You can almost see Noah Webster spinning in his grave. Technology has driven new words into the dictionary at, well, e-speed.
Of course, it’s that very technology that allows the folks at Webster’s to keep up with the pace, so maybe we can call it an even swap. The latest wave pushing the lexicon envelope is the Web-accessible phone. The folks at Airtouch Cellular have compiled a new list of phrases to introduce their new mobile Web service.
Are you ready for a little language lesson?
Old: Internet browser
New: Microbrowser (it fits on your phone)
Old: My phone … is a phone
New: My phone is a calendar, to-do list, address book, Web browser … and a phone.
Old: PDA (personal digital assistant)
New: Smartphone (PDA functionality integrated with phone, fax and Internet access)
Old: Typing
New: Triple Tap (messaging on a phone by tapping the numeric keys to get the desired alpha symbol)
Old: Wired
New: Unwired or untethered (still tapped in, but not with cables)
Old: “My Internet connection is faster than yours.”
New: “My wireless Internet device is smaller than yours.”
Old: Pull (extract information — user initiated)
New: Push (info sent to your phone by personalized Internet service in addition to “pulling”)
Old: Your favorite site
New: Your own tailored site on your Web browser phone
Old: Info when you want it
New: Info where (and when) you want it
Old: Surfing from your office
New: Surfing while waiting in line for coffee
Old: Sitting down for a session on the Web
New: Mobile Web
Old: Point & click
New: Tap & scroll
Old: E-mail me
New: Message me
Old: Keyboards
New: Keypads
How to reach: Airtouch Cellular, (800) AIRTOUCH
Daniel G. Jacobs ([email protected]) is senior editor of SBN.
