ICTs and technical agency: A case study of a rural Brazilian community

Lorena Melgaço*, Katharine S. Willis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This paper explores the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in rural, marginalised communities. We explore Feenberg's concept of technical agency in order to understand the ways in which technological capacity might contribute to community development. We discuss three conditions of technical agency as outlined by Feenberg: power, knowledge and appropriate occasion. We consider how this framework might enable an approach to understanding the role of ICTS in the particular socio-spatial contexts in marginalised communities. In order to test Feenberg's approach, we discuss a case study of a village in rural Brazil: Noiva do Cordeiro. The community is recognised regionally as a pioneer in the way that it has mobilised a range of ICTs for the benefit of the community. We will conclude by discussing how ICTs can reinforce existing or introduce technical agency in a Feenberg framework and how this might contribute to community development.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCitizen's Right to the Digital City
Subtitle of host publicationUrban Interfaces, Activism, and Placemaking
PublisherSpringer Singapore
Pages101-117
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9789812879196
ISBN (Print)9789812879172
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences
  • General Engineering
  • General Arts and Humanities

Keywords

  • Community development
  • Community informatics
  • Knowledge networks
  • Marginalised communities
  • Technical agency

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