- One in four adults cannot with certainty define what Wi-Fi actually means studies find
- Only about half of the British said confidently that they understand what a VPN means
- Ready, jargon -free communication is preferred overwhelming by consumers throughout the UK
Technology forms how people live their lives – yet many consumers misunderstand the language used to describe their home connection has raised new research.
A study of British adults from Talktalk claims, although three-quarters claim to understand “Wi-Fi”, is almost a neighborhood still unclear about its significance.
When asked which word they use for home connection, a third of the respondents said “Wi-Fi”, a little ahead of “Internet” and “Broadband.”
Preferred terminology and confusion between services
Far fewer selected “wireless” or more informal alternatives such as “T’InThe” to describe home connection.
Despite telecommunications companies that are still pushing broadband brand, public use indicates a shift towards everyday expressions that feel confidential.
However, this preference is not always translated into an accurate understanding.
Many still mix broadband, the wired service that comes into the property, with Wi-Fi, the wireless signal distributed inside the home of a router.
Some even think the two expressions are identical or that broadband is simply an older name of Wi-Fi.
In assessing the participants’ confidence in different network conditions, 76%said they understand “Wi-Fi,” but self-confidence falls as the language becomes more technical.
Only half reported to know what “fiber” means, even though service providers are strongly advertising fiber broadband.
Conditions such as “IP address”, “LAN” and “FTTP” ranked far lower with single-digit confidentiality for some items.
This Videngap extends to security tools that said just over half that they understand VPNs, even though the best VPNs are always on our screens.
Despite several ads on the best VPN for the UK, many Britons hardly know anything more than the basic features of VPNs.
Consumers do not take the blame for the knowledge gap; Instead, they said that telecommunications companies should use simple, jargon -free language to facilitate understanding.
Nearly nine out of ten emphasized the need for clear communication, while 62% admitted that Jargon can leave them confused or overwhelmed.
Over half said complex terminology makes technology -related information difficult to understand.
Talktalk’s own leadership recognized the problem, which suggested that the industry has not kept pace with how consumers are talking.
“Wi-Fi is a staple ad in all our homes, but as an industry we have not kept pace with the times when we talk to our customers,” said Steve Wallage, Talktalk’s product, experience and proposal director.
Providers aimed at building trust may need to rethink their language, focus less on technical specifications and more on practical clarity.
“Our latest research tells us that people prefer to communicate in the same way they speak without jargon, and our industry has to reflect it,” Wallage added.
If the industry does not match consumers, companies will continue to say one thing while users interpret something completely different.
