Technology 101 for Seniors | Lesson 2: Tech Terms – What Are Your Grandkids Talking About?
Welcome to Lesson 2 of Technology 101 for Seniors! Today, we’ll take define some terms you may have heard, taking you one step closer to being a tech-savvy senior!
I just downloaded it Grandpa! It’s streaming on YouTube, Grandma! I just updated my status with a picture of the whole family!
Dowloading, streaming, status updates…what does it all mean? Don’t fret, if you’re reading this article you’re well on your way to understanding what the kids (and grandkids) are talking about!
Here are some common tech terms you may have heard before, and a quick definition.
Email – as covered in Lesson 1 of Technology for Seniors 101, Email is simply “electronic mail” and is used to send letters, notes, and photos to friends and family.
Text Message – a short written communication sent from one person’s cell phone to another.
Social Media – any form of communication where the user is engaged. By reading this blog, you’re participating in one form of social media. Other forms include Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Facebook – a social media website where people from all over the world can create their own page containing photos and “status updates” about their lives and the world around them. Users can post comments and “share” items with their friends.
Twitter – a social media website where users post updates in “140 characters or less.”
Tweet – a person’s post on Twitter.
Instagram – a social media website where users can share photographs directly from their phone.
YouTube – a website where users can upload and watch videos of just about anything. Simply click the “play” button on the video to start streaming…
Streaming – rather than downloading a video, by streaming it, you watch through your internet connection.
Download – when a person downloads something, they are essentially making a copy of the file from somewhere on the internet to their own computer or device. This is common for songs, movies, e-books, and more. Once the item is downloaded, the person then has the item in their possession and can use it any time, without having to access the internet.
Hashtag – a hashtag is a way of indexing a conversation and sharing information, commonly used in social media. For instance, if you are using Facebook or Twitter and are interested in finding a holiday recipe, you may want to search #thanksgivingdinner or #easterham. The results may show recipes from experts, photos, and tips from other social media users.
Are there any tech-related terms that you’ve heard that we didn’t cover? Send us an email to let us know!
Plus, there are more lessons on the way. Is there something you’d like to learn about in “Technology 101 for Seniors”? Let us know by clicking here. We’d love to help you learn how to be a tech-savvy senior!
