The Ultimate Dictionary of Digital Buzzwords
Your source for defining the key terms in the digital era.
Do you find yourself nodding in agreement during conversations with coworkers about the latest tech release despite being lost from the beginning? Do you hear words like digital transformation and internet of things used on a daily basis but are unsure what they actually mean? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
In the era of organization-wide digital transformation which includes the implementation of machine learning, artificial intelligence and additional software to the workflow of organizations around the world, almost everyone encounters these terms at one point or another. However, did anyone ever take the time to introduce these concepts to those of us who don’t work directly in the tech fields?
Let’s face it: Today’s digital terms sound as alien as a foreign language to many of us, which is why we compiled a short list defining the top technological buzzwords everyone should know.
10 tech buzzwords to know in the digital era:
1) Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation is an ongoing effort to rewire all operations for the ever-evolving digital world. This is done by adopting the latest technologies in order to improve processes, strategies and the bottom line.
Antonio Grasso shared an excellent infographic outlining the top skills needed to thrive in our digital future due to digital transformation:
2) Quantum Computing
Quantum computing uses quantum bits (qubits) in order to process data. Qubits are unique in the sense that they make computing overall more efficient due to their specific values.
3) Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network comprised of physical objects capable of gathering and sharing electronic information. The IoT is made upof a large variety of “smart” devices, from industrial machines that transmit data about the production process to sensors that track information about the human body.
Martin Hiesboeck 解聰文 shared an insightful graphic with tips on how to succeed in IoT:
4) Robotic Process Automation
Robotic process automation (RPA) is software created in order to decrease the small, annoying tasks employees are required to do on a daily basis. It can be easily programmed to do basic tasks across many applications, similar to how the human brain works when performing tasks. The advanced software robot is taught a workflow with various steps and applications such as taking received forms, sending a receipt message, checking the form for completeness, filing the form in a folder and updating a spreadsheet with the name of the form.
5) Big Data
Big data refers to the growth in the volume of structured and unstructured data, the speed at which it is created and collected, and the scope of how many data points are covered. Big data often comes from multiple sources and arrives in multiple formats.
Amitav Bhattecharjee shared tips on how to tame big data, something everyone should consider adding to their list of skills to learn:
6) Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term that means simulated intelligence in machines. These machines are programmed to “think” like a human and mimic the way a person acts. A few of the ideal characteristic of AI include the ability to rationalize and take actions that have the best chance of achieving a specific goal and make decisions using a process similar to the human mind.
7) Dark Data
With the rise of big data, dark data becomes a greater threat. Dark data is found throughout all companies’ file storage, containing ‘just in case’ files, and add to the cost of storage and security.
8) Machine Learning
Machine learning is the concept that a computer program can learn and adapt to new data without human interference. Machine learning is a field of AI that keeps a computer’s built-in algorithms current regardless of changes in the worldwide economy.
We enjoyed Ewen Harrison’s witty tweet about machine learning, and thought you would too:
9) Microservices
The trend for software companies to build microservice applications has now become extremely popular because it allows software to always remain updated. Microservice applications are ideal for completing one or more simple tasks. Multiple microservices are then used to engage with a particular business operation and release a new update immediately.
10) Actionable Analytics
Actionable analytics help increase efficiency and improve accuracy and dependability. So much so, that companies can rely on the software for general decision making.
