A plethora of natural-sounding acronyms have permeated our language to the point that we have forgotten what they actually stand for.
From tasers to lasers, scuba diving, radar and zip codes, there are many acronyms and acronyms with unusual origins that we use every day.
Some were born out of ease of use, while others were created specifically to make formal content easier to understand and manuscripts easier to read.
Interestingly, many of the acronyms we use today are also used in technology: GIF stands for “Graphic Interchange Format,” Wi-Fi means “wireless fidelity,” and AI, of course, stands for “artificial intelligence.”
But did you know that the “G” family of mobile networks (5G, 4G, 3G, etc.) are also acronyms?
If you’re an avid iPhone user, this feature has been present in the top right toolbar for years, but you might not know what it means.
A quick search on social media will reveal that you’re not the only one who’s unfamiliar with this acronym.
But in simple terms, 5G means the fifth generation of wireless, and the same principles apply to 4G (fourth generation) and 3G (third generation).
Essentially, this tells you what generation of cellular connection you have, with 5G being the latest.
So in this case, even though “G” doesn’t exactly stand for a phrase or a complex word, it’s still classified as an acronym.
People with 5G have the latest generation of mobile phone connectivity. (Getty Images/Juan Algar)
According to Ofcom, 5G offers much faster speeds and greater capacity than previous generations of wireless technology.
With more devices now connected, the consumer experience is said to be improved from the previous version.
Additionally, 5th Gen Wireless will be used in smart manufacturing, drone delivery, and even uploading Apple Watch workouts to Strava.
If you see a little “5G sign” in the corner of your phone, you know you’re using the latest network with the best speeds and capacity.
Last year, doctors at Sun Yat-sen University’s Zhongshan Eye Center conducted the first remote eye laser surgery using 5G.
At a center in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, a team of doctors and scientists has reportedly built a 5G robot to treat 12 rabbits.
Following the success of the trial, the researchers said the breakthrough would help advance the development of ophthalmology and address the imbalance in the distribution of world-class medical resources nationwide.
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The first remote eye surgery was performed over 5G. (yevtony/Getty Images)
“If all goes well, 5G remote micro-ophthalmic surgery will be available for humans within six months,” said Professor Lin Haotian.
Additionally, Zhong Xingwu, vice president of Hainan Eye Hospital, said that remote surgery via 5G will greatly improve the accessibility and quality of medical care for many patients.
The more you know, the better, right?
