http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/ Engadget Comments for Plain English Campaign wants to bring down walls of technobabble, rule the world http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
"That thingy that sticks out of your computer from a USB or other port"?

They have names because things have names. These words exist because no other concise word in the english language fits the meaning.

If you haven't figured out what the name means, go look it up. Many people don't know what exactly a carburetor does, but I don't see anyone bitching about car lingo. Take some personal responsibility and figure it out if it's that important to you to know what it is.

Idiots]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
Where does he draw the line? Horseless Carriage, Buggy, Tractor/Trailer/Semi, Plastic...

There's no such thing as "Plain English." English is a conglomerate of languages and terminology.]]>Apr 28th 2009 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 12:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 29th 2009 1:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
Took care of it for you.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
SECONDLY....the reference you were looking for is "Butt-scratchaaaah!". Seriously....how could Peter say that so many times in 2 minutes and you STILL not get it?]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
this is contra Productive to how todays economy works, at some point there will be only 1 language... ]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/You missed the flash!
so
USB flash drive
=
Universelles serielles Schnitstellen blitz laufwerk
;)

I would agree that it sometimes would be a healthy measurement to use more of your own language (nothing is worse than Denglish, a mixture of german and english), but to generally make every tech word simply, please no.
So instead of CPU we al start using "Central Processing Unit" again?
a crap, thats to complicated.
How bout "rectangle thing inside your computer with pins on the underside thats made out of silicone (not the silicone you use in tits) that makes your computer go"
And stuff like MHz and GB should be changed to stuff like fast, or very fast, or big or very big.
]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
Now, I can say I have a IEEE802.3-compliant Cat6 UTP Ethernet cable with molded RJ-45 connectors and, while it sounds complex, you can look up and verify EXACTLY what I am talking about.

Tehcnobabble isn't the problem...it's all the invented pseudotechnobabble. Kind of like the word I just invented. Psuedotechnobabble. Say it five times fast.]]>Apr 28th 2009 12:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/There, that was in plain english.. I think
]]>Apr 28th 2009 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 1:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
Breast implants use silicone, CPU's are made from silicon. Silicon is an element. You fail the internet.]]>Apr 28th 2009 2:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/web 2.0 = static pages, user generated content
web 3.0 = user generated page and content
crowd-sourcing = wikipedia pretty much]]>Apr 28th 2009 2:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
As long as its color coded everything is easier.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/you will see a black thing popping up (dont be scared) type in "ipconfig" , now copy the ip adress to that internet thing and change the last digit to a 1.... now you will see a password thing comming up...


classic ]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
Fail.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 3:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
if you can't understand the terms, then you probably shouldn't be touching the tech to begin with. go back to your Selectric and washboard.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Doe she drive a car? Should she if she doesn't understand those terms?

]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
although the cartoon does exaggerate much, the notion is actually rather reasonable. There are folks out there that are smart enough to learn the lingo if the young pups would bother to explain it. but instead a lot of folks just role their eyes and walk away cause some 60 year old that wants to get a computer to video chat with grandkids across the country doesn't understand the difference between a hard drive and ram.
]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
do you have to attack every post that I make? stop jerking off to my avatar, ya freak.

and yes, my mom DOES know what all of those terms are... back when she was young she had a jacked up dodge duster with cherry-bomb mufflers that she raced with the locals.

she's 50, so of course she doesn't do the work herself, my dad does it. just like I do all of my own car work.

I hope this satisfied your trollism mr. fake-ass-ultraviolence.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Well, I was just making a point - but since you want to bring it to that level;

Yeah, I'm jerking off to your avatar because I totally have a thing for red headed guys who's styles are that of a poseur from 1997. I can just hear the Limp Bizkit coming from your avatar.

Now back to your mom - It is impressive that she can do all that stuff with you hiding under her skirt! - where does this tech savvy motorhead cougar hang out?
Think I might like to have a go at the ol' in out in out with the Baboochka.
]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
But they have no problem downloading k-dramas and watching them all damn day long. It's a silly world.
]]>Apr 28th 2009 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 1:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
Then again, I change my own oil so I must be a technical genius.]]>Apr 28th 2009 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
Jargon exists for a reason, it's a quick way to express an idea. Some of it's new. The word "television" was jargon once.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 5:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/-please someone get that reference. ]]>Apr 28th 2009 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 29th 2009 9:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
"Desktop" can refer to a horizontal (as opposed to tower) computer, any non-portable computer, the Windows desktop with the icons, a windowing operating environment itself, or a few other things.

"Digital TV" can mean ATSC broadcasts, a TV with some sort of digital filter or processing, a TV that accepts ATSC broadcasts, any non-analog bitstream-based private broadcasting (cable, satellite), any type of HD programming, or microwave broadcasting.

Technology-related terminology is often needlessly confusing. The article brings up FireWire/i.Link/Lynx as a good example.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 11:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/
And they have duplicate products on single standards because of trademarks which are supposed to protect the consumer by clarifying who is making the product.]]>Apr 28th 2009 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/plain-english-campaign-wants-to-bring-down-walls-of-technobabble/Apr 28th 2009 12:00PM