Technopedia: a living glossary of technologies for older adults, by older adults

Technopedia a living glossary of technologies for older adults, by older adults

THIS EDITION CO-DESIGNED WITH OHIO LIVING WESTMINSTER-THURBER RESIDENTS, AND THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENTS

edition info FIRST PRINTED EDITION, MAY 2019

Made available under a Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-SA 4.0) Please attribute with a link to CreativeCommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

COVER DESIGN BY Deb Anderson

Will Nickley

OLWT resident (Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber) OSU graduate student (The Ohio State University)

CO-DESIGNED & AUTHORED BY Deb Anderson OLWT resident Gene Cuticchia OLWT resident Sue Ferguson OLWT resident Barb Finan OLWT resident Frances Henely OLWT resident Gisela Josenhans OLWT resident Michael Strautz OLWT resident Noura Amini Pay OSU graduate student Will Nickley OSU graduate student Shasha Yu OSU graduate student Elizabeth Sanders

OSU associate professor

Technopedia: a living glossary of technologies for older adults, by older adults Technopedia is also available online at: sites.google.com/view/forolderadults

table of contents FOREWORD What is Technopedia? How was it created with co-design? Why is it written the way it is? How can it be used?

INTRODUCTION Barb Finan introduces Technopedia from the perspective of an Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber (OLWT) resident.

LIVING DOCUMENT GUIDELINES Written as an open letter to a technology committee, this section includes practical guidelines for correcting and updating Technopedia in the future.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Looking for more information about Technopedia terms, or perhaps you’ve found something not yet included? This section is for you!

GLOSSARY OF TERMS Arranged alphabetically, this is the meat of Technopedia. A survey of OLWT residents helped determine the included terms.

Each term has an entire page of information, front and back.

Don’t miss the what’s on each page guide on the back of the glossary of terms section page!

INDEX OF TERMS A quick reference and cross-reference tool for a complete list of Technopedia terms, including common alternative terms.

ADDITIONAL TERMS Additional terms for inclusion into future Technopedia updates, and lots of space to write-in your own terms!

foreword

by WILL NICKLEY, OHIO STATE GRADUATE STUDENT It all started with an opportunity to take a hands-on studio class with Dr. Liz Sanders, a leading expert in the field of

co-design. Little did we know a semester full of weekly

interactions with a team of older adults would have such

a profound impact on our view of technology, and at the same time expand our capacity for human connection.

Although some readers may not know the term co-design, most have heard of design – a creative process in which

an expert designer changes or develops something for the benefit of others; this is “design for.” Co-design, on the

other hand, is “design with” - an approach to design where others are included in the design process, and the role of the so-called designer becomes that of a facilitator.

We didn’t find out that we would be working with

residents of the Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber life plan

community until our first day of class. And our co-design counterparts at OLWT didn’t learn our theme for the

semester, technology, until our very first meeting. I’m not sure panic is the right word for the emotion behind the

OLWT residents’ eyes at this revelation, but I’m not sure it was far off either!

New technologies filled the first few co-design sessions,

alongside novel co-design activities. Our aim was twofold: to get to know our OLWT co-designers, and to uncover

their hidden dreams for technology. Instead, we hit bump

foreword after bump in our conversations – it seemed we Millennial grad students spoke an entirely different language when it came to technology! It became apparent we needed to

develop a baseline of understanding before we would be able to put technology into action.

Perhaps by some stroke of genius, or maybe just dumb luck, establishing this baseline became the main focus of our

co-design effort. By week five, our task became developing a glossary of technology for older adults. While this target

outcome seemed to foster renewed excitement from the residents, the direction was an unexpected one.

Subsequent co-design sessions uncovered the reasons

residents wanted to understand certain technology terms, how they heard about them, and how they preferred to go

about learning them. The aha moment occurred as one

resident enthusiastically shared her positive experiences with other young people helping her with technology tasks in-person – she had a human connection. Our

glossary needed to provide this, and if it could, the human

connection would ensure its usefulness to the OLWT community!

Technopedia is the result of our co-design effort.

Incomplete, inevitably! Imperfect, without a doubt, but also with several human connection mechanisms. The

first of five being the style in which it is written - common language, free from all those unnecessary tech buzzwords.

Visuals accompany each entry, as technology is as visual as it is a spoken language.

foreword The second human connection lies within the included Technopedia terms, the result of a community-wide survey and hours of co-design discussion.

A third human connection resides in the structure of each Technopedia page, which includes both a conversational introduction and helpful suggestions for asking a friend

for help.

Human connection number four comes in the form of the Technopedia resources section, which includes several

OLWT-specific entries including staff members.

The living document section of Technopedia is its fifth

human connection. Written as an open letter to a future

OLWT technology committee, the living document

section provides guidelines for updating and expanding

Technopedia in the future by older adults, for older adults.

All in all, we are very happy with the outcome of our co-

design effort, as unexpected as it may have been. We have

learned about ourselves about how unconsciously reliant

we have become on the technology that surrounds us

and pervades our lives. Perhaps most importantly, we

have come to understand others, through the wisdom,

enthusiasm, patience and resilience of our OLWT co-

designers.

We hope you find Technopedia useful in connecting

with others, and maybe also in deciphering today’s ever-

changing language of technology.

introduction

by BARB FINAN, OLWT RESIDENT Technopedia features everyday language explanations, human connections, visual references, and lists of

resources that may help you to know more about the terms included. The glossary here is meant to grow. Thus, as ideas

or questions come to mind, please let us know. You can

help us address new technologies and all sorts of terms that tend to boggle your mind. (Note: “Boggle” is not a technical term!)

When this project began, our co-design team first had to come to some common agreement about the meaning of the term “technology”; the discussion that followed continued seemingly without end. At this point we

agree that the following are well received aspects of this

technological era. As the colorful background of the cover

suggests, this experience wraps us in a “wave of energy”

without clean lines that can be pinned down.

Technology is an application of scientific insights. The

explosion of this aspect of our world began in a new frenzy

during the past couple of centuries. We moved from hand held tools and machinery to telephones and TV. As all

progressed, we moved from the basics of math—1 and 0—

to the internet and computer programming. Computers

at work places led to personal desktops, then laptops.

