To keep up with the high-tech in-crowd, get hip to cyber-speak. The following terms may help you get by. Some of the terms listed are from Steve Sabram's Web site, "The Ultimate Silicon Valley Slang Page."
Automagically: adv. When a computer system solves a problem in a way
that can't be -- or is too lengthy to be -- explained.
Bboard: n. A virtual bulletin board, usually posted by amateurs on the
Web.
Beam: v. To transfer a softcopy of a file, i.e. "Beam me a copy of the
report."
Code 18: n. An error made by the computer user. Code 18 refers to the
"problem source" located 18 inches away from the computer screen.
Bloatware: n. Software with excessive features that only a minority of
users access.
Dead tree edition: n. Hardcopy
DRI: n. Directly Responsible Individual
Four-o-Four (404): n. When an item isn't where you were looking for it.
The term originates from the 404-error code that pops up when a Web site
changes locations or is defunct.
I/O Error: n. Error caused by an Ignorant Operator. A technical support
term to label such operator in conversation.
LOPSOD: An acronym for "long on promises, short on delivery." A product
with lots of hype that is not living up to its expectations.
Loser Error: n. Blaming problems on the computer that are actually the user's fault.
Mystery House: n. A high-profile start-up company that hasn't released
any products.
Nerd Bird: n. Any weekday direct airline flight between Austin, Texas,
and San Jose, Calif., because it's filled with engineers and technical
types traveling to hi-tech firms in both cities.
Nerve Center: n. The room or place inside a company facility where most
of the communication and decisions occur to keep the firm in operation.
Prairie Dogging: v. Peeping up over a cubicle wall to see what everyone
else is up to.
Techno-realism: n. A movement started by quasi-Luddites to bring
humanity to the high-tech world.
3 a.m. Code: n. Software written in a very original or unorthodox
manner. Origin: The time of day a code like that is usually written.
Tofu Syndrome: n. Software or a product that is so general and
portable that it does not take advantage of any special features of the
machine it is being run on.
The Way: n. 1.) Having a very instant, Zen-like understanding of a
problem and how to solve it. 2.) Having the ability to write complex
software and complete it without any rewriting or major adjustments.
Worder: n. People who only use their personal computer as a glorified
typewriter for writing.
