The aim of this article is exploratory: to illustrate the main trends in communication and amongst data users in the Nkonkobe Municipal Area, a municipal zone in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, now known as Chris Hani. Based on information collected in 2016 and 2017, the research project locates the use of both cellular phones and smartphones within a broader menu of communication devices and information retrieval in rural areas, including televisions, radios, newspapers and conventional interaction. It focuses particularly on the conditions and circumstances under which cellular phones and smartphones were used and the type of residents who were most likely to use them. Many analysts are of the opinion that cellular devices can increase communication in economically disadvantaged zones through the creation of a shared ‘virtual social network’ that ‘levels’ society, creating equal access to information. The results of this study reveal that although smartphones are widespread, these types of devices have not replaced communication via cellular phones or physical interaction. Realistically, smartphone usage is limited by cost and network coverage. For the majority of smartphone owners, connectivity is not always easy and compels movement towards regional urban centres, where data is cheaper and can be accessed.

中文翻译：

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农村转型，网络社会与信息时代：东开普省恩孔科比区政府的案例

本文的目的是探索性的：说明Nkonkobe市辖区（现在是南非东开普省的一个市区，现在称为Chris Hani）中的通信和数据用户之间的主要趋势。根据2016年和2017年收集的信息，该研究项目在更广泛的通信设备和农村地区的信息检索菜单（包括电视，广播，报纸和常规互动）中定位了蜂窝电话和智能手机的使用范围。它特别关注使用蜂窝电话和智能手机的条件和环境，以及最有可能使用它们的居民类型。许多分析家认为，蜂窝设备可以通过创建共享的“虚拟社会网络”来增强经济上处于不利地位的地区的通信，从而使社会“层次化”，从而平等地获取信息。这项研究的结果表明，尽管智能手机非常普及，但这些类型的设备并未取代通过蜂窝电话或物理交互的通信。实际上，智能手机的使用受到成本和网络覆盖率的限制。对于大多数智能手机用户而言，连接并不总是那么容易，并且会迫使他们转向区域性城市中心，那里的数据便宜并且可以访问。这些类型的设备尚未取代通过蜂窝电话或物理交互的通信。实际上，智能手机的使用受到成本和网络覆盖率的限制。对于大多数智能手机用户而言，连接并不总是那么容易，并且会迫使他们转向区域性城市中心，那里的数据便宜并且可以访问。这些类型的设备尚未取代通过蜂窝电话或物理交互的通信。实际上，智能手机的使用受到成本和网络覆盖率的限制。对于大多数智能手机用户而言，连接并不总是那么容易，并且会迫使他们转向区域性城市中心，那里的数据便宜并且可以访问。