Soon we were dealing with smart phones and tablets.

And although we had machines (hardware), these new

introduction tools were able to communicate with other machines

and needed NO WIRES. Well there are a few wires and

cables, but those connect us to the internet, so that we can communicate with our friends across the world and even

in outer space. Most recently such technological expertise

led us to a picture of a Black Hole in the universe beyond.

Many of us sometimes think, however, that the entire internet world is a huge black hole of confusion!

Our purpose in developing this Technopedia is simply to throw some light into the darkness. To that end, we

have started the conversation here and provided you lists

of resources you may wish to check out. We have a few web sites, guide books, and people who might be able

to help you walk through the usefulness of new devices

and applications loaded into your existing devices. Just

to confuse us all, Bluetooth, for example, is a device and

a built-in system that functions for many of us as an app.

And in case you are wondering what all this means, look up that language in the Technopedia or see what other resources might be of help.

living document guidelines HOW TO UPDATE AND EXPAND TECHNOPEDIA To the Technology Committee: As we, a team of residents from Ohio Living WestminsterThurber and graduate students from The Ohio State University, co-designed Technopedia over the course of a semester, we envisioned the document having a life of its own — one that would parallel the relentless march of technology. To see this vision through, we will rely on the efforts of your committee members to update and expand the contents of Technopedia.

In so doing, you will ensure its usefulness to the older adult community for years to come.

Here are the three basic steps we propose you follow: ONE: engage with current residents by conducting a yearly survey that asks for technology related terms that might make useful additions to Technopedia. Take the most popular & most important terms with you to the next step.

TWO: engage with members of the broader community with native knowledge of the new technology terms by inviting them to co-write new Technopedia entries.

THREE: following the many existing Technopedia entries as a template, design new entries. These should be no longer than a single page, double-sided, then added to Technopedia alphabetically.

For technical and design specifications, refer to the other side of this page.

Thank you for your commitment to demystifying the language of technology, The Co-Designers and Authors of Technopedia

living document guidelines

living document guidelines

TECHNICAL AND DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS TYPEFACE: ESKORTE LATIN (font size / leading size)

header extrabold italic 40pt/45pt SUBHEADER EXTRABOLD ITALIC 15PT / 18PT

PARAGRAPH HEADER EXTRABOLD ITALIC 13PT / 18PT Paragraph Regular 13pt / 18p Paragraph Highlight Extrabold Italic 13pt / 18pt

Quote & Conversation semibold italic 16pt / 18pt LAYOUT: Adobe InDesign CC was used for page layout.

FILES: Digital copies of Technopedia and all of its relevant visual assets (symbols, artwork, photos) have been left on a USB drive and given to OLWT. ONLINE: You will find a digital version of Technopedia and all relevant files online (for the foreseeable future) by visiting: sites.google.com/forolderadults

glossary of terms Organized alphabetically, each term is also marked for its usefulness in at least one of four categories: entertainment

health / wellbeing

communication

utility

These usefulness icons will give you an idea about how a technology might be useful. For example, let’s say you’re interested in technologies for communication, but don’t know the name of a specific term - just look for terms with the communication symbol.

You can find a list of all of the Technopedia terms and their usefulness symbols in the index of terms section.

You will find a helpful “on the page” guide on the other side of this page, which will provide you with a list of Technopedia page elements you will encounter in the glossary of terms.

glossary of terms

what’s on each page?

usefulness icons

RELATED TERMS

you can find these elsewhere in Technopedia WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

This will be a conversational introduction to the Technopedia term based on actual conversations.

Perhaps this will remind you of a time when you encountered the Technopedia term in your life!

WHAT IS IT? PART OF SPEECH: a functional explanation of the Technopedia term, going slightly beyond a simple definition. This will use common language and attempt to avoid superfluous technological jargon. Related technology terms will appear in bold italics to enable easy cross-reference.

ANALOGY: a helpful bit of information to further explain the Technopedia term, follows the formula A is to B as C is to D FUN FACT: exactly what it sounds like!

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: These will be questions you might consider asking a friend or family member. If you are familiar with the Technopedia term, they are also questions you might be able to help others answer. Furthermore, these questions may provide you with hints about the usefulness of the Technopedia term.

SEARCH TERMS: Unless specified differently, this subsection will provide you with search terms you might want to enter in Google or Wikipedia for more information.

glossary of terms

app RELATED TERMS

download, install / uninstall, smartphone WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Did you know you can find coupons for Target on your smartphone? Just check out their app!

That sounds great, I love Target!

But I don’t have the app... and what’s an app?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a general term, short for “application”; an app is a program on a computer (desktop app) or smartphone (mobile app) used for a specific purpose. Apps are often taskspecific, such as a photo viewing app or email app. Apps can be purchased and downloaded from an app store or the internet, then installed on a device so they can be used, then uninstalled when you no longer need them. Many apps are free!

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to install an app on my smartphone or tablet? What app do you use for [topic]?

SEARCH TERMS: What is an app? How do I find an app? How do I put an app on my smartphone or tablet? What apps are best for [topic]? How do I delete an app?

glossary of terms

app

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? graphics you might encounter to let you know about an app

icon for the app store on an Apple device, like an iPhone or iPad

multiple apps on a smartphone screen, here are a few example app functions: an app for taking photos a calculator app an app for driving directions

attachment

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

download / upload, email, file, PDF WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I emailed you photos from the family outing, what did you think?

I got your email, but didn’t see any photos... are you sure you sent them?

Yes! I sent them as an attachment. Don’t you know how to open an attachment?

Just click on it to open, or download and save it to your computer.

You make it sounds so easy, but I might need to ask your to show me...

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: any file sent along with an email. An attachment can be any number of file types, such as a photo, PDF, audio or video. Usually, you will have to download an attachment before being able to open it and view or listen to its contents. Most email apps will allow you to add an attachment to an email by uploading it. Common wisdom suggests leaving attachments from unknown senders unopened, as they may contain a virus or other unwanted file.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to attach a photo to an email? Will you show me how to open an email attachment?

SEARCH TERMS: What is an email attachment? How do I reduce the size of a file so I can send it as an attachment?

What’s the difference between “in-line” and attachment?

glossary of terms

attachment

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Most email apps have a button you can click to attach your file to an email. Often, it looks like a paper clip!

