EARLY ADOPTER
A user who is among the first to use a new technology – the technology is likely to be expensive or buggy, or may lack features or refinement
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
A brand-new platform or technical advancement – usually expensive, lacking features or the best user experience and used by early adopters before later refinement
INTERNET
A large network of devices containing many subnetworks using the TCP/IP protocol. It now carries the Web, FTP, VOIP, IRC, email, etc.
IT SYSTEM
An assemblage of equipment / devices and communication infrastructure, e.g. a network of computers, peripherals and possibly tablets, etc.
PERFORMANCE
Concept that a device or system meets the user needs in a way that is fast and responsive and doesn’t feel sluggish or harm productivity
PERSONAL USE
The user is a single person, and the device is usually used only by that person, e.g. equipment in the home
WORLD WIDE WEB
Information system where users can view linked pages (HTML) via a browser using a URL, which loads the page from a server after performing a DNS lookup (often confused with ‘Internet’)
INTERNET OF THINGS
Thousands of ‘smart’ devices that send data out to the cloud and can be controlled remotely
MACHINE LEARNING
Ability for artificial intelligent systems to improve without human intervention
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Machines that can ‘think’ for themselves and make decisions – machine learning and neural networks are an extension
AUGMENTED REALITY (AR)
Placing virtual objects on a real image of the real world, often in real time, e.g. gaming and shopping applications
VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)
Uses a headset and special controls to transport you into an electronic world – gaming, medical, military and industrial applications
AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS
Machines with the ability to adapt to their surroundings to some degree
