Orientation for mobile apps (smartphone vs. tablet)

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Hi all,

I recently conducted testing for a mobile application where the orientation
is restricted. From my use of the app in testing, I did not see any
exception that could be made for essential functionality that would require
such restriction to one orientation.  I wrote this up as an issue citing
the WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.3.4 Orientation and reported it back to
the development team.

There has been some back and forth conversation regarding what is
essential, as well as the development team checking other apps that they
use personally and seeing that not all apps allow for both orientations.

The development team seems interested in making changes though they seem to
be looking at this from the perspective of a smartphone vs. tablet. Their
latest exchange with me is:

*Presume we need to change the app to support landscape mode. What if it
was already done on tablets (various Android tablets and iPad). Does that
satisfy the requirement? In other words, the phone would be portrait-mode
only but if someone wanted it in landscape-mode they could use a tablet -
same functionality, same everything, just on a tablet. *

My initial response was that based on the W3C's definition of mobile there
is not a distinction between a smartphone or a tablet that would allow you
to orient in both landscape and portrait for one but not the other. In my
mind, this approach actually highlights the fact that there is no essential
use/function as to why the application cannot accommodate both orientations.

I am looking for thoughts on this development team's approach as well as
suggestions on what has worked for others when taking orientation into
consideration for mobile applications.

Responses are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

-- 

*Monica Dinehart*

*Test Consultant*



*TSYS *



+1 706.644.8465 O

[email protected]



*A Global Payments Company *

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sa=
ns-serif">Hi all,</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:ar=
ial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family=
:arial,sans-serif">I recently conducted testing for a mobile application wh=
ere the orientation is restricted. From my use of the app in testing, I did=
 not see any exception that could be made for essential functionality that =
would require such restriction to one orientation.=C2=A0

 I wrote this up as an issue citing the WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.3.4 Or=
ientation and reported it back to the development team.=C2=A0</div><div cla=
ss=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div =
class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">There has be=
en some back and forth conversation regarding what is essential, as well as=
 the development team checking other apps that they use personally and seei=
ng that not all apps allow for both orientations.=C2=A0</div><div class=3D"=
gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class=
=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">The development t=
eam seems interested in making changes though they seem to be looking at th=
is from the perspective of a smartphone vs. tablet. Their latest exchange w=
ith me is:=C2=A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:ari=
al,sans-serif"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:=
arial,sans-serif"><div><i>Presume we need to change the app to support land=
scape mode. What if it was already done on tablets=C2=A0(various Android ta=
blets and iPad). Does that satisfy the requirement? In other words, the pho=
ne would be portrait-mode only but if someone wanted it in landscape-mode t=
hey could use a tablet - same functionality, same everything, just on a tab=
let.=C2=A0</i></div><div><br style=3D"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-seri=
f"></div></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans=
-serif">My initial response was that based on the W3C&#39;s definition of m=
obile there is not a distinction between a smartphone or a tablet that woul=
d allow you to orient in both landscape and portrait for one but not the ot=
her. In my mind, this approach actually highlights the fact that there is n=
o essential use/function as to why the application cannot accommodate both =
orientations.</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,=
sans-serif"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:ari=
al,sans-serif">I am looking for thoughts on this development team&#39;s app=
roach as well as suggestions on what has worked for others when taking orie=
ntation into consideration for mobile applications.</div><div class=3D"gmai=
l_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class=3D"g=
mail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">Responses are greatly =
appreciated!=C2=A0<br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-fami=
ly:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-f=
amily:arial,sans-serif">Thanks,=C2=A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" sty=
le=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div>-- <br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=
=3D"gmail_signature" data-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><p=
 class=3D"MsoNormal"><a name=3D"SignatureSanitizer__MailAutoSig"><b><span s=
tyle=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Monica Dinehart<span></span></span></=
b></a></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><i><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Test=
 Consultant<span></span></span></i></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif">=C2=A0<=
/span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,s=
ans-serif">TSYS <span></span></span></b></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif">=C2=A0<=
/span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif">+1 706.=
644.8465 O<span></span></span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_bla=
nk"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193)">mdineh=
[email protected]</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> <span>=
</span></span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif">=C2=A0<=
/span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><i><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif">A <b=
>Global Payments</b>
Company=C2=A0</span></i><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span>=
</span></span></p></div></div></div>

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