Tech jargon unravelled by Gadget Helpline

Aiming to simplify technology-related terminology, the Gadget Helpline has released a top 10 list of the most confusing technology jargon that companies use today.

It surveyed 5,000 of its users to create the list, and has the backing on the Plain English Campaign.

But which top terms are too techie? IT PRO gives you the jargon busting definitions you really need.

Term 1: Dongle

We’re not sure about it being the most confusing but it’s definitely one of the funniest tech words in existence. A “dongle” was originally used as a way of securing software. Nowadays the term is more widely used to cover wireless adapters. Often coming in the form of a USB stick, it connects a computer to wireless networks – such as the internet or Bluetooth – increasing the mobility of a device.

Term 2: Cookie

No, this is not a USB-based snack or a busy IT technician’s lunch but something a little less filling. A cookie is essentially a crumb of data stored in your web browser each time you visit a website. It tracks what you have visited and any new settings your computer has for the page then after going to the site’s server returns to your web browser as a small chunk of text.

Term 3: WAP

Admittedly this looks more like a sound effect from an old Batman episode that a tech term but it is slightly more powerful. Wireless Application Protocol, or WAP, is just a standardised way of allowing mobile phones to connect to the internet, converting http into a readable format for smaller devices.

Term 4: Phone jack

Please put the E4 series out of your mind... A phone jack is the telephone point on a wall a phone cable is plugged into. Yes, it really is that simple.

Term 5: Navi-Key

The Navi-Key then. Opens doors to a technology universe only for those well versed in jargon? No. The likelihood is most of you have used this at some point or another. It is the Nokia phone menu, featured for the first time on its Nokia 3110 classic and many, many more phones that followed. The system was renowned for its simplicity. Funny that it was given such a convoluted name with no indication of what it is then.

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