Sociedade de informação, território e cidade na Amazônia

Abstract

The present research investigates the penetration of Information and Communication Technologies in Brazilian Amazon as manifestation of an Information Society. Initially the context of transformations that caused the emergence of the Information Society on contemporary world is presented, highlighting the importance of the Information and Communication Technologies, and of cities for this society. Then, the role of cities in the historical process of occupation and exploitation of the Amazon is discussed, followed by the presentation of new perspectives for the region under the prevailing techno-economic paradigm. From this context, two variables from the Brazilian Census - the components "computerization" and "internet access" were chosen to be analyzed according to, two distinct frames: a) the first, with emphasizing regional spatial scale, highlighting spatial inequalities of ICT penetration in the territory, b) and the second, taking the city of Maraba-PA as a case study, in order to identify - dynamics associated with the use of ICT in different contexts of Marabá’s urban life. Research results show that there is low penetration of ICT in the Amazon at different spatial scales. This condition is attributed a set of factors, with prominence of precariousness or nonexistence of telecommunications in the Amazon, which impacts the provision of digital services, and consequently reduce considerably the potential of the region and of its cities of being inserted in virtual networks of knowledge and information.