Technology General
Emerging Technology Technology that is still developing and has potential for significant impact but hasn't reached full maturity or widespread adoption.
Hype Cycle Gartner's model of technology adoption: Technology Trigger → Peak of Inflated Expectations → Trough of Disillusionment → Slope of Enlightenment → Plateau of Productivity.
S-Curve Pattern of technology development where progress is slow initially, then rapid, then slows again as limits are reached.
Exponential Growth Growth that doubles at a constant rate over time. Characteristic of early-stage technologies but not sustainable indefinitely.
Convergence When multiple technologies combine to enable new capabilities that neither could achieve alone.
Adjacent Possible Innovations that become achievable once prerequisite technologies or capabilities exist.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Scale from 1-9 measuring technology maturity, from basic principles to proven system.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Machine Learning (ML) Subset of AI where systems learn from data rather than being explicitly programmed.
Deep Learning Machine learning using neural networks with many layers, enabling learning of complex patterns.
Neural Network Computing system inspired by biological neural networks, consisting of layers of interconnected nodes.
Large Language Model (LLM) Neural network trained on vast amounts of text to generate and understand language.
Training Process of teaching a machine learning model by exposing it to data.
Inference Using a trained model to make predictions or generate outputs.
Supervised Learning Training with labeled examples (input-output pairs).
Unsupervised Learning Training without labels to find patterns in data.
Reinforcement Learning Training through trial and error with rewards and penalties.
Generative AI AI that creates new content (text, images, audio, video).
Hallucination When AI generates plausible-sounding but false or nonsensical information.
AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) Hypothetical AI with human-level general intelligence across all domains.
RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback) Training AI to align with human preferences through feedback.
Transformer Neural network architecture underlying modern LLMs, using attention mechanisms.
Prompt Input text given to an AI model to generate a response.
Fine-tuning Additional training of a pre-trained model on specific data.
Biotechnology
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) Molecule carrying genetic instructions in living organisms.
Gene Segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein or function.
Genome Complete set of genetic material in an organism.
Genomics Study of genomes and their functions.
Sequencing Determining the order of nucleotides (A, T, G, C) in DNA.
CRISPR Gene-editing technology enabling precise DNA modifications.
Cas9 Protein that acts as "molecular scissors" in CRISPR gene editing.
Gene Therapy Treating disease by modifying or replacing genes.
Germline Editing Genetic changes to eggs, sperm, or embryos that would be inherited.
Somatic Editing Genetic changes to non-reproductive cells that aren't inherited.
Synthetic Biology Engineering new biological systems or redesigning existing ones.
mRNA (Messenger RNA) Molecule that carries genetic instructions from DNA to make proteins.
Protein Large molecules that perform most functions in cells.
AlphaFold AI system from DeepMind that predicts protein structures.
Pharmacogenomics Using genetic information to guide drug selection and dosing.
Energy and Climate
Renewable Energy Energy from sources that naturally replenish (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal).
Photovoltaic (PV) Technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Grid Network that delivers electricity from producers to consumers.
Intermittency Variability in power generation (solar doesn't generate at night).
Baseload Minimum constant power demand on a grid.
Capacity Factor Ratio of actual output to maximum possible output over time.
Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Average cost of electricity generation over a plant's lifetime.
Carbon Footprint Total greenhouse gas emissions from an activity or organization.
Net Zero Achieving balance between emissions produced and removed.
Carbon Capture Technologies that capture CO2 from emissions or atmosphere.
Direct Air Capture (DAC) Extracting CO2 directly from ambient air.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Large-scale batteries storing electricity for later use.
Lithium-ion Battery chemistry used in most current EVs and grid storage.
Hydrogen (Green) Hydrogen produced using renewable electricity to split water.
Nuclear Fission Splitting heavy atoms to release energy.
Nuclear Fusion Combining light atoms to release energy.
Tokamak Donut-shaped device for containing fusion plasma.
Quantum Computing
Qubit Quantum bit — basic unit of quantum information.
Superposition Quantum property allowing qubits to represent multiple states simultaneously.
Entanglement Quantum correlation between particles where measuring one affects others.
Quantum Supremacy/Advantage Quantum computer performing a task faster than classical computers.
Decoherence Loss of quantum properties due to environmental interference.
NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) Current era of quantum computers with limited qubits and high error rates.
Fault-tolerant Quantum Computing Quantum computing with error correction enabling reliable computation.
Shor's Algorithm Quantum algorithm for factoring large numbers, threatening current encryption.
Grover's Algorithm Quantum algorithm providing quadratic speedup for search problems.
Post-quantum Cryptography Encryption methods resistant to quantum computer attacks.
Space Technology
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Orbit up to ~2,000 km altitude.
Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Orbit where satellite appears stationary relative to Earth (~36,000 km).
Launch Vehicle Rocket that delivers payloads to space.
Reusability Ability to fly rockets multiple times, reducing costs.
Satellite Constellation Coordinated group of satellites working together.
Payload Cargo carried by a launch vehicle.
Propellant Fuel and oxidizer burned by rockets for thrust.
Delta-v Change in velocity required for orbital maneuvers.
Space Debris Defunct satellites, rocket stages, and fragments orbiting Earth.
Starship SpaceX's fully reusable launch system designed for lunar and Mars missions.
ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) Using resources found at destination (e.g., making fuel on Mars).
Space Station Habitable satellite orbiting Earth (ISS, planned commercial stations).
Robotics
Robot Programmable machine capable of carrying out actions automatically.
Autonomous Operating without human control.
End Effector Tool at the end of a robot arm (gripper, welding torch, etc.).
Degrees of Freedom Number of independent movements a robot can make.
Actuator Component that causes movement (motor, hydraulic cylinder).
Sensor Device that detects and measures physical properties.
LIDAR Laser-based sensing technology for mapping environments.
Computer Vision AI systems that interpret visual information.
SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) Building a map while tracking location within it.
Cobot (Collaborative Robot) Robot designed to work safely alongside humans.
Humanoid Robot Robot with human-like body form.
Autonomous Vehicle Vehicle capable of navigating without human input.
Levels of Autonomy (SAE) Scale from 0-5 describing vehicle automation capability.
eVTOL Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft.
General Science and Technology
Peer Review Process where experts evaluate research before publication.
Replication Repeating experiments to verify results.
Proof of Concept Demonstration that an idea can work in principle.
Prototype Early version of a product for testing and development.
Scale-up Expanding from laboratory or pilot scale to commercial scale.
Moore's Law Observation that computing power roughly doubles every two years.
Wright's Law Observation that costs decline predictably as cumulative production increases.
Technology Transfer Moving technology from research to commercial application.
Disruption New technology displacing established market leaders.
Platform Technology Technology that enables many different applications.
Investment and Business
Venture Capital (VC) Private investment in early-stage companies.
Series A/B/C Rounds of startup funding (A earliest, letters progress with growth).
Unicorn Startup valued at over $1 billion.
IPO (Initial Public Offering) When a private company first sells shares publicly.
R&D (Research and Development) Activities aimed at innovation and improvement.
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) Spending on physical assets and infrastructure.
TAM (Total Addressable Market) Total market demand for a product or service.
Technology Adoption Curve Pattern of adoption from innovators to early adopters to majority to laggards.
Lock-in When switching costs make changing technologies difficult.
Network Effect When a product becomes more valuable as more people use it.