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I'm working on a web application. It runs in Chrome and Safari, so that supports just about any modern device.

I'm worried that "device" might be a confusing term for the average person. Here are a few ideas I've come up with so far:

  • Web Device
  • Internet Device
  • Internet Computer

Does anyone have other suggestions?

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    I feel this should be flagged as a Language question. How does it relate to UX?
    – Pdxd
    Mar 6, 2014 at 16:28
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    Device is fine. FYI, however, note that mobile Safari and Safari are not exactly the same browser. And lots of android phones are still running browsers that aren't using the same rendering engine as Chrome.
    – DA01
    Mar 6, 2014 at 16:35
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    @pdxd it feels like a UX question to me. The OP is specifically concerned about how his choice of words is going to affect the usability of his web-app. Accessibility of copy is a valid usability concern for websites.
    – Racheet
    Mar 6, 2014 at 18:31
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    This question appears to be off topic for ux.stackexchange.com and should be migrated to english.stackexchange.com
    – greenforest
    Mar 6, 2014 at 23:20
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    @greenforest I strenuously disagree. Creating copy that matches the users mental model is a fundamental part of UX. Nothing in the faq prohibits questions about copy, and this question is about a specific case that many UX profesionals will encounter at some point in their lives. A good UX answer is of clear benefit to the community.
    – Racheet
    Mar 7, 2014 at 12:43

2 Answers 2

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If you want to be completely clear to all possible users, you probably want to steer away from a nonspecific word like "device".

I'd suggest using the compound phrase "your phone or tablet" instead.

Whilst it's technically true that your app will work on devices that aren't phones or tablets, the people who own those devices and use them to browse the net already know that, so you don't need to tell them.

The only people who might be confused are people using either a phone or a tablet, and that's what they'll call the their device, so that's the word you need to use.

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  • Just a note, I'm a speaker of British English, so I'll defer to an American speaker if it somehow turns out that those words aren't common usage across the pond.
    – Racheet
    Mar 6, 2014 at 16:30
  • Racheet, but more than half our website vistiors are using Windows/Mac (non mobile/non tablet). wouldn't they think "oh well, I guess this is one of those "app things" I can't use on my PC?
    – Clay Nichols
    Mar 6, 2014 at 20:35
  • ahh right, I didn't realise it wasn't a mobile specific web-app. In that case, I'd be doubly careful of using the word "device", it doesn't normally refer to computers in everyday speech, it normally means "appliances". How do you feel about "your phone, tablet or computer"?
    – Racheet
    Mar 7, 2014 at 11:11
  • too long :) Internet Device would be better. Or Web device
    – Clay Nichols
    Mar 7, 2014 at 19:19
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Device is pretty standard. Other than that, you could check out its synonyms:

enter image description here

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  • I think device is the common term in web-design circles, but I wouldn't expect my grandfather to know which kind of "device" some random website was talking about. Especially if he'd forgotten that he could use his telephone to access web-pages.
    – Racheet
    Mar 6, 2014 at 16:33
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    I think it all depends on audience and how the copy is actually being used. The OP really needs to narrow the question down to exactly how the copy is going to be used to get a quality answer. Right now it's too broad.
    – Code Maverick
    Mar 6, 2014 at 16:46

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