If others send you email with an attachment, you will usually find an icon or symbol near the end of the email indicating so.

backup

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

cloud, file, USB drive WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

You have so many great photos from over the years!

Thank you! Sometimes I worry I’ll lose them or accidentally delete them.

Oh! In that case, you should probably make a backup!

WHAT IS IT? VERB: to duplicate a file, often in a secondary location, to ensure against loss of the original file NOUN: a duplicate file or collection of duplicate files; may be located on a USB drive, or in the cloud.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to backup files on my computer? What app do you use for backing-up your files?

SEARCH TERMS: What files are most important to backup?

What apps are best for backing-up files locally? What apps are best for backing-up files to the cloud?

glossary of terms

backup

Bluetooth

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

hardware, smart device, smartphone, Wi-Fi, pair

WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I just love to play audiobooks from the library over my home speakers!

But aren’t those audiobooks on your smartphone? How do you play them on your home speakers?

It’s just like talking on the phone using your car’s speakers – everything has Bluetooth.

(Is that even an answer... what the heck is Bluetooth?)

WHAT IS IT? PROPER NOUN: a technology that allows one device to communicate with another device wirelessly, or without needing a physical connection. Bluetooth technology is commonly found in smartphones, smart speakers, other smart devices, Bluetooth headsets, cars and other hardware where hands-free audio is desirable. Unlike Wi-Fi, devices must be “paired” to establish a Bluetooth connection.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to pair my devices using Bluetooth? What do you use Bluetooth for?

SEARCH TERMS: What are the most useful Bluetooth devices for [topic]? How do I turn Bluetooth on/off on [my specific device]?

glossary of terms

Bluetooth

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

This is the symbol or icon for Bluetooth.

On a smartphone, you can tap the Bluetooth symbol to turn on or turn off Bluetooth functions.

browser

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, email, smartphone, social media WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a type of app, a browser is what one uses to access the internet on a computer or smartphone. A browser allows one to visit websites, perform internet searches, store bookmarks, use social media and access email. Well-known examples include Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Something that provides the functionality of an app, but is accessed via a browser is said to be “browser-based�.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me where to find my browser on my device? Which browser app do you like to use?

SEARCH TERMS: How do I change my browser? What are bookmarks? How can I browse privately? What are browser extensions? What are the best browser extensions for [topic]?

glossary of terms

browser

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Here are logos for common browsers, see below for their names and where they’re found.

1 2 3 4

Chrome — made by Google, has mobile app and desktop app versions Edge — made by Microsoft and found on the Windows operating system; the successor to Internet Explorer Safari — made by Apple, has mobile app and desktop app versions Firefox — made by the Mozilla Foundation, a common alternative to default apps.

byte & bit

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, cut, copy & paste, file, upload / download, USB drive, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte WHAT IS IT? NOUN: fundamental building blocks of digital data, bytes and bits are measures of quantity. Bytes make up apps, software, music and photos; they can be uploaded, downloaded, cut, copied & pasted and deleted. While this topic tends to get very technical, very quickly, there are some practical bits of knowledge you may find useful, pun intended. First, let’s get this little fact out of the way: 1 byte = 8 bits. Yes, there are reasons for this, and no, we’re not getting into them.

ANALOGY: byte is to file as cell is to animal A LITTLE MORE: While bytes are a measure of quantity, it can be helpful to think of bytes as a measure of digital volume either empty space or capacity for storing data, or the size of a file, which takes up space or fills capacity.

EVEN MORE: common file types and their sizes in bytes: 8 bits (b) = 1 byte (B) 1 to 4 bytes

1,000 B = 1 kilobyte (kB)

1,000 kB = 1 megabyte (MB) 5 to 10 MB 5 to 10 MB

20 to 40 MB

around 100 MB

1,000 MB = 1 gigabyte (GB) 4 to 10 GB 8 to 32 GB

32 to 256 GB

1,000 GB = 1 terabyte (TB) 10 to 100 TB

basic building block of data

a single letter in a text document

very small plain text files

most documents and media files

an average quality digital photo a digital song file

an entire digital book a simple app

complex apps, large media files a average quality digital movie

capacity of a typical USB drive

capacity of a smartphone or tablet capacity of a desktop computer

estimated capacity of human brain

glossary of terms

byte, bit

glossary of terms

cloud, the cloud RELATED TERMS

app, email, smartphone, social media WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

...and it even automatically stores all of your data in the cloud!

In the cloud? Like, where rain comes from? Why would anyone want that to be automatic?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a term used to refer to digital storage space accessible through the internet by multiple devices. One might choose to upload and store files such as digital photos, music and documents “in the cloud� to increase their accessibility, make them available to download later. The cloud is commonly used to backup files.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you help me setup automatic cloud backups on [my specific device]? How do you use the cloud?

SEARCH TERMS: What is the cloud? Why is everyone excited about the cloud? How does the cloud affect [topic]? What apps use the cloud?

glossary of terms

cloud, the cloud

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

There are many companies that have developed a cloud to store files. Here is one example of a cloud, iCould. iCloud is developed by Apple lnc.

Here is a view of iCloud Drive within the MacOS operating system. You can upload all types of files to iCloud if you have an Apple device, like a Macbook, iPhone or iPad.

glossary of terms

cut, copy & paste RELATED TERMS

email, file, highlight, select, keyboard shortcut WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I love using my computer for writing, it’s so easy to edit my work using cut, copy & paste!

But isn’t everything digital? This is silly, but it sounds like you’re using scissors and glue!

WHAT IS IT? VERBS: based on the physical procedures used in manuscript editing to create a page layout, cut, copy & paste are “commands” you can use to edit text in an email or document.

You can also perform these commands on a file. In general, you will need to “highlight” or “select” the words you want to cut, copy or paste, then perform the command by selecting it from a “drop-down menu” or “right-click menu”, or using a common “keyboard shortcut”.

VERB: the cut command will memorize highlighted text (or a file), delete it, then allow you to paste the text in a new location.

VERB: the copy command will memorize highlighted text (or a file), then allow you to paste the text in a new location without deleting it.

