Buzzwords We Use in IT
You can’t go online today without seeing certain IT buzzwords in nearly every article. But what do these words really mean?
Blockchain
A blockchain is most commonly associated with Bitcoin, and it is what allows Bitcoin users to exchange currency without being ripped off. It records each transaction that uses Bitcoin as currency and makes these records public. The records become part of the structure of Bitcoin.
Simply put, a blockchain is a network of computers that share a database. Information is then stored on that database, duplicated thousands of times throughout the network, and regularly updated when necessary.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Augmented reality is when you use electronics to project data onto your physical environment. This was most notable with the Pokemon Go fad, but you can see it used a lot on certain vehicles as well, such as the backup lines that tell you how to drive in reverse. It is becoming more common in other apps and technologies as well.
Virtual reality creates a 3D environment before your eyes that allows you to see and hear things that don’t exist. This is done through VR goggles and 360-degree sound, however eventually they plan on doing this on a larger scale.
Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth revolution which involves cyber-physical systems, humans, and smart factories connecting and communicating with one another through the internet. The newest factory, the smart factory, is a good example of Industry 4.0. It is a merger of IT and manufacturing and will begin to eliminate the use of human staff, who will be replaced by machines that will be interconnected and intelligent.
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things is when the physical world becomes one big information system, as in ambient intelligence through physical objects that are connected to the internet and to each other. We see this now on a small scale, but eventually, scientists want to bring this technology into nearly every aspect of our lives, especially in the case of a fully “smart home.”
Figital
Figital is a newly created word that is a cross between digital and fidget. It means the excessive checking of one’s devices.
Everything on Demand
Because of Uber and Amazon, people expect to get things faster – as in, right now. There are so many new apps and technologies that bring things to us either instantly or more quickly than ever before: Netflix, Uber, Hulu, Amazon, UberEATS, BloomThat, Instacart, DryV, and Saucey are just some of the new and improving “Everything on Demand” technologies. And we know that more industries will be “Uberfied” in the years to come.
Netiquette
Netiquette means your etiquette for the internet. It is how you act online and how you treat others. It is important in emails, social media, forums, online gaming, blogs, and anyplace else where you communicate to other people online.
As a continuation from our post, the IT world has a lot of new buzzwords, especially in 2017. We already went over blockchain, augmented/virtual reality, industry 4.0, internet of things, figital, everything on demand, and netiquette. Here are six more buzzwords you need to know this year and in the years to come.
Growth Hacking
Growth hacking is the process of rapid experimentation through all marketing channels, as well as product development. This helps to identify that best way to grow a business. It can refer to conventional and unconventional marketing experiments which focus on building and engaging the customer base for the business. They usually focus on low-cost marketing, like social media.
Quantified Self
Lifelogging, or quantified self, is when you incorporate technology into your daily life using data inputs. You see this when people record what foods they’ve eaten, how much alcohol they’ve drunk, air quality, weather, mood, sexual performance, physical exertions or exercises, etc. Smartphones have apps for these things and more in their app stores.
Omnichannel
Omnichannel is a business model that crosses channels which include physical location, web pages, social media, web chats, telephone communication, and more. This is to improve the customer experience and hopefully bring the customer back to your company again and again. Companies who use omnichannel believe that their customer wants to be in continual contact with their company, so they provide the means to achieve that.
Virtual Machine
A virtual machine creates a virtualized environment that acts like a computer system with hardware devices. It will run as a process in a window on your operating system. This makes it easier to install things on your computer without taking up space on your actual hard drive. Just remember, the only way to run it after installation is through the virtual machine program.
Data Visualization
Data visualization, simply put, is anything you use to help people understand the importance of data by using visual context. This is usually through graphs or charts. It is easier for the brain to process than reading through the same data on a spreadsheet.
Machine Learning
Machine learning is an application of AI which provides a computer system or program with the ability to learn and improve from experiences without being explicitly programmed. It is a way for a computer program to access data, learn from it, and improve itself.
We hope part one and part two of our buzzwords posts have been enlightening and will help you on your way to understanding the IT world! Contact us today if you have any questions or comments, or just need help to navigate IT.
