Cultural/diversity identity in cyberspace: informational practices and digital inclusion in Brazil

Abstract

Presents the result of a Ph.D. in Information Science, Communication in the line of research information, which aimed to identify and analyze the relationship between identity / cultural diversity, information and communication technologies (ICT) and the information practices of indigenous peoples from digital inclusion programs. To this end, we selected two communities (Kariri Xocó-Pankararu, the Northeast region), which already have experience using / Internet access, and share network online Indians. The intent of the research was to establish the profile of indigenous users interviewed to identify factors that hinder access to information, to identify its information practices and to characterize the digital inclusion initiatives the government and other entities in relation to indigenous peoples. The results show that indigenous communities go through a process of information and knowledge in the access / use of ICT and are "discovering" the benefits they can have these instruments, to strengthen, promote and disseminate the culture and ethnic identity. However, it is still very limited to the physical availability of equipment, which restricts their real digital inclusion (most basic). It is necessary that public policies for digital inclusion having more resources to this segment of society, to expand the dissemination of technologies, complemented by measures of literacy information specific to this type of users.