Geography of the e-society in China

Abstract

Abstract of thesis entitled Geography of the e-society in China

Submitted by Bo WANG for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong in November 2017

The widespread adoption of a multitude of information and communication technology (ICT) by people from almost all walks of life and for a great number of e-activities in almost every aspect of their daily life has witnessed the emergence of the e-society. Using China as a case study, this thesis systematically examines the geography of the e-society from the perspective of the interrelationship between physical space and virtual space. In particular, the thesis highlights the importance and rationale of going beyond the technologies and the virtual-physical space dichotomy in geographical analysis of the e-society.

Following the conceptual framework for understanding and tracing the progress of e-development comprising the technological, individual, and social aspects, this study firstly depicts an overall picture of what has taken place during the e-development in China since 1998. The results indicate that China has made noticeable progress in the e-development; yet, the progress varied in different dimensions. Other than providing affordable ICT devices, it is suggested to promote a wider and more diversified e-applications for different walks of life for the country’s future e-development.

The empirical case of home-based e-working and e-shopping in Nanjing suggests that the possibility of conducting e-activities at home has reinforced the function of home as a multifunctional bub. Besides, the empirical case of high-speed-railway (HSR) passengers’ time use along Shanghai-Nanjing railway corridor has revealed a high percentage of ICT devices use and a wide variety of e-activities on HSR trains, which suggests that travel time has the potential to be useful and productive. In summary, findings of both empirical cases indicate that people’s e-activities experience in the virtual space has influenced their activity space and mobility in the physical space in the e-society.

The empirical case of coworking offices for Internet entrepreneurs whose work heavily depends on e-working suggests that the co-location of Internet entrepreneurs, managers/founders, venture capital (VC) companies/holders has enabled and facilitated the building of VC investment relationship, the development of trust and sense of belonging, and the creation of an innovative milieu. Besides, the empirical case of the “visibility” of cities has revealed that the spatial patterns of the amount of coverage of each city in Internet news media and the distance decay effects of each city in the Internet search are highly related to that city’s real-world characteristics. In summary, findings of both empirical cases indicate that people’s activities experience under the social, economic, and political context in the physical space has influenced the locational choice of conducting e-activities and the spatial patterns of entities in the virtual space in the e-society.

With a focus on the spatiality and geographical impacts of ICT on people’s activities/e-activities experience in their daily life, this study contributes to a better understanding of the geography of the e-society both theoretically and empirically.

(461 words)