Ecommerce Information Resources

Guide to Tech Terminology for Business Owners

Don't get stumped by geek speak – get educated on these friendly Web sites
By Jennifer Baljko

While an assortment of consumer electronics gizmos, hardware devices and software applications have supposedly made life easier, they've also brought with them a whole new language. Here are some tips that will help you keep up:

1. Learn a few key phrases every week, especially ones that are relevant to your business.
2. Read technology sections in mainstream magazines and newspapers as they are usually easy to follow.
3. Talk to IT folks; they work with this stuff everyday and could give you a high-level overview.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sort Out the Hardware Portion Although we use things like PCs, cell phones, digital cameras and PDAs, often we have no idea what actually makes them work. Learning the ins and outs can give you an edge.

I recommend:  It may take a few clicks before you get to the exact page you're looking for, but Whatis.com has a comprehensive listing of terms, phrases and quick links to the most common searches. Jupitermedia Corp.'s Webopedia also has a feature called "Technology Word of the Day" and a link to the top 15 most-used technology terms. CMP's TechWeb has 20,000 IT terms, and it's a good place to go if you already know the word you want defined.

Play the Name Game As on the hardware side, the Internet has also given birth to its own language.

I recommend:  Albion.com's Netdictionary has a listing of Web acronyms and slang, and NetLingo has a "Top 20" list of Web terms parents and tech newbies may find useful, as well as phrases that have morphed into everyday lingo. It also has a dictionary that can be downloaded to a PDA or cell phone.

Test your knowledge Think you're already up to speed? Let's see what you know.

I recommend:  Take a quick technology terminology test. Semiconductor manufacturer AMD developed the test as part of a study on whether tech terminology is turning off tech buyers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Visit your local library. As libraries update their computer systems, add wireless Internet access and generally tune into technology, library officials may offer classes for tech-newbies or point to online resources they've come across.
• If all else fails, find a teenager that lives in the neighborhood. Kids grow up with all sorts of gadgets, and they speak the high-tech language everyday. There's a good chance they will not only be able to make sense of the alphabet soup, but show you how something works.