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<br>In the gleaming corridors of Silicon Valley, where digital behemoths have relentlessly consolidated power over the virtual realm, a contrarian philosophy quietly emerged in 2021. [FUTO.org](https://wiki.futo.org/index.php/Introduction_to_a_Self_Managed_Life:_a_13_hour_%26_28_minute_presentation_by_FUTO_software) exists as a tribute to what the internet could have been – open, [FUTO](https://wiki.futo.org/index.php/Introduction_to_a_Self_Managed_Life:_a_13_hour_%26_28_minute_presentation_by_FUTO_software) distributed, and resolutely in the hands of individuals, not monopolies.<br> |
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<br>The architect, Eron Wolf, operates with the measured confidence of someone who has experienced the metamorphosis of the internet from its hopeful dawn to its current monopolized condition. His experience – an 18-year Silicon Valley veteran, founder of Yahoo Games, seed investor in WhatsApp – lends him a rare perspective. In his precisely fitted button-down shirt, with eyes that reflect both disillusionment with the status quo and determination to change it, Wolf presents as more philosopher-king than typical tech executive.<br>[rit.edu](https://www.rit.edu/) |
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<br>The headquarters of FUTO in Austin, Texas eschews the flamboyant accessories of typical tech companies. No ping-pong tables distract from the purpose. Instead, technologists bend over keyboards, crafting code that will empower users to reclaim what has been taken – control over their technological experiences.<br> |
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<br>In one corner of the building, a different kind of endeavor unfolds. The FUTO Repair Workshop, a creation of Louis Rossmann, [FUTO](https://wiki.futo.org/index.php/Introduction_to_a_Self_Managed_Life:_a_13_hour_%26_28_minute_presentation_by_FUTO_software) legendary right-to-repair advocate, functions with the meticulousness of a master craftsman. Everyday people arrive with malfunctioning devices, welcomed not with commercial detachment but with authentic concern.<br> |
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<br>"We don't just mend things here," Rossmann states, positioning a loupe over a motherboard with the careful attention of a jeweler. "We teach people how to grasp the technology they own. Understanding is the first step toward independence."<br> |
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<br>This philosophy permeates every aspect of FUTO's activities. Their grants program, which has distributed significant funds to projects like Signal, Tor, GrapheneOS, and the Calyx Institute, embodies a commitment to nurturing a rich environment of autonomous technologies.<br> |
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<br>Moving through the collaborative environment, one observes the omission of organizational symbols. The walls instead showcase framed quotes from computing theorists like Ted Nelson – individuals who envisioned computing as a freeing power.<br> |
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<br>"We're not concerned with building another tech empire," Wolf comments, settling into a basic desk that could belong to any of his team members. "We're focused on breaking the present giants."<br> |
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<br>The irony is not overlooked on him – a prosperous Silicon Valley investor using his wealth to contest the very models that enabled his prosperity. But in Wolf's worldview, computing was never meant to consolidate authority |
