Technology has invaded our daily lives! The majority of people walk around with a smartphone in their pocket and use them on a daily basis. Let it be said, we are constantly connected, suspended on our mobiles and computers. To work, search for information, communicate, develop a website or for a data transmission… We use it every day!
Although many people use 4G, it is always more efficient and economical to use a Wi-Fi connection, whether at home or at work. That’s why the first question you ask when you arrive in a new place is: “What is the Wi-Fi password?”. We use this word very often, but do you know what its real meaning is? Let’s discover all this together, without further ado!
What does Wi-Fi mean?
It has become so frequent and innocuous to use the term “Wi-Fi” that we no longer even try to discover the origin of this word.
What does Wi-Fi mean and what is it for?
This wireless technology aims to connect to the Internet, without having to connect laptops and electronic devices to an Ethernet cable. It was first born in the late 90s, in the United States. Today the word “Wi-Fi” is very often used, without really knowing its history and origin.
Why is the word “Wi-Fi” said to be an acronym or abbreviation?
For several years, the most common explanation has been that the word Wi-Fi is the contraction of Wireless Fidelity, which means in French: “Wireless Fidelity”. But this assumption is wrong. This word is none other than a marketing invention to mark the spirits and allow a maximum of people to easily remember this term, thus facilitating the marketing of the wireless LAN and its current use.
The word Wi-Fi is therefore neither an acronym nor an abbreviation. But in that case, what does it mean, you might ask? You will be surprised to learn that in reality it means nothing! According to Phil Belanger, founding member of the Wi-Fi Alliance, it is just a formula that works well and is easy to remember for consumers who are intended for wireless Internet access, as reported by the site Numerama.
What is the definition and history of the creation of Wi-Fi?
If the word Wi-Fi is not an abbreviation and has no meaning, how was it defined and chosen? What is its history? Who decided to name wireless computer network access that? It is by taking the advice of marketing consultants, that the large group that created Wi-Fi, the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, aka WECA, better known today as the Wi-Fi Alliance, decided to call it.
How did the Wi-Fi connection come up with its name?
At the time, Wi-Fi was named after the standards that governed it, namely IEEE 802.11. But the name IEEE 802.11 B Direct Sequence, was deemed far too long, difficult to remember and to keep in mind. It was therefore necessary to find a simpler, more accessible name to facilitate its marketing and allow as many people as possible to keep it in mind. That’s when the marketing team came up with a dozen name suggestions to the WECA, and the term “Wi-fi” was selected from all those suggested.
What is the meaning and symbol of Wi-Fi?
Although the term “Wi-Fi” sounded a lot like the word “Hi-Fi,” there was no connection between the two. The WECA group, then decided to associate the local wireless network, the slogan “The Standard for Wireless Fidelity”, which can be translated into French as “the standard for wireless fidelity”. The installation of this hook allowed the Technology group to make a strong impression and consumers to better understand its usefulness.
You now know the true history and origin of the word “Wi-Fi”, which we continue to use on a daily basis! The next time you use your ultra-high-speed fiber, you can spread your knowledge and explain to everyone what the term “Wi-Fi” really means!
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