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There's a lot of talk lately about the newest technologies that keep us all connected—but the new jargon can be really confusing. Find out what everyone's talking about with this list of definitions. We'll help you get a quick understanding of these terms and learn more about the online world.
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ActiveX®: A Microsoft® programming language that gives motion, music, sound, and interactivity to certain webpages. (Also see Shockwave® and Flash.) Sometimes a site will ask if you have Shockwave, Flash, or ActiveX. This means your Web browser will need that programming language to view some of the content on the site.
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Antivirus Software: A program that keeps your computer working right by protecting it from viruses, programs, or codes that make your system do things you don't want it to do.
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Avatar: A virtual you, seen by those you interact with in virtual worlds, chat sessions, or other communication sessions. An avatar is a visual representation of you online, which you can create to be as imaginative, expressive, or realistic as you like. (Also see Second Life®.)
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Blog/Blogging: Short for weblog. A blog is a personal journal published online. The author (or blogger) chooses a subject and posts daily, weekly, or monthly entries to share tips and information, vent about an experience, or just express themselves. Blogging is the act of writing or publishing a blog entry.
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Bluetooth®: A short-range type of wireless technology that lets different devices talk to each other. Instead of using lots of cords and looking for just the right kind of plug for every device, Bluetooth lets you connect and share information between all kinds of electronic devices (including mobile phones, printers, desktop computers, laptops, digital cameras, keyboards, and mice).
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Broadband: A quick, permanent way of connecting your computer to the Internet and other networks. Instead of using a phone line and dialing in to the network, broadband connections are always on. These connections are also much faster than dial-up, letting you easily access webpages, check email, and download files (such as pictures and video).
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Browser: The program you use to access the Internet, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer®, Apple® Safari, or Mozilla Firefox®. Most of these programs are free to download.
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Chat: A quick and easy way of "talking" to someone online by sending short messages back and forth (also known as instant messaging). You can have a personal chat with one person, or host a chat session with several friends at once. Some websites also offer professional chats, where you can get instant advice on health, technology, or other areas of interest.
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Chat Room: A space online where you communicate with other people instantaneously. These spaces can be private discussions among friends or public sessions about common interests (from music and television to gardening and family life).
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Cookies: When you visit a website, this small text file is sent to your browser by that site to track activity. These messages help the site remember your computer when you come back for another visit, so you quickly can access your personalized page or shopping cart on that site. Cookies help you access favorite pages faster, and some shopping pages won't work without cookies.
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Getting lost in the language of mobile-phone shorthand can be a bit frustrating and confusing. This short list of common texting lingo can help you understand what everyone's talking about. You also can visit NetLingo or Webopedia™ for a longer list of phrases and translations. |
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143 means "I love you."
20 means "location" (What's your 20?).
2G2BT means "too good to be true."
404 means "I don't know" (also IDK).
9 means "parent is watching." (99 means "coast is clear.")
BFF means "best friends forever."
BRB means "be right back."
KPC means "keeping parents clueless."
L8R means "later."
LOL means "laugh out loud."
OMG means "oh my God."
ROTFL means "rolling on the floor laughing."
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