VERB: the paste command will allow you to create a duplicate of text (or a file) that was most recently memorized during a cut or copy command.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to cut, copy & paste on [my specific device]? When do you use cut, copy & paste?

glossary of terms

cut, copy & paste

glossary of terms

download /upload RELATED TERMS

attachment, byte & bit, file WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Have you tried out the latest app? I just downloaded it yesterday!

Is that how you get an app onto your phone? I’ve been trying to get that app for weeks!

WHAT IS IT? VERB: to download is to receive a file and store it on one’s device. For example, in order to get a new app for your computer or smartphone, you must locate the app in an app store and then download it.

NOUN: a download is a file that was downloaded; examples might include an app, an attachment such as a photo or document included with an email, or a file accessed via the internet. File size often measured in bytes.

VERB: to upload is to send a file stored on one’s device. For example, in order to add a photo as an attachment to an email, you must upload it.

NOUN: an upload is a file that was uploaded ANALOGY: download is to pull as upload is to push ANALOGY: download is to receive as upload is to send

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to download an app?

Will you help me download photos from my smartphone?

SEARCH TERMS: How do I download / upload using [my specific device]? How do I download an attachment using [my specific device and email app]?

glossary of terms

download

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? When you download the “WhatsApp messenger“ app, you may find something that looks like this:

You may also find download icons like these:

upload WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Upload looks opposite to download. Here are a few examples of upload icons:

email, e-mail

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

attachment, file WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Do you have the latest newsletter? I’ll email it to you so you read it later.

Can’t you just print it for me? My daughter set up email for me, but I don’t remember how to check it.

WHAT IS IT? VERB: to send an email NOUN: short for “electronic mail”, email is a digital message sent through the internet. People use email to communicate with one another, and to send files such as photos or documents as attachments. To access email, you need an email address and an email app (or email website).

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to setup an email address? Will you help me check my email? Send an email?

SEARCH TERMS: How do I get an email address? How do I send/receive email on my smartphone or tablet? What apps are best for email? How do I use multiple email addresses?

glossary of terms

email, e-mail

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Outlook

Gmail

Yahoo mail

Here are some common email apps. You can send email through Outlook from Microsoft, Gmail from Google, or Yahoo mail from Yahoo.

This is an example of how an email app might appear on a desktop computer or tablet.

Facebook

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, browser, social media WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

My daughter posted photos from the family reunion on Facebook, and now her kids want to add me as a friend!

Aren’t you already their grandmother? And how do I see the photos she posted?

WHAT IS IT? PROPER NOUN: a popular website and social media platform, Facebook allows you to connect with other people you know by sharing personal information and messages, and by publishing “posts” with photos and videos for your friends and family to see on the internet. Facebook is something like a phone book plus a yearbook plus a communication tool. You can access Facebook using an internet browser or an app, after creating a free Facebook account.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to setup a Facebook account and profile? How do I add friends on Facebook?

SEARCH TERMS: (you can search in Facebook for these) Friend’s name, small business name, a topic you’re interested in to find a local group, a local event.

glossary of terms

Facebook WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Here is an example of Will Nickley’s Facebook profile page, viewed using a computer. There are several parts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

profile photo — a picture of Will everyone can see cover photo — a larger picture at the top of Will’s page Facebook search bar — type in search terms here main menu — access you account info, profile page,

home page, alerts, messenger, settings, etc. profile menu — access different elements of Will’s

profile page, about info, photos and friends intro area — some basic info about Will create post area — use this area to “post” photos or

share text, website links, etc. posts area — things Will has posted

glossary of terms

file RELATED TERMS

attachment, app, backup, byte & bit, cut, copy & paste, download / upload, USB drive WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Just send those files over and we will get them printed for you.

Are these photos also files? And how would I go about sending them?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a digital object, a file can be thought of as a universal format for information in the digital world. Files are made of bytes, and have sizes based on how many bytes they contain. A file contains information that can take various forms, including text, photos, music, apps, etc. Files can be downloaded, uploaded, cut, copied & pasted, backed-up, sent and received as attachments or by using a USB drive, created with an app and deleted.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to download / upload a file on [my specific device]? How can I cut, copy & paste a file?

SEARCH TERMS: How do I organize my files on [my specific device]? How do I archive files? How do I backup files? How do I reduce the size of files? How can I zip files?

glossary of terms

file

glossary of terms

fitness tracker RELATED TERMS

hardware, smart device, smartphone, Wi-Fi, Fitbit

WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I’ve been doing well today, already 6,500 steps! Just one more walk should do it, and I’ll hit my goal of 10,000!

How are you keeping track of all those steps?

My fitness tracker records all sorts of information, not just steps! It also monitors my heart rate.

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a device you wear on your body that uses sensors to track your motions and activities while you wear it.

Smartphones and smartwatches are often fitness trackers.

Common fitness trackers include Fitbit and Apple Watch. While only some fitness trackers have screens, most connect to an app to provide you access to tracked data, such as steps walked, heart rate, calories burned, etc.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to setup my fitness tracker? Which fitness tracker do you use? Why? SEARCH TERMS: What are the best fitness trackers for [specific activity or type of person]? What are the most affordable fitness trackers? What are fitness tracking apps for my smartphone?

glossary of terms

fitness tracker

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Here is one example of a fitness tracker, Fitbit.

Fitbit is a wearable device, like a watch, it can display some info on its screen.

image resource: https://www.fitbit.com/app

You can see lots more data from the Fitbit by using an app on your smartphone.

Google

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, browser

WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I couldn’t remember when the next Ohio State game was, so I Googled it!

My grandson “Googles” things all the time, and it seems useful! But what is it? And how can I use Google?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: Google is a “search engine” that allows you to search the internet via a browser or app using words and phrases. After searching for something, Google provides a list of results, many of which are webpages, often including articles, images and videos contained within as well.

VERB: Like Kleenex, Google has become synonymous with internet search, which has given rise to its verb form: to Google something is to look it up on the internet.

FUN FACT: Google is a massive company, and they develop many other apps and internet based tools, like Google Maps - a GPS based navigation tool.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to open Google on [my specific device]? Do you have search strategies?

