Brits baffled by geek speak

We embrace technology but have no idea what the jargon means

Bobby Pickering

Britons who have embraced the online and digital world still struggle to keep up with the blazing rate of change in information technology, according to the latest research from Nielsen//NetRatings

The MegaPanel UK Digital Consumer Survey for September 2006 reveals that, while many are actually using news feeds, 69 per cent have never heard the term RSS (Really Simple Syndication) the generic name for the technology behind news feeds.
VoD (video on demand) rings no bells with 75 per cent, wikis are meaningless to 70 per cent, and IPTV draws a blank with 69 per cent.

Advertisement

"There is a significant tendency for the industry to over-estimate consumers' knowledge and understanding of the seemingly limitless new terms and products out there," said Alex Burmaster, European internet analyst at Nielsen//NetRatings.

Other terms to go way over the head of the majority of online users are VoIP (voice over IP), IM (instant messaging) and Web 2.0 ( the second generation of internet-based services).

Even Apple's near ubiquitous iPod continues to mystify a sizeable minority: one in seven have heard of the iPod but do not know what it is.

Furthermore, although 42 per cent know what podcasting is, a third have heard of it but don't know what it is, and almost a quarter have never heard of it at all.

Acronyms are a big bugbear for most. While 29 per cent understand the term 'IM', 86 per cent understand 'instant messaging'. The term DVR is understood by only 48 per cent, although 94 per cent understand the term 'digital video recorder'.

Access to the internet is becoming more pervasive with many different devices now being used; 38 per cent said they access the web at least once a week through mobile phones, and 29 per cent through a TV.

"The average Briton online uses at least two different devices every week to access the web and no longer needs to be tied to their computer to surf their favourite sites," said Burmaster.

"In addition to the PC or laptop, this surfing is most likely to be done through their mobile phone or television."

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Further reading

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

Social networking

Summit: How businesses should manage their brands online

In part one of V3.co.uk's interview with Dirk Singer, he dicusses social media monitoring strategies

RIM discusses new developer tools

Blackberry exec on the latest offerings for programmers

Analysis and Reports

Remote access - Three steps to getting connected

3.4 million UK professionals now work from home – is your company equipped?

Cost benefits of a global collaboration network

This white paper is a must read for organisations looking for evidence of the bottom-line benefits of high-definition video and voice communications

Poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

What is the biggest problem your firm faces as a result of the data explosion?

View poll results

Advertisement

White paper library

Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies; IThound.com brings you over 6,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Advertisement

Spotlight

Alcatel-Lucent logo

Summit: Networks swamped by information overload

Alcatel-Lucent's Neal Tilley talks about how enterprises and carriers can...

EU flag

Breach notification laws get green light

Privacy rights strengthened in Europe

Richard Thomas

Summit: Richard Thomas advises on handling the data deluge

Former Information Commissioner speaks out on government databases and data...

oracle sun

War of words escalates between EU and Oracle

Commission comes out fighting after criticism from Oracle and Washington

Primary Navigation