Tech Glossary for the Nontechnical: Edition 4
Tech words to help you sound more tech-savvy
Speaking to a group of techies can be hard. It can feel as if you’ve stumbled into a conversation where everyone is speaking a dialect of Mandarin. Also, you don’t always have time to Google “CMS” or find out why our friends in Europe are getting so upset about Cookies.
Sometimes all you want is a simple explanation, not a long drawn out commentary. That’s what we’re trying to do here: a jargon-free, plain-English tech dictionary. We’ve compiled a list of terms you’ll need if you’re considering speaking to anyone that knows how to ‘computer’. There’s a lot we didn’t cover here. It’s part of a series of weekly posts that I’ll be doing to try to boost your tech vocabulary.
Web apps
Web apps are websites that look and function like an app (not simply linked pages). Examples of web apps would be Facebook, Spotify, and Instagram.
Responsive Web Design
Responsive web design is the practice of designing websites so that they look good on multiple screen sizes (phones, tablets, wearable devices, etc.).
NFC (Near Field Communication)
NFC allows mobile devices to communicate using radio waves when they’re in close proximity of each other (about four inches or less). It’s used for platforms that use file sharing, data pairing, or wireless payments. Organizations can use NFC to make services interact with consumers.
Native apps
Native apps are built specifically for predetermined platforms (Android or iOS). They only run on the platforms they were built for, and are stored on the phone.
IDE (Integrated development environment)
IDE’s are pieces of software that includes tools like code editors, debuggers, and build automation tools. Examples of IDE’s include Atom, Sublime Text, Visual Studio, and VIM.
Hybrid app
Hybrid apps are pieces of software that work on different devices. They’re a hybrid combination of a native app and a web app.
Data visualization
Data visualization is the use of graphs, infographics, etc. to describe data that is being evaluated.
Data modeling
Determining what kind of data is needed and how it will be organized and structured.
Database
Data architecture represents the way data is collected and stored. It’s the way data moves throughout the organization’s systems and applications.
Big data
Big data is a term for data that is so big it can’t be processed through traditional data processing. This data normally come from sources like mobile devices, emails, search keywords, and servers. Companies can identify consumer patterns and then use them to predict and optimize business objectives.
Watch this space for my weekly list of ‘words to know’ in tech!
