- One in four adults cannot confirm with confidence what Wi-Fi really means, the survey finds
- Only about half of the British said confident that they understand what a VPN means
- Clear and jargon communication is overwhelmingly preferred by consumers throughout the United Kingdom
Technology shapes the way people live their lives, however, many consumers misunderstand the language used to describe the connectivity of their home, has affirmed new research.
An adult survey in the United Kingdom in Talkalk affirms although three-fourths claim to understand “Wi-Fi”, almost a quarter is not clear about its meaning.
When asked what word they use for domestic connectivity, a third of respondents said “Wi-Fi”, slightly ahead of “Internet” and “Broadband.”
Preferred terminology and confusion between services
Much less “wireless” or more informal alternatives selected as “t'internet” to describe domestic connectivity.
Although telecommunications companies still boost the broadband brand, public use indicates a change towards everyday terms that feel relatives.
However, this preference does not always translate into a precise understanding.
Many still mix broadband, the service with cable that enters the property, with Wi-Fi, the wireless signal distributed inside the home by a router.
Some even believe that the two terms are identical or that broadband is simply an earlier name for Wi-Fi.
When qualifying the confidence of the participants with several terms of networks, 76% said they understand “Wi-Fi”, but trust falls when language becomes more technical.
Only half informed what “fiber” means, despite the fact that service providers largely announce the broadband fiber band.
Terms such as “IP address”, “LAN” and “FTTP” were much lower, familiar with a single digit for some inputs.
This knowledge gap extends to safety tools, since just over half said they understand the VPNs, although the best VPNs are always on our screens.
Despite several ads about the best VPN for the United Kingdom, many British barely know more than the basic functions of the VPN.
Consumers are not to blame for the knowledge gap; Instead, they said that telecommunications companies should use simple and jargon language to relieve understanding.
Almost nine out of ten emphasized the need for clear communication, while 62% admitted the jargon can leave them confused or overwhelmed.
More than half said complex terminology hinders information related to information.
Talkalk leadership itself recognized the problem, which suggests that the industry has not followed the pace of how consumers speak.
“Wi-Fi is a basic element in all our homes, but as an industry we have not updated the moments in which we talk to our customers,” said Steve Wallage, director of products, experience and proposals for Talktalk.
Suppliers that seek to generate trust may need to rethink their language, focusing 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 should reflect that,” Wallage added.
If the industry does not align with consumers, companies will continue to say something while users interpret something completely different.
