Having done loads of tech support for old people, I've really got used to being sensitive about the terminology I used - and their 'alternative' terms.
Some of the best examples:
- 'the green' for the desktop (that teal desktop background from Win98)
- 'e' for the internet ("So when I'm on e...")
- 'the computer' for the screen - particularly hard to diagnose over the phone
Also, several times I fell foul to the old bash.org facepalmer of physical action when I ask if they can "open a window". Skeomorphism can be confusing.
It's not like these things have labels on them. (Well Win8 finally has a button that says "Desktop".) "Window" and "cursor" and "icon" etc is really just jargon.
A direct quote from my time at the Kodak call center, after pointing out how to navigate to Control Panel (via the start menu): "Start? My computer's already on!"
Some of the best examples: - 'the green' for the desktop (that teal desktop background from Win98) - 'e' for the internet ("So when I'm on e...") - 'the computer' for the screen - particularly hard to diagnose over the phone
Also, several times I fell foul to the old bash.org facepalmer of physical action when I ask if they can "open a window". Skeomorphism can be confusing.