The language of silicon dreams and stack overflows.
A portable electronic device that combines a video camera and recorder into a single unit, allowing consumers to record their own video footage without separate equipment. Camcorders democratized personal video recording starting in the 1980s and remained popular until smartphones made them obsolete.
A small cubic device with four reflective flash bulbs that attached to the top of cameras, providing a bright flash for photography in low light. Flash cubes rotated automatically after each flash, allowing four photos before replacement.
In audio contexts, the high-pitched or low-frequency sound produced when amplified sound from speakers re-enters a microphone, creating a self-reinforcing loop; in general usage, comments or information given to someone about their performance or work.
A telephone feature activated by dialing *69 (in North America) that automatically redials the phone number of the last incoming call, whether answered or missed. It was one of the earliest callback services offered by telephone companies.
According to the strict interpretation of rules, definitions, or technical specifications; in a manner that adheres to technical details or formal criteria. Often implies a distinction between what is formally true and what is practically or colloquially understood.
Moving your company's entire infrastructure to someone else's computers while hoping they don't lose everything.
A slender rod or pin used for spinning fibers into thread, or more broadly, any thin pointed shaft or axis around which something rotates or winds. In machinery, it refers to the rotating shaft that holds and turns tools or workpieces.
A device attached to the exhaust system of an engine that reduces noise by baffling and absorbing sound waves. Also a common term for a scarf or wrap worn around the neck for warmth or fashion.
A wireless telecommunications device that receives short text messages, widely used from the 1980s through early 2000s before mobile phones became ubiquitous. Pagers operated on a one-way system where users received messages but could not directly reply.
A method of connecting to the internet via a telephone line and modem, common in the 1990s and early 2000s, characterized by slow speeds and the distinctive handshake sounds. Now obsolete in developed countries but remains a nostalgic reference point for older millennials.
A brand of digital media player and streaming device that connects to televisions to access streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Roku is also a platform for streaming channels and apps.
A handheld personal digital assistant (PDA) manufactured by Palm, Inc., that was hugely popular in the 1990s and 2000s for organizing contacts, calendars, to-do lists, and notes. It featured a stylus-based touchscreen and became the dominant PDA before smartphones superseded the category.
A cloud-based messaging and collaboration platform for teams, combining chat channels, direct messaging, and integrations with other work tools. It's widely used in corporate environments to centralize communication and reduce email clutter.
The curved path that an object follows through space under the influence of gravity or other forces; more broadly, the general direction or course of development of something over time. In abstract contexts, it describes the arc of progress or decline.
The quality or state of having human form, characteristics, or attributes; the degree to which something displays or possesses human-like qualities or appearances.
A public telephone requiring coin or card payment to place calls, typically found on street corners, in businesses, or at transportation hubs. Before widespread cell phone adoption, payphones were essential for making calls away from home or office.
A type of indoor television antenna consisting of two adjustable metal rods protruding upward from the top of a TV set, used to receive over-the-air broadcast signals. Users adjusted the angle and position of the rods to optimize reception.
A shock-absorption technology built into portable CD players (and some other devices) to prevent the laser from skipping or jumping across the disc when jostled or dropped. Early skip protection was minimal and unreliable; later models used mechanical buffer systems or digital audio caching to improve reliability.
A large, freestanding television set housed in a substantial wooden cabinet, popular from the 1950s through 1970s that also served as furniture and a focal point of living rooms. These sets often contained radio and record player components built into the same cabinet.
A retail service, typically offered by drugstores and photo labs, that promised to develop film and print photographs within one hour instead of the typical 3-7 days. This innovation made amateur photography more convenient and accessible throughout the 1980s and 90s.
A wristwatch that displays time using a digital numeric display (LED or LCD) rather than analog hands, first popularized in the 1970s. Digital watches replaced mechanical watches as affordable, accurate, battery-powered alternatives.
An auditory tone heard when calling a telephone number that was already in use, indicating the line was occupied and the call could not be connected. The steady buzzing sound was a ubiquitous feature of pre-digital phone systems.
A telephone feature that alerts a user to an incoming call while they are already on another call, allowing them to pause or switch between conversations. The caller typically hears a beep or tone to indicate the second incoming call.
Apple's built-in Notes application on iPhones and Macs, typically used for quick jottings and reminders. In internet culture, it's become synonymous with sharing unfiltered thoughts, confessions, or half-hearted public statements via screenshot.