A very short while ago we didn't have mobile phones or laptop computers - and we also didn't have four-letter acronyms.

Now the technology industry is riddled with jargon.

Does it matter that a ZP4 chip is four times as fast as a ZP27, which is eight times as fast as a 6798XP?

Who really cares as long as it works?

What matters is that we are all believing an elitist myth that states: "Unless you know all the buzzwords then you can't know anything about computers."

This ridiculous situation originated in the early days of computing, when the first engineers invented a whole new language to disguise the fact that computers are actually fun to play with.

They created complex verbal barriers, which kept out the casual passer-by.

This unhappy state of affairs has continued to this day. Computer enthusiasts are still regarded as "nerds" by many people while most technology is still regarded by the masses as an elitist mystery.

But why should this be so? Almost everywhere you look there are computer shops springing up out of nowhere with a mission to bring technology to ordinary people.

There is even a new one in Uckfield High Street. I stopped to have a chat with Mike and Terri Lynch, the owners of The Computer Shop, and discovered they are knowledgeable, friendly, down-to-earth people who don't find it necessary to confuse customers with gobbledegook.

Good luck with your new venture. Sussex needs a few more like you.

However, getting rid of the mystery surrounding technology could create difficulties for the industry as a whole.

Ordinary people would be able to understand what they were buying.

Horror of horrors, they might even begin to recognise when they are being ripped off.

If the acronym was banned, then manufacturers would have to write a proper description of their goods.

People would be able to go into any computer store and know they were getting exactly what they asked for.

There would be no need to take an interpreter or technical expert to make sure the machine was suitable for their purpose.

Sadly it doesn't look like it is going to happen. Every day we see new and exciting products whose names are just a meaningless jumble of letters and numbers.

Just think what fun it would be to give a new product a sensible name that describes exactly what it does.

Like carpet sweeper or hot water bottle. Proper names that actually mean something.

Is that so very difficult?

Contact: The Computer Shop 01825 764600