Let's talk technology

Here's a primer on what some techie lingo means.

While some people embrace the rapid transformations that affect technology, others feel overwhelmed by the constantly changing landscape.

Just when you think you've mastered email, along come Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram. Your daughter has a blog, and your wife tweets. Your cousins want to set up a time to Skype. If you don't know what Skype is, just Google it.

Your 9-year-old wants an iPod Nano for her birthday, complete with multitouch display and built-in Bluetooth. Your grandson can't wait to tell you about the new tablet he got and the operating system that will power it.

Your friends take selfies to share on Facebook. They pin photos of what they cook on Pinterest and download apps from the App Store. Your favorite TV shows are available on Hulu, Netflix and iTunes.


If you feel like you've just read something written in a language other than English, don't despair. Here's a little tutorial to bring you up to speed with some of the latest technology terms and innovations.

Social media

Social media is a general term for any of the computer programs that enable people to communicate, share photos and otherwise interact online. Social media are increasingly being used as marketing tools.

Facebook is probably the best-known social media site and is used primarily for social networking. Another site, Twitter, allows users to share (or tweet) short (no more than 140 characters) posts and updates. Pinterest is a site on which users "pin" photos to share with others. The photos are arranged in categories such as cooking, travel, weight loss or crafts.

Other social networking sites include Digg, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Flikr, Tumblr and Instagram. The Pew Research Center reports that 73 percent of adults in America who use a computer access one or more social media sites.


An application, or app, is a software program that you download onto your computer or mobile device. An app has a particular purpose, such as supplying the local news, tracking how much exercise you get or connecting you with your bank. There are millions of apps available for download. Many are free, while others are for sale. The App Store is where Apple apps are available and distributed from, but non-Apple apps also are available.

Snapchat is a photo messaging app that enables users to take pictures or record videos and send them to recipients of their choosing. The photos or videos, to which the sender can add comments, are displayed on the recipients screen for only a very short time (one to 10 seconds), after which they disappear.


A blog is an ongoing source of information found online, often about a specific topic. Blog is short for weblog, and also is used as verb to describe the process of entering information onto one of these sites. People who enter information on such sites are called bloggers. Some blogs are personal, while others are used for business. While many bloggers blog for fun, others are paid to keep sites updated.

An example of a popular blog is The Huffington Post, which in addition to blogging offers news and original content.


Skype is a voice communication service that enables users to connect over the Internet instead of through phone lines. Its video capacities allow users to see one another and their surroundings as they talk.

If the person you're calling also is a Skype user, there is no charge, and rates are typically lower even if the other person is not a Skype subscriber. Many people use Skype to stay in touch with family members and friends who are traveling or living in another area. Some businesses use Skype for videoconferencing or conference calls.


Google is a search engine that helps you to find what you're looking for on the Internet. It's the most widely used search engine. Google also is used as a verb, meaning to search for something. It's common to hear someone say something like, "just Google the name of the band to find out more about what kind of music it plays."


An iPod is an Apple Inc. version of a portable media player, which is a device used to store and play music, radio programs, games, video, TV shows and other information. An iPod Nano is one of several varieties of iPods and is noted for its ease of use. iPod Nanos come equipped with Bluetooth technology, which enables users to connect the iPod without wires to other devices such as headsets, speakers and keyboards.


A tablet is no longer something you write on, it's a small version of a computer that you can carry with you. You can use a tablet to take photos, read books, get and send email, keep your calendar, word process, surf the Web, watch TV and movies and more.


Selfies are photos you take of yourself, often to post on a social media site or send to a friend. Selfies typically are taken with a hand-held digital camera or phone camera. Oxford Dictionaries designated selfie as its word of the year for 2013 due to dramatically increased usage.

Hulu, Netflix and iTunes

These are services that enable you to stream TV shows, video clips and movies onto your television, computer or a portable device. You can access ad-supported content for free, or subscribe to one or more of these services for expanded offering. The services are popular because they enable users to view episodes of shows that they missed or find classic shows that may not be available through cable TV.

Contact Susan Shelly: life@readingeagle.com.

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