Vocabulary Quiz (Digital Life, Science, & Technology)

Question: What is “strong AI”?

Answer: “Strong AI,” also called AGI (artificial general intelligence), is considered the next generation of AI development: AI may perform human tasks, but strong AI will even determine the appropriate actions to take.

Question: What’s the name for the technology that enhances people’s vision of the world by overlaying computer-generated images and content on the scene when viewed through special devices such as smartphones, tablets, smart glasses, and headsets?

Answer: Augmented reality (AR) is the name for this technology, prominently used in digital games such as Pokémon GO.

Question: Which term is frequently used to mean “recreational space travel”?

Answer: Recreational space travel is commonly dubbed “space tourism.”

Question: What is a “digital Sabbath”?

Answer: Known by various names—“digital detox,” “screenless Saturdays,” and “digital Sabbath” (named for the religious day of the week devoted to rest and spiritual reflection)—this intentional break from technology aims to lower stress, improve sleep, increase in-person socializing, and foster more outdoor activities.

Question: What is “stinge-watching”?

Answer: Between 2023 and 2025 many streaming services reverted to dropping only one episode of a show per week, to the outrage of dedicated binge-watchers and to the delight of others, who enjoyed prolonging the pleasure of the program and the buildup to a new episode. This method of rationing media viewing was dubbed “stinge-watching.”

Question: What is “offloading” in relation to Internet usage?

Answer: “Offloading” is relying on the Internet for things once known from experience and memory.

Question: TikTok has been tied to China’s “Digital Silk Road” initiative. What does Silk Road refer to?

Answer: The Silk Road was a network of ancient trade routes, mostly over land but also via sea, that connected China and the West, facilitating trade for some 1,500 years.

Question: The “brain drain” theory of cell phone use claims which of the following?

Answer: All of these are characteristics of the “brain drain” theory of cell phone use.

Question: What’s the name for the habit that reportedly causes a drop of 10 points in a person’s functional IQ?

Answer: Contrary to popular belief, humans cannot multitask and still perform at their best; one study found that multitasking drops a person’s functional IQ (the ability to perform everyday tasks) by 10 points.

Question: What’s the significance of SixDegrees.com?

Answer: SixDegrees.com (1997–2001) was the first true social media site.

Question: ​Which abbreviation is widely associated with violent video games?

Answer: FPSs (first-person shooters) are a common component and type of violent video games.

Question: What is the “Turing test”?

Answer: Named for mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing (1912–54), the test is a method for assessing whether a computer is capable of thinking like a human being.