Long gone are the days of dial-up and waiting for your turn to use the computer. Its easier than ever to connect to the Internet， in more ways than one， in the digital world today. This is mostly thanks to Wi-Fi.

通過撥號等待使用網(wǎng)絡的日子早已成為過去。在當今的數(shù)字時代，通過各種方式連接上網(wǎng)和以往相比輕而易舉，而這主要歸功于Wi-Fi。

What is Wi-Fi？

Wi-Fi is a wireless network that uses radio frequency signals to connect to the Internet or send messages between devices， without wires. Everything from your phone and laptop to tablets and printers can use Wi-Fi， thanks to these waves. In 1997， a committee of industry leaders approved a common， more compatible Wi-Fi standard. Two years later， a group of companies formed the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance （WECA， now the Wi-Fi Alliance）， a global nonprofit organization created to promote the new wireless standard， according to the Britannica. The Alliance is in the minority as there are as many as 17 company names that have secret meanings.

Wi-Fi是什么？

Wi-Fi是一種無線網(wǎng)絡，它不需要電線，使用無線頻率信號即可連接互聯(lián)網(wǎng)或在設備之間發(fā)送信息。得益于無線電波，從手機、筆記本電腦到平板電腦、打印機，一切設備都可以使用Wi-Fi。1997年，一個由行業(yè)領袖組成的委員會批準了通用且更兼容的Wi-Fi標準。據(jù)《大英百科全書》所述，兩年后，諸多公司成立了無線以太網(wǎng)兼容聯(lián)盟（簡稱WECA，即現(xiàn)在的Wi-Fi聯(lián)盟），這是一個全球性的非營利組織，旨在推廣新的無線標準。這是一個小眾聯(lián)盟，因為其中有17家公司的名稱具有秘密含義。

None of that history explains what Wi-Fi stands for， because the phrase doesnt stand for anything. Wi-Fi is a trademarked term describing the device or technology based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers （IEEE） wireless communication standard 802.11， according to the Wi-Fi Alliance. Thats a mouthful， so the Wi-Fi Alliance hired the marketing company Interbrand to come up with another name： Wi-Fi， according to one of the founding Alliance members.

以上這些歷史都無法解釋Wi-Fi代表什么，因為這個短語并不代表任何東西。根據(jù)Wi-Fi聯(lián)盟的說法，Wi-Fi是一個商標術語，用來描述基于IEEE無線通信標準802.11的設備或技術。這聽起來有點拗口，所以聽從Wi-Fi聯(lián)盟中一成員的意見，Wi-Fi聯(lián)盟聘請了市場營銷公司Interbrand為它起了另一個名字：Wi-Fi。

Theres some debate surrounding the question， what does Wi-Fi stand for. The rumor that it stands for “Wireless Fidelity” is thanks to the Alliance. Some members didnt understand the branding or marketing for Wi-Fi. They felt consumers would want an explanation for the name. So the Alliance agreed to include a tag line： The Standard for Wireless Fidelity. Thats why so many people assume Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity， but the tagline came after the name. Plus， the Alliance removed the tag， although the confusion it brought still lives on today. Dont add to the confusion and stop miss-associating these phrases by learning the real meaning behind these acronyms.

一直以來都有關于Wi-Fi代表什么的爭論。關于它代表“無線保真”的說法是該聯(lián)盟提出的。一些會員并不了解Wi-Fi的品牌和營銷，他們認為消費者想要一個對該名詞的解釋。因此，聯(lián)盟同意加入一個標簽：無線保真度的標準。這就是為什么很多人認為Wi-Fi代表無線保真度，但這個說法是在名詞之后出現(xiàn)的。此外，現(xiàn)在該聯(lián)盟去除了這個標簽，但它帶來的困惑到現(xiàn)在仍然存在。所以，不要混淆二者，也不要通過學習這些縮略詞背后的真正含義來錯誤地聯(lián)系一些短語。

Word Study

frequency /'fri?kw?nsi/ n. 發(fā)生率;出現(xiàn)率;重復率;[數(shù)][物]頻率，次數(shù)

Accidents are happening with increasing frequency.

compatible /k?m'p?t?bl/ adj. 可共用的， 兼容的;可共存的;關系好的，和睦相處的

The new system will be compatible with existing equipment.

promote /pr?'m??t/ v. 促進，推動;促銷;提升，晉升

She worked hard and was soon promoted.

debate /d?'be?t/ n. 辯論;爭論，辯論，討論

There had been much debate on the issue of childcare.