Last month, we covered A-G of the tech alphabet, which you can read
here. In this issue, we’ll be exploring H-K.
HACKATHON
Perhaps not what you expect, a Hackathon isn’t about breaking through computer security systems. The term ‘hacker’ actual refers to someone who is proficient with computer programming and development. A Hackathon is an event which brings tech and digital experts together to collaborate on intensive projects. Generally, a hackathon will last a few days, during which time teams, often comprising of complete strangers, must create a tech or digital product from scratch: this can be anything from a mobile app to a functioning robot.
INTERNET OF THINGS
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the idea of connecting everyday objects to the internet so they can communicate with both the user and each other. The most common examples are smart home products and wearables such as:
- Energy meters and thermostats that you can control via a mobile app
- Wearable fitness trackers and smart watches such as Fitbits
- Glucose monitoring devices, which are inserted under the skin and send a message to the patient if their levels are nearing the limit
- Home security systems that can be controlled via smartphones
- Smart pet feeders that calculate the best nutrition for your pet, control how much they need to be eating and can even order a delivery of food when it runs out
The future of the Internet of Things is predicted to be smart cities – cities that use data to improve infrastructure, utilities, services and quality of life for their residents.
KEYWORDS
Keywords are the words and phrases that people type into a search engine or website search bar when they want information. They are vital for ensuring that people find exactly what they are looking for, so if you have a website, you ideally want it to appear on the first page of search results, which requires having the right keywords. This is also known as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), which we will cover in a future tech lingo article.
