Are You a Tech Jargon Junkie?

Have you ever said a phrase like “I am so excited about the innovative disruption of machine learning and AI big data analytics in a world of increasing IoT and wearables technology, and the implications for automation, data visualization, and the imminent transition to a singulatarian transhumanist society that fully leverages blockchain and cryptocurrencies to solve last mile issues and reduce transactional friction?"

If you have, you need to stop.

Every Company is a Tech Company

If you want to talk about technology and sound knowledgeable, you have to keep the tech babble to a minimum. Here are a few basic rules to keep in mind:

1.) Only use one tech term per sentence. If you don’t want people to glaze over or narrow their gaze to a stare of mild disdain, keep your thoughts to one item.

2.) Briefly define what you’re talking about. Otherwise, people think you’re just saying words that make no sense.

3.) Give a simple example that shows you know what you are talking about. And make sure it’s one that people can understand.

Each industry has its own jargon, but tech is something that all companies must have a perspective on. And it’s only becoming truer as all companies attempt to position themselves as tech savvy – or as outright tech companies.

This means that you can’t be jargon-y with tech. Not anymore.

Even if you can drop dope technospeak with the fluidity of Eminem or Kanye, doesn’t mean you should.

I was at a conference in Silicon Valley earlier this month, and I came across this more than once. But I’ve also heard the same tech babble in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago. And that’s just in the past month!

Since tech is now everywhere, tech jargon junkies are everywhere, too. They don’t just live in The Valley.

Make it Real

When I talk to clients about future technology, markets, or the economy, one of the most important things I do is translate difficult concepts and jargon into easily relatable concepts. I try to make it real. This is important in almost all contexts -- but it is especially important when talking about technology.

Let me give you a couple examples:

Inflation is when you live in a more expensive house…without actually moving. Of course, that’s “normal people” inflation. Economist inflation uses something called owners’ equivalent rent as a kind of implied rent figure, and Fed Economist inflation excludes food and energy. But that makes it sound less like zombie banks are a problem, and more like zombie economists are.

IoT – the Internet of Things – is when a thing, like your refrigerator, is connected to the internet. And when you might also expect it to use sensors to do things online. No, your fridge isn’t going to go on Tinder for Appliances anytime soon. But it might order milk for you when a sensor indicates you are out.

When it Comes to Tech, Simple is Smart

When I give speeches, I love it when people tell me that I explained things simply. That’s my job.

If I explain things in a way that people do not understand, that’s on me – not them.

And so, to all the tech jargon junkies out there, I encourage you to talk to people in terms they understand. Because if you use jargon, you might feel really smart, but people won’t understand you and your message will be lost. And that’s just not smart.

The essence of successful tech adoption hinges on having broad appeal and an audience that can widely understand and use the technology. Think about technological advances - the hardware, the software, and the apps -- that are the most successful. Chances are they are simple to explain and easy to use.

As technology changes more rapidly, we need to make the people we are communicating with understand. Some technology has a steep learning curve, but the way we talk about it doesn't have to.

Speak simply to be effective. That’s the smart thing to do.

Do you know any tech jargon junkies?

Feel free to call them out in the comments below!

Best,

- Jason Schenker

Tags: #communication #business #tech #disruption #futureofwork #IoT #automation #robots #robotics #AI #JobsForRobots #jobs #workforce #economy #jargon #economy #inflation

Jason Schenker is the author of multiple books, including Commodity Prices 101, Recession-Proof, Electing Recession, and Jobs for Robots. He is ranked the world's leading financial market futurist, and he is a columnist for Bloomberg Prophets. Jason Schenker is the President of Prestige Economics and the Chairman of The Futurist Institute.