David Nemer Quotes

David Nemer is a professor, author, and researcher specialized in information anthropology. He is an assistant professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky, USA. Nemer is the author of the book "Favela Digital - The Other Side of Technology." Wikipedia

David Nemer: 8 quotes 0 likes

Famous David Nemer Quotes

“Informal education and situated knowledge in the favelas become powerful weapons to promote digital inclusion since formal education imposed on residents is decontextualized and no longer meets their needs, if it ever did.”

David Nemer

(p. 38)
Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013)

“You may notice a stark disconnect between the favela and digital technologies used there. This is not due to lack of education in the slum, but rather to a lack of education of those who develop the technologies without knowing the favela.”

David Nemer

Source: Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013), p. 12

“The Telecenter and LAN house are good examples of how things work in Brazil. The Telecenter has rules, limits and control; in the LAN house the user is free to do whatever she wants, as long as she pays for the hour. It is the constant clash between the regulatory welfare state and the neoliberal policies.”

David Nemer

Source: Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013), p. 96

“Favelas are areas of intense activity of drug trafficking, which promotes constant conflicts between rival gangs and the police. Drug dealers stipulate curfews and prohibit people from hanging out on the streets at certain times. Socialization in the slum, which takes place in the streets, back alleys and squares, ends up being inhibited. The Internet has been a great ally to reconnect family members and friends around the favela, where physical visits to distant areas are not always easy.”

David Nemer

(p. 90)
Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013)

“Even though there are mobile devices in the favela, people still need fixed centers like Telecenters and LAN houses. Such centers are points of reference for Internet access where people keep their profiles on social networking sites and download enough music, photos and videos to last until they can return. Not only for Internet access, these centers become important spaces where people share different experiences with their phones and tablets and eventually empower themselves.”

David Nemer

(p. 84)
Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013)

“Telecenters are facilities where the general public can access computers for free. The computers are usually equipped with a variety of open source, and sometimes closed source, software and are connected to the internet. Some Telecenters offer computer lectures and workshops to communities in order to improve social and technical skills. Such activities are an attempt to promote use of the technology to fulfill individual and community needs, increasing human capital and employment. The government, NGOs, and the private sector operate Telecenter units.”

David Nemer

(p. 66)
Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013)

“This premise -- that technology only came to promote progress -- puts us in great danger since there is no questioning of its functionality, problem-solving, advantages and disadvantages. Without consciousness of the use of digital technologies, we end up being cast in a way that is imposed on us. Having a critical approach is necessary to shape the technologies to respect our culture, customs and needs.”

David Nemer

(p. 48)
Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013)

“Favelas, as well as other areas of social abandonment, are clear examples of how the problematique of digital inequalities goes beyond the purchase of physical technology. Such places are filled with digital gadgets but their use seems to lack content and significance. This is a reflection of the current situation of our favelas, without basic education, autonomy, and consciousness. It is necessary to pay attention to these factors as digital technology will not solve the problems it did not cause.”

David Nemer

(p. 46)
Favela Digital- The other side of technology. (2013)