Hybrid space in the city: computational interfaces for local communities

Author(s)

Denise Mônaco dos Santos

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2008-09-17

Examining board members

Marcelo Claudio Tramontano; José dos Santos Cabral Filho; Azael Rangel Camargo; Rodrigo José Firmino; Sergio Amadeu da Silveira

• Advisor: Marcelo Claudio Tramontano

Abstract

Reflecting on current spatialities, in architecture and urbanism requires studying their relations to information and communication technologies (ICT) appropriations. This work discusses the creation of hybrid spaces in urban fragments defining the former as constituted spaces from mediated communication insertion by computational systems in geographically-based communities. This work is based on an experiment of this nature, carried out by the Online_communities project: domesticity and sociability in public policies for digital inclusion which took place between 2004 and 2008 in the Sao Paulo district of Cidade Tiradentes, funded by FAPESP and coordinated by Nomads.usp. It also examines, on the one hand, the dimensions and complexities of projects that intend to make ICT part of peoples lives, as well as the community, relating them to the discussion on digital inclusion. On the other hand, it investigates the contemporary nature of the community and it presents the specificities and scope of the physical and virtual parts. The aim is to relate hybrid communities and hybrid spaces, as well as investigate the constitution of computational interfaces for social interaction, or in other words, the logical and physical technological support which can provide local communities with a virtual dimension. (AU)