Stages Of Internet Development In Shanghai (1994-2011)

Internet services were connected in China in1994. Two of China’s most populous cities, Shanghai and Beijing were two of the earliest cities to open internet services to the public. Consequently, the research into the development and evolution of the internet in these major cities, and in particular, Shanghai, is critical in understanding society development as related to the internet and serves to elucidate the societal effect of the internet in all of China.The evolution of the Shanghai internet can be divided into3periods between the years1994and2011, from communication technology, information exchange tool, social network tool to now social life platform, by indices of internet technology levels and social usage, internet industry cycles, and public management policy making.In the beginning of internet development, it is only used in science, academy and research institutes and universities. Email can be sent in1987, and a new stage of information communication arrives in China. Beijing is the first city to set up a local network, and Shanghai opens the first website in China. The first period of Shanghai internet development, it makes technologies become information services.From1998to2009, Shanghai internet becomes the tool of information exchange and social network. Shanghai government and information committee takes wide-band internet services to families, and more training to ladies of local communities. After the first industries booming, the second one of mobile entertainment and games and online consumption begin. More daily service provided online, especially the social relationships can also be managed. Web2.0stage shows internet is social network space, and the public can also get information and services, which is deep development of internet and local society. Then Shanghai internet development makes technology convergences with the local society. The third stage, Shanghai internet opens wireless city strategy, and the world exposition2010is the perfect practice, and information services grow with daily life needs. The digital technologies will give more reforming of the modern society and the social life, with more devices from cell-phones to I-pad. Information and social network and social services are all rich in the internet platform. Public opinions become stronger will give shape new public policy and push the society structure translation.There are3parts of research design paradigm, main report and appendix in the dissertation. More data from Xin-Min Evening Post relative news concerning internet, CNNIC reports and local yearbooks will be referred to cover the3periods to represent the whole picture of Shanghai internet development. The second part represents the changes from information technology, information exchange tool, social network tool and social life platform. The appendix is an empirical report base on the local reports and internet development to test the theory research and conclusions.