SEARCH TERMS: You can search Google for just about anything! Try searching for a person, place, thing, event, movie, technology term, fastest route, news, shopping items, more!

glossary of terms

Google

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? When you type www. google.com into your browser, you will find a page that looks like this:

Time Ohio State game 2019

Type your search terms into the “search bar”

Press “Enter“ on your keyboard, and Google will search the internet for information related to your search terms.

glossary of terms

GPS RELATED TERMS

app, smartphone WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

My son’s family just moved to a new house, good thing my smartphone has GPS - it will help me find the best route!

Does my phone have GPS? Is it an app? How does it know where your son’s new home is?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: short for “Global Positioning Satellite”, GPS is a common navigation technology, which tracks the location of a “GPS enabled” device. Most smartphones have GPS, enabling navigation and maps apps to provide accurate directions to and from locations. To get directions, you can type in an address or even search for a location by name. For this reason, standalone GPS navigation devices have lost the popularity they had in the 2000’s. However, many new automobiles have built-in navigation apps using GPS technology.

FUN FACT: you can use a GPS map app to find the shortest route between two locations, complete with estimates of distance and driving time!

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to use GPS on [my specific device]? Will you help me search for [a place]?

SEARCH TERMS: Does [my device] have GPS? What GPS apps are best for [my device]? How can I use Google Maps for public transit? Biking? Walking?

glossary of terms

GPS

hardware

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

software, device WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

The problems you’ve been having with your smartphone sound like they might be related to a hardware issue.

I know you’re not talking about a hammer and nails, but sometimes I feel like a hammer would solve my smartphone problems for good!

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: the physical components of a device, often used interchangeably with the word “device”. For example, the hardware of a smartphone would include its screen, metal or plastic shell, buttons, camera, speaker, internal sensors and computer components.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you help me reboot [my device]? Will you help me connect [my device] to [some other device]?

SEARCH TERMS: What are the hardware specifications for [a specific device]? What software runs on [a specific device]?

What are the difference between [old device] and [new device]?

glossary of terms

hardware

Instagram

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, social media WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Judging by her Instagram, my friend looks like she’s having loads of fun on her vacation!

What’s an instagram? Are you seeing photos from your friend? How can I see her photos?

WHAT IS IT? PROPER NOUN: a social media platform and app that allows you to view and share photos and videos with other people by posting them to your Instagram account. Users commonly add small descriptions to their Instagram posts called “tags”, which take this form using a hashtag: #beautiful #familyfun

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to install the Instagram app on my smartphone and setup my account? Will you show me how to make a post? How to follow a person or hashtag?

SEARCH TERMS: (search for these in Instagram) a place you like, a person you know, a hobby

glossary of terms

Instagram

glossary of terms

install / uninstall RELATED TERMS

download, file

WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Have you tried the latest health app? It gives me ways to track my nutrition!

No, I haven’t, I’m not sure how to get the app on my smartphone.

Just search for it in the app store, then download and install it!

WHAT IS IT? VERB: to install is to add an app to your device; this usually happens after downloading a file or app before you can use it VERB: to uninstall is to remove an app from your device; this is similar to deleting a file, but because apps are more complex than files, they must be uninstalled

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to install/uninstall an app on [my specific device]? How to update an app?

SEARCH TERMS: How do I uninstall old versions of [a specific app]? How do I check for updates and install them?

glossary of terms

install / uninstall

glossary of terms

operating system, OS RELATED TERMS

app, hardware, software WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I’m loving all the new features of the new OS update on my smartphone!

New features sound great, but what’s an OS, and does my smartphone have one it can update?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: software that acts as an intermediary between hardware and apps on a particular device. It may be helpful to think of an operating system, or “OS”, as the digital interface between you and your device. Common mobile operating systems (found on smartphones) include iOS and Android.

Common desktop operating systems (found on desktop and laptop computers) include Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Operating system software is usually already installed on your device, but often needs updates retrieved from the internet.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to find out what operating system I have on [my device]? How to update it?

SEARCH TERMS: What are the features of [a specific operating system]? What are the differences between mobile and desktop operating systems? System compatibility between [specific operating system] and [specific app or hardware]?

glossary of terms

operating system, OS

Here are logos for common operating systems, see below for their names and where they’re found.

1 2 3 4 5

Andriod — mobile OS common on Google and Samsung smartphones iOS — mobile OS found on Apple iPhone and iPad MacOS — desktop OS found on Apple computers Linux — open source desktop OS for computers Windows — desktop OS by Microsoft found on most non-Apple computers

glossary of terms

page, homepage, webpage, website RELATED TERMS

browser

WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

...just go to the About page and you will see the history of the organization.

Where will I find the “about page”?

Is this online somewhere? Is it on the company website?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: page is a term that has been carried over from magazines and books into the internet. A website is generally composed of individual pages/webpages that are associated with a unique address on the internet. A website’s main page is often referred to as its homepage. If you have been on the internet, you were using a browser, and have probably visited many webpages, perhaps within well-known websites such as Google or Facebook.

ANALOGY: webpage is to website as page is to book ANALOGY: website is to internet as book is to library

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to get to [a specific website or webpage]?

SEARCH TERMS: How do I create my own website? Best website for [a topic]?

glossary of terms

page, homepage, webpage, website

glossary of terms

password, password manager RELATED TERMS

app, browser, social media, account, username WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I have too many passwords!

Tell me about it! I need a better way to keep track of all of my different accounts and passwords.

Maybe it’s time to try a password manager...

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a password is a series of letters and numbers, known only by the person who created it, used to digitally secure or unlock something NOUN: a password manager is a digital tool, often an app, that securely stores all of a person’s accounts, usernames, and passwords ANALOGY: password is to account as key is to lock ANALOGY: password manager is to passwords as keychain is to keys

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to setup a password manager? How do I reset a password I’ve forgotten [for a specific account]?

SEARCH TERMS: How do I make a secure password? What password manager apps are best [for specific device or type of person]? Which password managers are free? Which are most cost-effective?

glossary of terms

password, password manager

glossary of terms

PDF RELATED TERMS

app, attachment, download / upload, email, file WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I emailed you the documents as a PDF, can you print them before our meeting?

I saw your email, but I’m not sure what a PDF is, or how to print it!

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: PDF, which stands for “Portable Document Format”, is a type of file, a document often containing text and images.

