1 in 10 in a survey think HTML is an STD

[enzo1]

If you're talking tech with Americans, you may want to avoid using any jargon.
A recent study found that many Americans are lost when it comes to tech-related terms, with 11% in a survey saying that they thought HTML — a language that is used to create websites — was a sexually transmitted disease.
The study was conducted by Vouchercloud.net, a coupons website, as a way to determine how knowledgeable users are when it comes to tech terms.

"Technology is a huge interest for our user base, and month after month we see thousands of people visiting our site to look for coupons and deals to use when purchasing their favorite tech products," a company spokeswoman said in a statement. "It seems that quite a few of us need to brush up on our tech definitions."

Besides HTML, there were some other amusing findings:

77% of respondents could not identify what SEO means. SEO stands for "Search-Engine Optimization"

27% identified "gigabyte" as an insect commonly found in South America. A gigabyte is a measurement unit for the storage capacity of an electronic device.

42% said they believed a "motherboard" was "the deck of a cruise ship." A motherboard is usually a circuit board that holds many of the key components of a computer.

23% thought an "MP3" was a "Star Wars" robot. It is actually an audio file.

18% identified "Blu-ray" as a marine animal. It is a disc format typically used to store high-definition videos.

15% said they believed "software" is comfortable clothing. Software is a general term for computer programs.

12% said "USB" is the acronym for a European country. In fact, USB is a type of connector.

Despite the incorrect answers, 61% of the respondents said it is important to have a good knowledge of technology in this day and age.
The study involved 2,392 men and women 18 years of age or older. The participants were not told that the study was specifically looking into their knowledge of tech terms. They were presented with both tech and non-tech terms and were asked to choose from three possible definitions.
"Hence why a mix of both normal and technology-related words were used," the company said in a statement.
[Updated 9:40 a.m. PST, March 5: The origin and veracity of the survey have come under question by a journalism ethics website. The firm that conducted the survey, 10 Yetis Public Relations, said it stands by its work and has provided the full survey results.
The survey is "100% genuine, and it's a valid survey," said Leanne Thomas, a senior account executive for 10 Yetis Public Relations.
Thomas said the survey was conducted over email over the course of seven days. She said participants of the survey were given no incentive to respond.]


1 in 10 in a survey think HTML is an STD - latimes.com

[JD159]

I used to work at Futureshop part time. The questions I had over a few years...

1) Lady brings in printer, puts it on table, declares she has a paper jam. Indeed she did. Solution! I pulled the paper out.

2) How many "Gigawizards" does this computer have?

3) UBS port. Heard that one x1000

I have many more...

[74-911]

Some of those are kind of funny but realistically, unless you are in the software / website business I can't see why knowing or not knowing what HTML means has any relevance to anyone... who cares. same for SEO.

[scottmandue]

I have been a tech for around 20 years... and I didn't know what SEO meant.

And I think I have HTML... or maybe it is just a rash... I have been using toilet seat covers after all!

Can you tell me what PCMCIA is?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I have been a tech for around 20 years... and I didn't know what SEO meant.

Can you tell me what PCMCIA is?

Exactly my thought. I'm a network engineer (Cisco stuff) and a tech head that's had a PC since 1988 (remember editing the config.sys and autoexec.bat?). I'm pretty tech savvy. I'd heard of Search Engine Optimization, but had never seen or at least didn't remember ever seeing SEO.

I wonder who the target audience of the poll was, the average guy on the street, people on the 'Net, script kiddies screwing around, etc...

I've known lots and lots of folks that called the computer, the cpu, hard drive, big box, etc.... Just like lots of folks couldn't point out the alternator with the hood of their car popped and don't know what it does, it's not that surprising that most folks don't have much knowledge about IT/Tech stuff other than how to point and click.

[lane912]

dongle-

one man’s dongle.....
Another man’s adapter-

Or it's the key on a usb memory stick that lets you use some software-

[MysticLlama]

PCMCIA = People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms

[emcon5]

No they don't.

8 in 10 assclown reporters will publish anything without researching.

[UPDATED] LATimes, Time, BuzzFeed Cite Poll? 10% America thinks 'HTML is a

[GH85Carrera]

How many know what SCSI does and stands for?

[Baz]

C HOPKNS CAFE MG B MN CUZIN MOCL

OK - let's see someone (without Google assistance) explain that one for me...

[Baz]

Yesterday after hearing Led Zeppelin on my portable stereo while working at his property a client asked me if I was aware that L.Z. was the best rock band ever....(of course my reply was "yes").

So this morning while finishing up that same job, I told him I'd burn for him a disc of assorted MP3 files from my compilation.

"You do know what an MP3 file is, don't you?"

"Uh....no...I'm not that great at computer stuff."

"You have an iPod don't you....and iTunes?"

"Yes."

"Hey I bet your daughter would be able to show you how to use the disc."

"Um...OK...thanks."

(thank goodness for the kids!)