Introduction

The information revolution has become a new factor to influence the change of social and economic spatial structure and the development of human and economic geography. With the impact on our research object, such a significant factor could change its motion law. How it has changed, what it has changed, and what would happen after the change? (Such as the change of spatial organization and connection, the improvement of efficiency and competitiveness, and so on). These new concepts and opinions of geography are related to most of our research. New technologies have brought opportunities and possibilities to the optimization of social and economic spatial organization, national, regional, urban, and rural development, and the upgrade of a corresponding innovation system. Nevertheless, theories and methods for the application of new technologies as well as specific platforms, policies, and measures for connection and exchange are needed to change our world. How can we recognize and utilize the development opportunities brought by the information age? The development of our discipline has proved that through the investigation and observation of reality, laws can be summed up through the positivism method, and the application of these laws can rise to the height of methodology, and further produce geographical thought. It is a major way to promote the application of regional innovation theory with the planning and guidance of geographical ideas. The basic concept and major content of the book are developed around the above-mentioned central ideas. Under the guidance and care of Professor Zhang Guoyou (Vice Chairman and Secretary General) of the Geographical Society of China, this book is led by Academician Dadao Lu and co-authored by well-known Chinese human and economic geographers.