4 Tech Buzzwords You Should Know By Now
From the ins and outs of fiber optics to big data and beyond, here’s a crash course on some of today’s hottest tech buzzwords and why you should be aware of them.
By 
Holly King
As a modern millennial, you want a basic understanding of technology buzzwords. But keeping up with them is a tedious and time consuming task that your frenzied schedule can’t accommodate. Why is it that everyone under the age of 30 is assumed to know the ins and outs of google fiber? What does bandwidth even do?
From the ins and outs of fiber optics to big data and beyond, here’s a crash course on some of today’s hottest tech buzzwords and (best of all) why you should be aware of them.
1. Fiber Optics
What it’s all About:
Fiber optic lines are thin strands of optically pure glass that carry digital data over long distances with amazing speed. Once reserved for the medical industry and big business, we’re hearing more about fiber optic technology, as it makes its way into our homes through telephone systems, cable television, and the Internet.
Why it Matters:
Fiber optics means lightning speed! Fiber optic Internet service transmits data at nearly the speed of light, allowing you to download music, movies, pictures and videos up to 25 times faster than your current sluggish internet. Best yet, fiber optic bundles offer more service for less cost. For example, with Verizon’s FiOS Triple Play feature you can call your mom, tumble on your tablet, and stream House of Cards for one neat package price. And it’s fast enough that you won’t suffer if your roommate is doing the same thing.
2. Big Data
What it’s all About:
You’ve probably heard the term “big data” tossed around a lot lately. Although the name sounds intimidating, big data simply refers to data that is so complex and massive in volume it can’t be processed using traditional data management tools. In the businesses world, big data is analyzed and used to do things like reduce costs, provide better customer service and develop new products.
Why it Matters:
Big data is booming for business, but it’s also impacting our personal lives. One noteworthy example is the development of smart watches and wearable fitness trackers that gather a slew of data about our everyday activities and health. By tracking metrics such as blood pressure, sleep habits and activity levels, the devices capture a wealth of data, giving us insight into our well being. Not only can our big data be used to improve our fitness level, it can also tip us off to illnesses.
3. Bandwidth
What it’s all About:
When it comes to computers, the term bandwidth describes the amount of data carried from one point to another over a specific time period. Bandwidth is commonly expressed in bits of data per second. For example, a modem may have a bandwidth of 56 kilobits per second, meaning it can transfer 56 kilobits of data every second.
Why it Matters:
Everything you do online requires a certain amount of bandwidth. Generally speaking, the more bandwidth you have, the more you’ll pay. Knowing your bandwidth requirements ensures you have enough bandwidth to enjoy your online experience without paying for more than you need.
If you primarily use the Internet to send emails and Facebook stalk, you won’t require a significant amount of bandwidth. But if you’re like me, and use 3 devices at once and you have a roommate who’s addicted to online gaming, you’re going to need more. Here’s a great resource to determine how much bandwidth you need.
4. The Cloud
What it’s all About:
“The Cloud” is rapidly becoming a term we hear every day. Here’s the skinny: the Cloud is just the Internet. “Cloud computing” refers to storing and accessing documents, pictures and other data and programs via the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive. “Cloud storage” companies such as Dropbox and Google Drive allow you to store your data in “the Cloud” so it can be accessed from any web enabled device.
Why it Matters:
The Cloud can help you simplify and streamline your life—and who doesn’t want that? In addition to making it a breeze to store and share pictures, you can use the Cloud to store important documents like group project files, blog post ideas you have on the fly, or various manuals and recipes that you know you’re going to need at some point. Lucky for us, most Cloud storage companies offer a sizable amount of storage for free.
We hope this crash course proves you don’t have to be a total tech guru to understand today’s trending technology buzzwords and use them with confidence. 
