Toward a sustainability lexicon and pattern language

This paper summarizes the argument put forth in the lead author’s PhD dissertation, which has been supervised by the coauthors [9]. The dissertation examines key assumptions underpinning both Sustainable HCI and its related counterpart, Green IT. It is argued that these discourses, along with their specific appropriation of the term ‘sustainability’, reinforce a set of values that ultimately undermine its solutions and limit its impact. An alternative discourse is proposed that avoids reinforcement of problematic values, and radically different conception of ‘sustainability’, and the role that computing may play in contributing to a ‘sustainable’ future, is proposed in a new discourse, namely Cyber-Sustainability. For this summary, the discussion will focus specifically on Sustainable HCI discourse, and the implications for future research by this community.

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