Most computers and smartphones can view PDF files using an app. Because PDF files can be sent and received via email as attachments, many email apps also enable you to view PDF files.

PDF is a common type of file used for printing.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to open a PDF on [my specific device]? How to create a PDF? How to fill out a PDF? How to convert a file to a PDF? How to print a PDF? SEARCH TERMS: Adobe PDF reader

glossary of terms

PDF

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? This is a common icon for PDF files, you will encounter this in apps and on your computer.

podcast

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, browser, download, stream WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I just love listening to the weekly NPR Music podcast, it’s better than radio because I can listen whenever I like!

Everyone talks about podcasts, but I have no idea how to get them! It would be nice if I could play them on my smart speaker...

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: an episodic series of audio shows that you can stream or download, then enjoy on your computer, smartphone, or smart speaker. You can find podcasts on the internet by using a browser or an app. A podcast is like a radio show access via the internet, and usually has a strong central theme or topic. The word podcast comes from the combination of the words “iPod”, a media playing device from the 2000’s, and “broadcast”.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to install a podcast app on [my specific device]? How to search for a podcast? How to listen to a podcast? What are your favorite podcasts?

SEARCH TERMS: What is the best podcast for [a topic]? How can I create my own podcast? Best podcast for [a genre, like comedy, news].

glossary of terms

podcast

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? This is a common icon for podcasts, also the oďŹƒcial iOS app icon.

You can listen to podcasts on your smartphone. Many people use headphones or play podcasts over their smart speaker using a Bluetooth connection. This is a view of someone looking through their podcast app to find podcasts they would enjoy. image source: http://www.iphonehacks.com/2017/09/

how-to-use-ios-11-podcasts-app-iphone-ipad.html

glossary of terms

portal RELATED TERMS

app, page/webpage WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

My doctor told me I could access my medical records through the hospital’s secure online portal.

That sounds very useful! But I thought a portal was a mythical gateway to another dimension...

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: an app or webpage that serves as an access point to information about a group or organization, often requiring you to login using a username and password.

FUN FACT: a team of co-designers at OLWT created an experimental portal for residents WORD ORIGIN: late 14 century from old Latin “portale”, meaning city gate or gateway. The word also carried the meaning of to lead and pass over. It became used in the tech world in the late 1990s beginning with “Web portal” an online “gateway” that would take its user into an all-in-one directory of content on a webpage such as email, news and information databases. Today, it is simply referred to as Portal or online Portal. Sites such as Facebook are sometimes referred to as Social Media Portals.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to access the [specific portal]? Do you access your medical records through a portal?

Have you seen the OLWT community portal?

glossary of terms

portal

Skype

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, browser, social media WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I was Skyping with my daughter yesterday so I could see my granddaughter for the first time!

Does that mean you were talking to them where you could also see them?

Can I do that with my smartphone?

WHAT IS IT? PROPER NOUN: an app for conversing with others using text, audio or video. Skype is a well established and free tool. Skype can support more than two people in the same “call”, which can be referred to as a “group chat” or “group call”. To use Skype, you and anyone with whom you want to converse need a free Skype account, Skype name, as well as the Skype app on your computer or smartphone.

VERB: the act of conversing with someone using Skype, as in “I like to Skype with my grandchildren.”

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to install the Skype app on [my specific device]? How to create an account? How to find and add people I know to my Skype account? How to use Skype to chat? How to use Skype to start a video chat?

glossary of terms

Skype

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? This is the logo for Skype, also the icon you will find on the Skype app.

This is how a video chat using Skype might look using a tablet like an iPad. image source: https://www.skype.com/en/

glossary of terms

“smart” device or technology RELATED TERMS

download, file

WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

My neighbor just had a smart thermostat installed, said she could control it from her smartphone!

What makes a thermostat “smart”?

All this smart technology makes me feel a little dumb!

WHAT IS IT? ADJECTIVE: “smart” is a way of describing any device having the ability to connect to the internet; usually reserved for describing devices that were well-known before the internet, like thermostats and speakers.

NOUN: a “smart” device has the ability to connect to the internet wirelessly, thereby increasing it functionality by providing you with access to features via a webpage or apps.

Common examples of “smart” devices include smart TV, smart speaker, smartphone, smartwatch, smart thermostat, smart meter (gas, electric, water), and smart security camera.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to setup [my specific smart device]? How to connect [my smart device] to my smartphone? Which smart devices do you use? Why? SEARCH TERMS: Best reasons to use [specific smart device]?

List of smart devices for 2019? Compatibility between [specific smart device] and [other device, smartphone or OS]?

glossary of terms

“smart� device or technology

glossary of terms

smart speaker RELATED TERMS

Bluetooth, virtual assistant, Wi-Fi, Alexa, Siri WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Siri, turn the music down.

Woah! The music just became quiet, how did you do that?

Oh, it’s my smart speaker! And it does more than music, I can ask it questions!

Siri, what’s the weather today?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a smart speaker is a type of speaker and voice command device with an integrated virtual assistant that offers interactive actions and hands-free activation with the help of one or more “hot words” (such as “hey Siri” or “Alexa”). Some smart speakers can also act as a smart device that uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to wirelessly control other devices. Common smart speakers, often better known by their virtual assistant names, include Amazon Echo (Alexa), Apple HomePod (Siri) and Google Home.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to setup my smart speaker? How to connect my smart speaker to my smartphone?

How to play music over my smart speaker? What do you use your smart speaker for?

SEARCH TERMS: Best smart speakers 2019? Best uses for smart speaker? How to set a timer on my smart speaker? How to set a reminder on my smart speaker? How to [do a task]?

glossary of terms

smart speaker

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Here is one example of a smart speaker, with virtual assistant Alexa, developed

by Amazon.

Alexa, what’s the weather?

Currently in Columbus is 69 degrees with clear skies.

smartphone

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, hardware, smart device or technology WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a device that functions as a mobile telephone or cellphone while also providing access to the internet.

Smartphones often have large touchscreens, cameras, GPS, and provide access to many internet-connected functions via apps.

Common smartphones (and their operating systems) include Apple iPhone (iOS), Samsung Galaxy (Android), and Google Pixel (Android).

