Tech terms everyone uses, but do you know what they mean?

The New Year is a time that many of us spend in reflection mode. We think about how our last year has gone and ways we can improve ourselves through growth, wellness, and education. New Years Resolutions typically bite the dust by this time of the year, so let’s focus on improving your technology acumen for a minute.

When was the last time you spoke to an Information Technology (IT) professional? When was the last time you felt like someone speaking about IT was speaking a different language? Those two things are most likely around the same time.

Through my employment, which shall remain unnamed here, but trust when I say that I encounter so many tech terms, many of which are shortened into three letter acronyms that it’s even referred to through an acronym: TLAs. It’s so bad in technology, and many corporate worlds, that many top employers have their own glossary to help employees who may be lagging with their terminology.

I assure you, even the top tech person you know had to learn those terms at some point in time. Let me help with a few you may encounter on a regular basis.

The Cloud: We’ve already discussed this one, but it’s nothing more than computing devices connected by some means used for data storage, computing power, typically connected over the internet.

Streaming: This one is easy. Most of us do it in some fashion now, but it’s playing audio or video content over the internet, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Spotify. We need “the cloud” to make this possible.

Bandwidth: The capacity for data transfer. This is how internet service providers measure the amount of data you your internet service plan includes. The more bandwidth you have, the better for streaming and uploading or downloading content to or from the internet.

Cookies: My husband’s favorite treat. Oh, wait, in IT-land, it’s a packet of data that contains some small bits of data stored on your computer about you. Typically, it’ll include things like your username for a website so that you do not have to type it each time you visit the site. This can be very helpful but can also compromise your privacy (a story for another day).

Cache: Pronounced like cold, hard cash, but very different. It is temporary storage on your device with fast access time used for frequently accessed data to make things like website pages load faster. You’ll often hear that you should clear your cache and cookies when you have a problem with a website or browser.

Encrypt (Encryption): This is the process of converting something into a code that is unrecognizable. In IT, this is done to provide security to data. The encryption process uses various methods to convert data it a code (or cipher) that typically cannot be broken without the key to that code.

Virtual Private Network (VPN): Various means of creating a secure “tunnel” for your internet traffic that allows you to hide your location. This process also creates security around your network activity using encryption and routing your data through remote servers shielding your IP address.

Internet Protocol (IP) Address: Consider an IIP address to be like a unique “mailing” address for every device connected to a network and the internet that helps with routing to allow data to be sent to and from the right place.

Router: A hardware device that connects multiple devices in a network (such as your home) to the internet and acts as a traffic cop directing data in and out of your network of devices. Oftentimes, routers are provided by your internet service provider. Many of them contain firewalls and security functions that prevent others from accessing devices on your network.

Bytes: Basic unit of digital data made up of bits, which represents either a 1 or 0. A byte is used to represent a single letter, number, or symbol.

The list could go on and on, but if we were to discuss all the terms, this article would fill The Paper from beginning to end, most likely for multiple issues. We’d still be discussing this next New Year’s Day. Knowing a few simple terms can help you understand some of the jargon you’ll likely hear on that next troubleshooting call after you’ve already rebooted your device. Because we all know that you do that now before you call tech support now, right?

You should consider starting your new year by making this your most tech-savvy year ever. Take it in small bytes (see what I did here?) and step through the process. First, learn the terminology and then, commit to rebooting your devices on a regular basis.

Once you have that knowledge and it’s become a habit, consider clearing your cookies and cache, review your old passwords to make them stronger and secure your online activities by looking into various security tools, such as a VPN. Reach out to your favorite IT human whenever you feel overwhelmed.