> i went with desktop, but I also like home screen, and I think I probably use these terms interchangeably
This might be best to have be configurable, so that I can pick what a family member already knows
Some people have previously used a computer professionally and know what a desktop is, so for them it's fine to use the word (my dad would be one of those). Others have more smartphone experience and I think I use the words home screen (my mom I think) and start screen (my grandma). It's like you mention a word and see how they react to it: do they get what concept you're referring to from the word's components? Do they repeat it back to you later, did it stick, or do they at least understand it the next time you say it? When you ask "what screen do you get when you turn the device on", what word do they use? I base my wording on things like that, so it's not just region- or family-specific but even person-specific, in my experience
This might be best to have be configurable, so that I can pick what a family member already knows
Some people have previously used a computer professionally and know what a desktop is, so for them it's fine to use the word (my dad would be one of those). Others have more smartphone experience and I think I use the words home screen (my mom I think) and start screen (my grandma). It's like you mention a word and see how they react to it: do they get what concept you're referring to from the word's components? Do they repeat it back to you later, did it stick, or do they at least understand it the next time you say it? When you ask "what screen do you get when you turn the device on", what word do they use? I base my wording on things like that, so it's not just region- or family-specific but even person-specific, in my experience