Favela Digital: The other side of technology

by David Nemer

"The idea for this book came up during the fieldwork I did in Vitória, Brazil for my doctoral dissertation. My research aims to understand the experience of marginalized people in community technology centers and how this experience informs the ways we think about what constitutes "empowerment" and "disempowerment" vis-à-vis technology. The book "Digital Favela - The other side of technology" is an opportunity to show, in photos, the reality I lived in during six months visiting the marginalized communities of São Benedito, Bairro da Penha, Itararé, Gurigica, Jaburu e Consolação. Along with the team from Varal Communications Agency, I captured the everyday life in the favelas and how the residents use digital technology. My goal with this book is to make people aware that alternative use of such technologies, in these areas of social abandonment, is legitimate and deserves our attention. The photos are followed by testimonials given by residents, my own observations, or parts of academic papers. The texts critically engage the reader with social issues of technology use in favelas and in society in general. The book is also a way to highlight themes addressed by Social Informatics in order to trigger discussions involving the general public. It amplifies critical issues of the life in the favelas for everyone, including academics". David Nemer

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2013

About the author

David Nemer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media Studies and in the Latin American Studies program at the University of Virginia. He is also a Faculty Associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center and Princeton University's Brazil Lab. His research and teaching interests cover the intersection of Science and Technology Studies (STS), Anthropology of Technology, ICT for Development (ICT4D), and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Nemer is an ethnographer whose fieldworks include the Slums of Vitória, Brazil; Havana, Cuba; Guadalajara, Mexico; and Eastern Kentucky, Appalachia. Nemer is the author of Technology of the Oppressed (MIT Press, 2022) and Favela Digital: The other side of technology (Editora GSA, 2013). He holds a MA in Anthropology from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Computing, Culture, and Society from Indiana University. Nemer has written for The Guardian, El País, The Huffington Post (HuffPost), Salon, The Intercept_, UOL, and CartaCapital.

Reviews

[Amanda Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favela Digital provides a stunning view of the lived experience of people living the impact of the digital divide. The view of Brazil seen through this book offers a glimpse of what the digital divide actually looks like and how people are able to have access to information and technology that is not as traditional. I was fascinated by the ability to use mobile phones to download information when internet was accessible to last until the next time they had that opportunity. More books should show this marginal use of technology. I hope the author sent a copy to Apple, more technology products should be made with individuals who don't have continuous access to the web in mind.

[Alexandra Herkenhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagens maravilhosas de uma realidade tão distante de mim. Nunca tinha parado para pensar na relação favela x tecnologia e nunca tinha ouvido falar em informática social. Vivendo e aprendendo.

Recomendo aos amantes da tecnologia, fotografia e desenvolvimento social.