The slab and the permacomputer

“slab” better than “cloud”, both for itssense of a smooth, opaque surface and its suggestion of real mass and weight. (Page 3)

The idea that “computers” might melt into “compute”, a utility as unremarkable as electricity or water, isn’t new. But I do feel like it’ssuddenly melting faster! (Page 3)

There’s an idea sim‐ mering out there, still fringe, coaxed forward by a network of artists and hobbyists: it’s called “permacomputing” and it asks the question: what would computerslook like if they were really engineered to last, on serioustime scales? (Page 5)