www.deutschlandprogramm.de (accessed 29.10.05).

  7. See http://www.wikipedia.org (accessed 29.10.05).

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  1. Jacobs Center for Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development, International University Bremen, P.O. Box 750 561, 28725, Bremen, Germany

    Dennis Mocigemba

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Mocigemba, D. Sustainable Computing. Poiesis Prax 4, 163–184 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10202-005-0018-8

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