Editor's Corner

Good morning, folks!

One of you recently sent me a list of words, terms, and interesting articles that I could share with yinz (Pittsburghese right there!). Between some of the articles I received and a slightly dangerous one about emojis, here’s the one I picked to share with you today:

9 Techie Terms to Help You Stay Computer-Savvy

Note: They only had eight terms, and I’m only including five. 😊

Digerati

Smart, brainy, and tech-savvy folks probably consider themselves part of the digerati — a term referring to the elite of digitalization. Try it out on your company’s IT lead next time you see them. They may even blush at the compliment. [KC – Or don’t. They probably don’t care.]

Nagware

The old adage, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” is applicable to the downloading experience. If you’ve ever installed a seemingly free piece of software only to have it incessantly remind you through pop-ups or banners to actually install a paid version of the program, then you’ve encountered nagware. The name comes from the verb "nag"—meaning to bother or implore. [KC – I recently downloaded (and then deleted) a piece of nagware for a card game I like. I just wanted to buy it without ads. Instead, they said they only have a version with ads so they can make money. As I said, immediate deletion.
I’d rather pay $10 and be done with it for a year.]

Mouse Potato

Whether it’s long work weeks or online shopping sprees, the rise of computer culture keeps us chained to the mouse. Never mind being a couch potato; If you’re equally addicted to your laptop, you might earn the label of "mouse potato" instead. [KC – I like this one, though I’d call myself a “fingerling” potato since I usually use my tablet.]

These next two are a little rough, but I didn’t make them up. I’m trying to avoid the generational nastiness that sometimes shows up.

Screenager

Possibly said with the same tone as "Millennial" or "Gen Z", a "screenager" is a slightly derisive title applied to teens and 20-somethings with a penchant for computers, both in terms of time spent and tech savviness. It’s not limited to a specific generation, but a screenager could very well grow into a computer engineer or IT technician.

Vidiot

This slightly rude term combines the words "video" and "idiot" becoming somewhat synonymous with a "couch potato." Today it’s associated with YouTube or Netflix binging, but this word isn’t particularly new. It was first used in the 1940s, in reference to the rise of televisions in the home (and the people who became addicted to them).

That’s it for today. I’m calling it a self-care day to recover from the holiday.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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