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30 changes: 12 additions & 18 deletions understanding/21/orientation.html
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ <h2>In brief</h2>
<dt>What to do</dt><dd>Don't lock content to either portrait or landscape presentation.</dd>
<dt>Why it's important</dt><dd>Wheelchair users and others may have devices mounted in a fixed orientation.</dd>
</dl>

</section>

<section id="intent">
Expand All @@ -30,17 +29,12 @@ <h2>Intent of this Success Criterion</h2>
that users will respond by rotating their device to match, but this can create problems. Some users have their devices mounted
in a fixed orientation (e.g. on the arm of a power wheelchair). Therefore, websites and applications need to support both orientations
by not restricting the orientation. Changes in content or functionality due to the size of display are not covered by this criterion which is focused on restrictions of orientation.</p>

<p>Historically, devices tended to have a fixed-orientation display, and all content was created to match that display orientation. Today, most handhelds and many other devices (e.g., monitors) have a hardware-level ability to dynamically adjust default display orientation based on sensor information. The goal of this success criterion is that authors should never restrict content's orientation, thus ensuring that it always match the device display orientation.</p>

<h3>Locking a device to an orientation</h3>

<p>It is important to distinguish between an author's responsibility not to restrict content to a specific orientation, and device-specific settings governing the locking of display orientation.</p>

<p>Many handheld devices offer a mechanical switch or a system setting (or both) to allow the user to lock the device display to a specific orientation. Where a user decides to lock their entire device to an orientation, all applications are expected to pick up that setting and to display content accordingly.</p>

<p>This success criterion complements device "lock orientation" settings. A web page that does not restrict its display orientation will always support the system-level orientation setting, since the system setting is picked up by the user agent. Alternatively, where a device-level orientation lock is not in place, the user agent should display the page according to the orientation of the device (either its default, or the current orientation determined by any device sensors).</p>

<p>The exception for things considered essential is aimed at situations where the content would only be understood in a particular orientation, or where the technology restricts the possible orientations. If content is aimed at a specific environment which is only available in one orientation (such as a television) then the content can restrict the orientation. Technologies such as virtual reality use screens within goggles that cannot change orientation relative to the user's eyes.</p>
</section>
<section id="benefits">
Expand All @@ -52,18 +46,18 @@ <h2>Benefits</h2>
</section>
<section id="examples">
<h2>Examples</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Example 1: Online video site</strong><br>
A video is shown in either portrait or in landscape based on the user's chosen orientation.</li>
<li><strong>Example 2: Messaging website</strong><br>
A messaging website can display messages in both portrait and landscape orientations. </li>
<li><strong>Example 3: eReader web app</strong><br>
An eReader web app can display the contents of a book in both portrait and landscape orientation.</li>
<li><strong>Example 4: Check deposit in banking app</strong><br>
An example where orientation is essential could be a banking app that requires the device be in landscape mode to easily and accurately capture an image of a check for deposit. These paper forms are typically about twice as wide as they are high.</li>
<li><strong>Example 5: Piano app</strong><br>
An example where orientation is essential could be a piano app that requires the device to be in landscape mode, allowing the piano keys to have enough room to be functionally usable. Since a piano app is emulating a physical piano keyboard that needs to retain relative physical characteristics between keys, either too few keys would be available, or the keys would be much too narrow.</li>
</ul>
<dl>
<dt>Online video site</dt>
<dd>A video is shown in either portrait or in landscape based on the user's chosen orientation.</dd>
<dt>Messaging website</dt>
<dd>A messaging website can display messages in both portrait and landscape orientations.</dd>
<dt>eReader web app</dt>
<dd>An eReader web app can display the contents of a book in both portrait and landscape orientation.</dd>
<dt>Check deposit in banking app</dt>
<dd>An example where orientation is essential could be a banking app that requires the device be in landscape mode to easily and accurately capture an image of a check for deposit. These paper forms are typically about twice as wide as they are high.</dd>
<dt>Piano app</dt>
<dd>An example where orientation is essential could be a piano app that requires the device to be in landscape mode, allowing the piano keys to have enough room to be functionally usable. Since a piano app is emulating a physical piano keyboard that needs to retain relative physical characteristics between keys, either too few keys would be available, or the keys would be much too narrow.</dd>
</dl>
</section>
<section id="resources">
<h2>Related Resources</h2>
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