Use of social network to support visually impaired people: A Facebook case study

• Autor(a) principal: Miranda CARAN, Gustavo
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: SANTINI, Rose Marie, Calmon de Almeida BIOLCHINI, Jorge
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Transinformação (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/transinfo/article/view/6033

The use of Information and Communication Technologies can be seen as an important factor for social inclusion in its differentaspects - economic, social, relational and informational, among others. Inclusion potentiality is even more relevant for groups ofpeople who face limiting life conditions which determine social barriers. This study investigated the social support offered topeople with disabilities based on the social network analysis method. The research objective was to make the online supportdynamics for low vision people, friends and relatives evident, having as case study the Facebook Low Vision group. The socialnetwork modelling and quantitative analysis were performed from user data collection, posts, comments and likes. Contents wereclassified according to the type of support (Emotional or Instrumental) and according to its intention (Offered or Requested),represented in graphs as indicators for analysis. Results pointed towards a larger use rate of Instrumental and Offered supportalthough a more intense and comprehensive exchange of Emotional and Requested support was found. Data collection limitationsindicate the need for more empirical studies on the social use of socio-technical networks for different types of social support. Thistheme points to a research agenda about the role of information and communication technologies as a possible condition forinclusion, life quality and well-being of people with disabilities.