FUN FACT: because smartphones have many internetconnected functions, you will need Wi-Fi and a “data plan� from your service provider (like AT&T, Verizon, others) FUN FACT: smartphones can act like smart devices because they usually have Bluetooth capabilities, allowing you to control other smart devices

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me the basics of using [my specific smartphone]? Will you help me choose a smartphone service plan? Will you help me [perform a specific task, like check email, take a photo, use the internet] on my smartphone?

SEARCH TERMS: Best smartphones for the price 2019? Best smartphone service providers [for a geographic area, or type of person]? Best smartphones for [a task or hobby]?

Best accessories or cases for [specific smartphone]? Best smartphones for [specific operating system or brand]?

glossary of terms

smartphone

social media

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, Facebook, Instagram WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Social media allowed me to reconnect with a few classmates in time for our class of ‘54 reunion!

I don’t know how to find anyone on social media, and I don’t even know where to start.

WHAT IS IT? NOUN, PLURAL NOUN: websites and apps used to communicate and share with others using the internet. To use social media, you commonly need to create an account with a password, then add personal details to your own webpage within the social media so others can find and communicate with you. Common social media examples include Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: How do you use social media? Will you show me so I can see how you use it?

SEARCH TERMS: Best social media for [a particular person, group, topic or hobby]? How to use social media to connect with [group of people, friends, family]?

glossary of terms

social media

software

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, download, hardware, install / uninstall, operating system, smartphone WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

My smartphone was acting funny, so I installed the latest software and it fixed my problem!

Is software the same as an app? My phone has been acting funny, too, and I’m not sure what to do.

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: the non-physical components of a device. For example, the software of a smartphone would include its apps and operating system. Software can be downloaded, installed, uninstalled and updated. The two main types of software are systems software (dedicated to running the device itself) and application software (dedicated to running specific tasks or functions).

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you help me find and install [a particular app]? Will you help me update my operating system?

SEARCH TERMS: Compatibility of [particular app] with [particular operating system or device]? How do I keep [my particular device] software up to date?

glossary of terms

software

glossary of terms

streaming, streaming device, streaming service RELATED TERMS

app, download, smart speaker, YouTube, Amazon Fire, Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Google ChromeCast, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Roku, Spotify WHAT IS IT? VERB: the act of simultaneously downloading and using multimedia content, usually from the internet onto your device.

Practically, streaming is simply a method for listening to audio or watching video over the internet on your device of choice.

NOUN: a streaming device is one that provides access to streamed content, such as music or movies, via a streaming service access via an app or webpage. While some streaming services are free, like YouTube, many require paid subscriptions similar to a TV package. Common streaming devices include AppleTV, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, and Google ChromeCast.

Common video streaming services include Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, as well as YouTube and many online news and entertainment websites. Common audio streaming services include Spotify, Pandora, as well as podcast apps and many online radio and news stations. Smart speakers are commonly used as audio streaming devices.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Do you use the internet to watch movies or listen to music? Do you have a streaming setup? Will you help me setup my [streaming device] so I can stream [type of content]? What streaming tech do you use the most?

glossary of terms

streaming device

Here are a few popular streaming devices, all connect to your TV, and many have their own remote controls.

1 2 3 4

AppleTV — made by Apple Roku — made by Roku Fire Stick — made by Amazon ChromeCast — made by Google image source: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/

uploads/2017/10/Apple-TV-4K.jpg

image source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.

com/images/I/51ZdmnHKukL._SL1000_.jpg

image source: https://media.wired.com/photos/5ba58a0

09c58f2296fca6919/4:3/w_700,c_limit/Roku-Ultra-2018Device.jpg

image source: https://images.homedepot-static.

com/productImages/c175ffe2-7d49-4d5c-8d70-

f07c58b5ee59/svn/charcoal-google-voice-assistants-

ga3a00403a14-64_1000.jpg

glossary of terms

USB drive, jump drive, flash drive RELATED TERMS

backup, cut, copy & paste, download / upload, file WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

Oh, you want to print a bunch of photos from your computer? That’s easy! Just put them on a jump drive and take them to the printer!

A watchamacallit? You make it sound so easy, but I always struggle with printing things at Staples.

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a storage device for files, commonly used for transferring files from one device to another. A USB drive plugs into a USB port on a device, allowing the user to copy & paste or upload files to it, then later copy & paste or download files from it, often onto another device. Think of a USB drive like a physical container for digital files. USB drives are usually small, making them easy to transport. This makes them a convenient tool for bringing files such as photos or documents with you to another computer or printer. Commonly used to backup files.

FUN FACT: USB stands for “Universal Serial Bus”, which isn’t worth explaining in Technopedia!

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me how to use a USB drive to move files from [one device] to [another device]? Will you help me delete files from my USB drive so I have more space?

glossary of terms

USB drive, jump drive, flash drive WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

USB drive

USB “Interface”

This is how a typical USB drive looks.

All USB drives have an exposed plug, or “interface”, which allows you to plug them into a device like a computer or printer.

All USB interfaces look the same. You can find them on your computer, one end of your phone charger, on a printer, your digital camera, and many other devices.

image source: https://news.legacyfamilytree.com/legacy_

news/2009/08/bring-your-legacy-family-file-with-you-

on-a-usb-drive-cell-phone-or-palm-device.html

glossary of terms

virtual assistant RELATED TERMS

download, file, uninstall, Alexa, Siri WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I was cooking the other day, my hands were messy, so I asked Alexa to call my daughter and we spoke for an hour!

I’ve heard about Alexa, she sounds like magic, especially if she can call people for you. Is she like Siri?

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a type of artificial intelligence that interacts with humans using words, or a “natural language user interface”.

Virtual assistants are common in smart speakers and smartphones, and increasingly common in other smart devices.

Well known virtual assistants (and their platforms) include Alexa (Amazon Echo), Siri (Apple products), Lyra (Android operating system), and Cortana (Microsoft products).

FUN FACT: virtual assistant can also refer to a human worker employed as an assistant who primarily completes their job functions using the internet, typically remotely (not in person).

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you show me your smart speaker, let me try it out with you? How do you use your virtual assistant? Will you help me setup my virtual assistant on [my device]?

