We present results from a qualitative study examining how Charismatic Pentecostals use Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in São Paulo, Brazil. This work contributes to the growing body of research that broadens Weiser’s vision by exploring technology use in novel and unfamiliar contexts. Our findings reveal how “extreme” and non-rational beliefs frame users’ ICT experiences. We argue that if ubicomp is to be global and ubiquitous, accounting for alternative value systems is necessary. We discuss the implications of our findings and present issues the ubicomp community should consider when imagining a future that includes users from parts of the global south.

1. Broadening UbiComp’s Vision: An Exploratory Study of Charismatic Pentecostals and Technology Use in Brazil Susan P. Wyche, Georgia Institute of Technology Camila M. Magnus, University of Barcelona Rebecca E. Grinter, Georgia Institute of Technology

2. What is Charismatic Pentecostalism? What does studying it have to offer the UbiComp community?

4. . . .we are interested in the central conundrum posed by the fact that Weiser’s vision of the future is, by this point, not only an old one , but also a very American one . Bell, G. and Dourish, P. (2007). “Yesterday’s tomorrow: notes on ubiquitous computing’s dominant vision. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing. 11 , 2. pg. 133-143 .

5. Source: World Christian Database Pentecostalism in Latin America 1900 1970 1990 2005 Pentecostals and Charismatics (in millions) 0.01 12.6 118.6 156.9 Pentecostals and Charismatics as % of Total Population 0.0% 4.4% 26.9% 28.1%

6. I used to sew clothes and a client needed a special kind of thread that was very difficult to find, this thread is impossible to find and this was a very important job. I only had 300 grams and needed 900 to finish the job. So I prayed and when I finished the project, I had enough thread, and an additional 300 grams left over. This can only be explained as a miracle.