by Donraj
***
Princess Celestia stared at the device dubiously.
"Let me see if I have this straight. This machine allows you to convert text to a series of numbers which the machine then stores and converts back into text when you want to read it. That's why you call it 'digital information."
Twilight nodded. "Yes."
"And the machine itself is connected to other similar machines by using relatively minor amounts of electricity to send these numbers back and forth. Which you call 'digital communication."
Twilight nodded again. "That's right, Princess."
"And you collectively refer to all of these connections as the 'interweb,' even though no such thing actually exists either as a physical place or a magical construct. Because you picture them as a sort of invisible web with strands leading from one machine to another."
Twilight beamed. "Now you've got it, Princess!"
Princess Celestia shook her head. "And how does this new appliance you created change that?"
"Application," Twilight said automatically. She raised one hoof to her muzzle as she realized what she'd just done. "Oh my gosh, Princess I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to correct—" she stammered in a panic. Celestia stopped her with a look of gentle admonishment. Twilight closed her eyes, raised one forelimb to get chest and took a deep breath.
Celestia waited until Twilight opened her eyes again. "Better now?"
"Yes, thank you," Twilight said. "Anyway, what it does is use the interweb to copy documents on this machine to another machine dedicated to that purpose, thereby giving me a backup if something happens to the original machine or I need to access it from another device. And it does so automatically, without me needing to do it myself each time!"
Twilight looked up at her mentor, beaming. She was clearly proud of herself.
"Impressive," Celestia said a little uncertainly. "And what do you call it?"
"Alicorn Drive."
Celestia groped for a response. Finally she said, "Would you like to borrow Luna's new racecar and go for a spin?"
Twilight's eyes brightened. "Would I ever!"