In the technology industry, buzzwords are king.

From the “internet of things” to big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and net neutrality, there are a lot of buzzwords in the world of technology and digitalization. For those looking to break into the tech industry, it’s important to have a full understanding of the terminology.

As the technology world continues to evolve and change, these buzzwords become even more important to know, as technology encompasses our life in the form of smart objects. Here are the top 10 technology buzzwords to know in 2018.

Tech Buzzwords to Know

‘Internet of Things’ (IOT)

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? You probably check your phone.

Maybe you turn on your TV, which is connected to the internet through a Roku or Amazon Fire stick. And then perhaps you have a smart watch to check the time and a smart thermostat to change the temperature in your home.

All of these items are part of the “internet of things,” which is a term to describe how everyday objects äóñ such as phones, remotes, TVs, and more äóñconnect to the internet and each other. This creates a fully connected society, where you can have an experience that seamlessly flows from one device to another. With more devices coming on line each year, it’s an ever-expanding series of end-points for consumers to use.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Whether from science fiction movies and literature or from cutting-edge technology, AI is front and center in our technological evolution. AI is the ability for technological devices or software to make decisions like humans, based on different stimuli. AI is being used in search engine optimization (SEO), logic, and other methods based on probability and trends. AI can help companies see what is happening to their products or services in real time, allowing the companies to make quick decisions to solve problems.

AI is now moving into self-driving cars and military projects with drones. While these projects are still in the testing phase, we could see this become a reality in less than a decade.

Big Data

Big data isn’t just large numbers with digits flying off the page. Instead, it’s large sets of data and information that computers can analyze and compute for you. Computers produce the data in an easy-to-understand packet for you to make decisions.

Thanks to technological advancements, businesses and companies of all kinds can take advantage of big data to learn trends and see data from consumers, helping to improve their products, the marketing around it and the ability to fully optimize their company.

Chatbots

It started with Microsoft Word’s famous paperclip helper, and now numerous instant messaging programs and clients offer digital chatbots that can offer customers help and support. Slack is one example of this, while other companies have pop-up windows within a webpage to offer support for customers.

Machine learning and language analytics can help enable the chatbots to seem more human in their interactions with consumers.

Application Programming Interface (API)

This bit of technology helps two software applications communicate with each other. This comes in handy when we use an app like Facebook or Twitter to send messages between devices. It also works when we check news or weather updates. APIs work by connecting to a server and sending it data. The server receives the data, interprets it and sends proper data to the next destination via an API.

Net Neutrality

This has been a hot topic in political news and a key tech buzzword in 2018 after the Federal Communications Commission voted in 2017 to overturn regulations the FCC set in 2015. Net neutrality is the concept of treating the internet as a utility, like water or electricity, meaning that no company’s content should be prioritized over another. Without net neutrality, it is possible for companies to pay internet service providers a premium to ensure that their content loads faster for consumers than other content.

Data Mining

The concept of finding patterns, abnormalities, and correlations within large sets of data to predict outcomes is called data mining. Retailers, banks, manufacturers, and massive corporations of all kinds use types of data mining to find key details that can help them make better decisions to increase revenue and drive down costs. Data mining techniques can be used to discover trends in pricing, promotions, and demographics as well as how the economy, risk, competition, and public perception on social media is impacting the business.

Actionable Analytics

When a company analyzes big sets of data through data mining techniques to make a decision, this is known as actionable analytics. With the volume of big data available for companies to sort through ever increasing, it’s even more important for companies to take action upon digesting the trends they find in the data sets. This is one of the key tech buzzwords of 2018.

Blockchain

A new type of database, blockchain allows users to see a history of all transactions that have occurred on a record, including verification and validation. This is a change from the traditional databases, which overwrites a record when there is a change. With the growth of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, blockchain technology is being used to record financial transactions, and due to its secure nature, it is also being considered to record medical changes.

Quantum Computing

A key tech buzzword in 2018, quantum computing is the future of computer science and computer technology. Massive technology companies such as IMB, Google, Microsoft, and more are working on building new computers that can process incredible amounts of information in a short amount of time, using what’s called a qubit. In standard computer processors, computers read information in a series of 0s and 1s called bits. But a quantum bit, or qubit, can represent a 0 and a 1 at the same time, potentially making it possible to perform advanced processes we haven’t even invented yet. Watch this space.

Become Fluent in Tech

If you’re looking to enter the technology industry, it’s crucial that you first understand some of the key tech buzzwords that everyone within the industry is talking about right now.

Learn more about the latest trends in the technology industry with King University’s online BS in Information Technology. Our program provides you with the skills needed to join one of the fastest-growing fields in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You’ll learn about problem management, problem solving, and technology research methods among others, and you can choose one of King University’s three tracks to focus within your degree: cybersecurity, network management or information systems.

At King University, the main coursework of our program can be completed in as little as 16 months and with our fully online model, you can balance your education with your busy life.