SEARCH TERMS: Compare and contrast virtual assistants; Best uses for a virtual assistant? How to connect [specific virtual assistant] to [specific smart device]? How to get [specific virtual assistant] to do [specific task]?

glossary of terms

virtual assistant

virus

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

attachment, email, file, operating system, software, malware, phishing, spam WHAT IS IT? NOUN: a malicious bit of software that can “infect” and do damage to your device’s software and the files and apps contained within. Computer viruses are similar to the viruses that infect humans in that they self-replicate and cause harm if you are not careful, but are easy to avoid if you are aware of how they are transmitted. Your device can “contract” a virus any number of ways, including opening an attachment sent to you via email from someone you don’t know. Most modern devices, including computers and smartphones, will periodically update their operating systems to protect themselves from known viruses. Common terms associated with virus include malware, phishing, spam, and various computer attacks.

IMPORTANT NOTE: almost all computers and smart devices come with free virus protection, it’s usually best not to download and install additional protection apps!

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you take a look at this email, it looks fishy and I could use another opinion before I open its attachment?

Will you help me update my operating system to protect against viruses? Can you tell if my [device] has a virus?

SEARCH TERMS: Common spam or phishing tactics; What to look out for to prevent from getting a computer virus?

glossary of terms

virus

glossary of terms

Wi-Fi, wifi, wireless internet RELATED TERMS

smart device, smartphone WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

This coffee shop has wifi, perfect! Now I can use my smartphone to check for that email I was expecting.

Wait a second, coffee shops have wifi?

Will it work with my smartphone?

WHAT IS IT? PROPER NOUN: a wireless communication technology commonly used by devices to access the internet without needing a physical connection (using a cable). Wi-Fi is very common, and is found in most computers, smartphones, other smart devices, as well as in businesses and public places such as the library. To access the internet via Wi-Fi, you usually have to join a Wi-Fi network by using your device’s settings and a password.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you help me connect [my device] to the local Wi-Fi network, what’s the password? Will you help me setup my wireless internet?

SEARCH TERMS: What’s the cost of an internet service package in [my location]? How to reset Wi-Fi router?

glossary of terms

Wi-Fi, wifi, wireless internet WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

These are all common icons for Wi-Fi. You will encounter them on devices, and in physical locations like coffee shops indicating the availability of Wi-Fi. These are typical examples of WiFi “router� devices, the hardware that broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal so other devices can connect wirelessly to the internet.

image source: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/2142/ products/tetra1_2000x.jpg?v=1535657908

image source: https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/69a5f4f9666a-4b9c-aed6-170e7e786fce_1.0db431e13f9858a1fd51162db4c 5c80b.jpeg?odnHeight=450&odnWidth=450&odnBg=FFFFFF

Wikipedia

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

app, page

WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

I spent my entire evening in a Wikipedia wormhole last night, there’s just so much to learn!

Is that like an encyclopedia? Where can I find it?

WHAT IS IT? PROPER NOUN: according to its website, Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia, created and edited by volunteers around the world and hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation on Wikipedia.org. You can access Wikipedia via the internet on your computer or smartphone, there is also a Wikipedia app.

Searching Wikipedia for information about a word, person, place, thing, event, etc. is as easy as searching for something using Google.

FUN FACT: Wikipedia is an excellent resource for more information regarding the terms found in Technopedia!

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you help me get to Wikipedia using [my particular device]? Will you help me download and install the Wikipedia app? Did you learn anything on Wikipedia today?

SEARCH TERMS: (search for these things on Wikipedia) person, place, thing, event, math or physics stuff, medicine stuff, lists of things like population, animals, tech terms!

glossary of terms

Wikipedia

YouTube

glossary of terms

RELATED TERMS

page, streaming service WHERE HAVE I HEARD IT?

This afternoon I finally fixed my clock, thanks to a helpful how-to video on YouTube!

But I thought YouTube was just for silly videos, I didn’t know you could learn things on YouTube!

WHAT IS IT? NOUN: the most popular website for streaming videos, YouTube is where you can find all sorts of video content, from music videos and movie trailers to helpful how-to guides and breaking news stories. You access YouTube over the internet by using a browser or app. Anyone can upload a video to YouTube, as well as comment or “like” a video. Some people create YouTube “channels”, like a TV channel, where you can visit frequently to find the latest videos related to the channel theme.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? ASK A FRIEND: Will you help me access YouTube on [my particular device]? Will you help me download and install the YouTube app? What do you like to watch on YouTube? Will you help me find [a particular video] on YouTube? Will you help me create a YouTube account so I can upload my own videos?

SEARCH TERMS: (search for these types of things on YouTube) how-to guides for [a specific task or topic]; lectures on [a specific subject]; songs, TV shows, movie trailers, people, places.

glossary of terms

YouTube

index of terms A quick reference and cross-reference tool for a complete list of Technopedia terms, including common alternatives terms.

Each term is marked for its usefulness in one of four categories: ENTERTAINMENT

COMMUNICATION

HEALTH / WELLBEING

UTILITY

Alexa – see virtual assistant account – see password app attachment backup Bluetooth browser byte & bit cloud, the cloud cut, copy & paste device – see hardware download / upload email, e-mail Facebook file Fitbit – see fitness tracker fitness tracker Google GPS hardware highlight – see cut, copy & paste Instagram install / uninstall malware – see virus operating system, OS page, webpage, homepage pair – see Bluetooth

index of terms password, password manager paste – see cut, copy & paste PDF phishing – see virus podcast portal select – see cut, copy & paste Siri – see virtual assistant Skype smart (device / technology) smart speaker smartphone social media software spam – see virus streaming (device / service) uninstall – see install upload – see download USB drive, jump / flash drive username – see password virtual assistant virus website / webpage – see page Wi-Fi, wifi, wireless internet Wikipedia YouTube

additional terms These terms, although not currently included in Technopedia, are candidates for any future expansion of technology terms.

Many were gathered from the first survey conducted at OLWT, and others from co-design activities.

Feel free to write additional terms or topics on the back of this sheet! Circle or fill-in the usability icons.

Alexa auto-lock / screen-lock Bitcoin bookmark boot cell phone cookies domain drag firewall hard copy icon internet meme memory / RAM modem newbie / n00b refresh online security router sidebar swipe texting toolbar Twitter undo / redo web

additional terms

additional terms

additional terms