Rural computing and nature's delights

Russell Davies has written a somewhat contrary piece on the urban computing movement and addresses what could be called "rural computing". For that he gets my support and some thoughts.

"I suspect one of the reasons the countryside gets overlooked in all these conversations is that the aesthetics are so disappointing. Certainly the natural stuff's good; landscapes, hedges, skies etc. But as soon as something gets designed it looks like either Poundbury or Hobbiton..."

True, but I think nature's aesthetics are more than just good - the design and engineering of nature is marvellous - and designers, engineers and architects are already using biomimicry and copying the best bits.

And the thing that always gets me is that the countryside is full of delights and beauty; the heron guarding his rapidly evaporating pond in the late summer, rivers glinting in the evening sun, autumn leaves on the ground, unexpected birdsong and glimpses of deer in the morning mist. I think I want a kind of slower, maybe seasonal, noticings for the countryside...