What?Does?Wi-Fi?Stand?For?

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.

通过拨号等待使用网络的日子早已成为过去。在当今的数字时代，通过各种方式连接上网和以往相比轻而易举，而这主要归功于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是一种无线网络，它不需要电线，使用无线频率信号即可连接互联网或在设备之间发送信息。得益于无线电波，从手机、笔记本电脑到平板电脑、打印机，一切设备都可以使用Wi-Fi。1997年，一个由行业领袖组成的委员会批准了通用且更兼容的Wi-Fi标准。据《大英百科全书》所述，两年后，诸多公司成立了无线以太网兼容联盟（简称WECA，即现在的Wi-Fi联盟），这是一个全球性的非营利组织，旨在推广新的无线标准。这是一个小众联盟，因为其中有17家公司的名称具有秘密含义。

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.

以上这些历史都无法解释Wi-Fi代表什么，因为这个短语并不代表任何东西。根据Wi-Fi联盟的说法，Wi-Fi是一个商标术语，用来描述基于IEEE无线通信标准802.11的设备或技术。这听起来有点拗口，所以听从Wi-Fi联盟中一成员的意见，Wi-Fi联盟聘请了市场营销公司Interbrand为它起了另一个名字：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.

一直以來都有关于Wi-Fi代表什么的争论。关于它代表“无线保真”的说法是该联盟提出的。一些会员并不了解Wi-Fi的品牌和营销，他们认为消费者想要一个对该名词的解释。因此，联盟同意加入一个标签：无线保真度的标准。这就是为什么很多人认为Wi-Fi代表无线保真度，但这个说法是在名词之后出现的。此外，现在该联盟去除了这个标签，但它带来的困惑到现在仍然存在。所以，不要混淆二者，也不要通过学习这些缩略词背后的真正含义来错误地联系一些短语。

Word Study

frequency /'fri?kw?nsi/ n. 发生率;出现率;重复率;[数][物]频率，次数

Accidents are happening with increasing frequency.

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

The new system will be compatible with existing equipment.

promote /pr?'m??t/ v. 促进，推动;促销;提升，晋升

She worked hard and was soon promoted.

debate /d?'be?t/ n. 辩论;争论，辩论，讨论

There had been much debate on the issue of childcare.