Barangays of IT

Abstract

In broad strokes this article adumbrates some issues in Filipino virtual communities and social interactions mediated by information technology (IT). Problems and prospects are explored with the optic of the barangay, a social unit that evolved from the pre-Spanish `boat community' ( barangay) to its present dominant geo-political form. While IT tends to be instrumental in Western hegemonic encroachment into the Filipino lifeworld, some of its libertarian potentials are gaining ground in emerging cyber-barangays which require new `focal things and practices'. The emerging Filipino communities mediated by IT are spheres of localization amid globalization and questions of nationhood. The article also proposes to `Filipinize' IT - that is, to creatively and critically appropriate IT into practices congenial to Filipino culture.

Virtual (Br)others and (Re)sisters

“…The literature on virtual identity is polarized around either optimistic (Lévy 2001;Michaelson 1996;Rheingold 1993Rheingold , 2000Sy 2000) or pessimistic (Blanco 1999;Chesher 1994;Miah 2000) perspectives regarding the ways the Internet shapes or changes identity, with special attention paid to human agency. From a negative stance, Holmes (1998, 7) argues, "Human agency has radically changed in spatial, temporal and technological existence," noting that the emergence of cybercultures and virtual environments may make individuality less meaningful as it is disconnected from physical space.…”

Gandhi's third assassination: Information and communications technology education in India

“…The idea that ICTs can have a positive impact seems to be institutionalized. Several interviewees strongly disagreed with the argument put forth by Peter Sy (2001), that the push to distribute ICT in developing countries was neocolonial. Not only did they disagree with this argument, but they seemed to find it somewhat threatening.…”

Editorial: ICTs for Developing Countries - are there Realistic Answers to the Difficult Problems?

“…The digital divide (DD) has been discussed and theorised for years, it is seen to exist both within enclaves of developed nations and in the poor nations of this world (Ess and Sudweeks 2001;Kaimila-Kanjo 1992;Livingstone and Helsper 2007;Sy 2001). Now, whilst Annan (2003 as cited by Livingstone and Helsper 2007, p. 672) stresses the importance, indeed one could conclude the lifeproviding significance of information and knowledge, Afele highlights many issues besides the DD when he says:…”