Regenerative computing

Abstract

In computing there is a small but growing community who desire to make sense of the role of computing in a world with limits. This community has provided a much needed critical perspective on what has otherwise been computing's contribution to a worsening world state, or at best a weak sustainability. But, by framing the biophysical and social environment as limited, there is a danger of adopting a negative and overly pessimistic approach with the effect of marginalising our message and contribution to computing. Previous attempts to address the tension between a limited world and a positive approach have been foundered on concerns that a techno-utopia is not only unrealisable but efforts to achieve it are exacerbating the problem. In this paper we explore the potential for an explicitly positive approach to computing within limits research: regenerative computing. We describe what regenerative computing within limits might look like and suggest a way forward. We expect this new approach to transform the computing and sustainability discourse, and empower the computing within limits community to become ambassadors of hope and regenerative sustainability. CCS CONCEPTS • Information systems → Collaborative and social computing systems and tools; • Human-centered computing → Collaborative and social computing; Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for thirdparty components of this work must be honored. For all other uses, contact the owner/author(s).

Shifting the maturity needle of ICT for Sustainability

“…We discuss this need for a positive future in [72]. Papers discussed previously either similarly argue for a positive response (such as [34]) or are useful examples of this: Eriksson [8], Weeks [56], von Heland [45], and Knoll [41].…”

Mapping the Scope of Software Interventions for Moderate Internet Use on Mobile Devices

“…To continue to reduce data demand in a way which works positively for users, Widdicks and Pargman [97] suggest creating more moderate use of Internet-connected devices and services. They build upon arguments for more positive approaches to sustainability [57], and offer opportunities for embedding data demand reductions through societal research areas investigating digital wellbeing, work productivity, relationships with others and privacy [97]. This was motivated by rising concerns over the societal impacts of our connected lives and the recent drive to encourage users to spend less time online.…”

Breaking the Cornucopian Paradigm

“…In 2018, Mann et al argued for a positive framing on issues of sustainability through "regenerative computing"-ensuring researchers in this field become "ambassadors of hope" [53]. Whilst Mann et al believe the '(ACM) LIMITS community' provide the critical lens that computing needs for a sustainable future, they also argue that a more positive framing is needed to avoid defeatism and galvanise the community [53], e.g.…”

“…In 2018, Mann et al argued for a positive framing on issues of sustainability through "regenerative computing"-ensuring researchers in this field become "ambassadors of hope" [53]. Whilst Mann et al believe the '(ACM) LIMITS community' provide the critical lens that computing needs for a sustainable future, they also argue that a more positive framing is needed to avoid defeatism and galvanise the community [53], e.g. : assuming our path towards a more sustainable society will filled with feelings of pain and guilt [45]; predictions of, and preparing for, "bleak futures" [65]; and viewing technological futures such as the sustainable smart city as potentially impossible [73].…”

“…empowerment, sustainable morals) [38]. With this framing, we aim to find positivity in Limits [53] by positioning that we can moderate users' Internet use and break the Cornucopian paradigm in ways that users might actually want.…”