DEFINITIONS

Wi-Fi: Wireless internet connection.
Bluetooth: Connects things wirelessly, like headphones.
NFC: What powers contactless payments.
Hotspot: Using your phone’s data to get another device online.
App: Software you use for a task.
App store: Where you download apps.
Push notification: An alert that pops up on your phone.
In-app purchase: Buying extras inside an app.
Location services: Uses GPS to track your position.
Password manager: Stores and creates strong passwords so you don’t have to remember them.
2FA / MFA: A second step when logging in (like a text code or fingerprint). Makes accounts much harder to hack.
Patch / update: Software fixes you should install quickly to stay secure.
Phishing: Fake emails or messages trying to trick you into handing over money or passwords.
Social engineering: Scams that target you directly (like a fake call from “IT support”).
Router: The box that connects your home to the internet.
IP address: The online “address” of your device.
DNS: Like the internet’s phone book – it turns web names into numbers.
Bandwidth: How much data your connection can handle at once.
Latency / ping: The delay – lower is better for video calls and gaming.
4G / 5G: Mobile internet speeds. 5G is faster.
Cloud: Storing and using services online instead of on your device.
Streaming: Watching or listening without downloading the whole file first.
VoIP: Calls made over the internet (Zoom, Teams).
Cookie: Small file a website saves in your browser, often for tracking or logins.
Targeted advertising: Ads chosen based on your browsing habits.
Digital footprint: The trail of everything you do online.
Metadata: Information about your activity (like who you messaged and when) even if the actual content is hidden.
End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): Only you and the person you’re messaging can read the conversation. Not even the app provider can.
Encryption: Scrambles your information so outsiders can’t read it.
HTTPS: Secure websites (padlock icon in the browser).
VPN: Makes your internet connection private and hides your location.
Zero-knowledge design: Even the service provider cannot see your data.
Backup: A second copy of your data, kept safe in case you lose the original.
Incremental backup: Only saves the new changes since the last backup.
Compression: Shrinks file size (sometimes with quality loss).
Data breach: When personal information is leaked or stolen.
CPU: The main processor (the device’s “brain”).
GPU: Processor for graphics and video.
RAM: Short-term memory that apps use while running.
SSD / HDD: Types of storage – SSDs are faster, HDDs are older and slower.
Motherboard: The main board all parts connect to.
USB-C: A newer, reversible charging and data cable.
HDMI: Cable for connecting screens and TVs.
OLED / LCD: Types of screens – OLED usually looks sharper.
Resolution: How detailed a screen image is (e.g. 4K).
Refresh rate: How smooth the screen looks (higher feels smoother).
Battery cycle: One full charge and discharge – batteries wear out after many cycles.
Wireless charging: Charging without plugging in a cable.
Operating System (OS): The main software that runs your device (Windows, iOS, Android, etc.).
Driver: Lets the OS talk to hardware like printers.
UI / UX: What you see on-screen (UI) and how easy it feels to use (UX).
Dark mode: Light text on a dark background.
Open source: Free code anyone can look at and change.
Proprietary: Closed code owned by a company.
Sideloading: Installing apps from outside the official store (riskier).
Jailbreaking / rooting: Unlocking a device’s restrictions – usually risky.
Dark pattern: Tricks in app design that push you into bad choices (like making “unsubscribe” hard to find).
Algorithm: Automated rules that decide what you see online.
Moderator: Person or system that polices online content.
Terms of Service (ToS): The rules you agree to when using a site or app.
Freemium: Basic features free, extras cost money.
AI (Artificial Intelligence): Computers doing tasks that usually need human intelligence.
Machine Learning: AI that improves by learning from data.
Generative AI: AI that creates text, images or sound (like ChatGPT).
AR / VR: Augmented and virtual reality (e.g., AR overlays on your phone, VR headsets).
Metaverse: A virtual world concept combining AR/VR.
Blockchain: A digital ledger for tracking transactions.
Cryptocurrency: Digital money like Bitcoin.
NFT: A unique digital “certificate” often tied to art.
Green IT: Technology designed to reduce environmental impact.
ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law): EU rule requiring consent for non-essential cookies.
GDPR: Law that protects your data in the UK/EU.
Right to be Forgotten: GDPR provision allowing individuals to request deletion of personal data.
ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office): UK authority enforcing data protection law.
Copyright: Legal right granting creators control over copying and distribution.
Fair dealing (UK): Limited legal exceptions to copyright for criticism, news, study.
DMCA (US): American copyright law with notice-and-takedown for online infringements.
Safe Harbour / intermediary liability: Shield for platforms that promptly remove illegal user content once notified.
Net neutrality: Principle that ISPs must treat all lawful traffic equally.
Section 230 (US): Protects platforms from liability for most user-generated content.
Digital Services Act (DSA): EU legislation setting duties for online platforms to tackle illegal content.
Digital Markets Act (DMA): EU rules curbing gatekeeper power of big tech firms.
Investigatory Powers Act (IPA, “Snooper’s Charter”): UK law expanding surveillance and data-retention powers.

Case Study: Bits and Bytes

Bit: The smallest unit of computer information, like a light switch that can only be off (0) or on (1).
Byte (B): 8 bits, enough for one letter, number or symbol.
Kilobyte (KB, ~1,000 bytes): A short email or paragraph of text.
Megabyte (MB, ~1,000 KB): A selfie or a short song.
Gigabyte (GB, ~1,000 MB): A feature-length film, about 200 songs, or several hundred photos.
Terabyte (TB, ~1,000 GB): Roughly 1,000 films, 200,000 songs, or years of phone photos.
Petabyte (PB): A vast data centre or all the books in a national library.
Exabyte (EB): Data handled by the entire internet in a single day.
Zettabyte (ZB): The world’s internet traffic in a year.
Yottabyte (YB): So large it could hold all the data ever created many times over.