In a new blog post this week, Microsoft describes the work they've done on portrait and landscape support in Windows 8.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 BASIC thinking | 2011-10-21 17:04:35 |  9,586 Views |
Optimizations for Windows 8 tablets in landscape and portrait mode
The software giant has detailed its approach to another aspect that many people feel was overlooked in the numerous Windows 8 demonstrations. The company has spent many hours testing and studying how people use tablet devices in labs and at home, and was able to use this study to determine users' postures, movements and interactions with different applications. "The number of combinations was astonishing and led to the basic conclusion that postures, grips and orientations change quite frequently," said David Washington. "Simply put, there is not just one way to hold a device, and people naturally try to find a comfortable position and orientation that feels right for what they are doing with the device at the time."
Microsoft's goals in supporting landscape and portrait modes are:
Microsoft supports landscape mode as the most common way to use Windows, whether on a desktop, laptop or tablet PC. "We designed Windows 8 to be ergonomically comfortable in all orientations. We found that a comfortable position for using a tablet in landscape mode is to hold it with both hands and touch the screen with your thumbs. That's why we designed most of the experience to be easily accessible under the thumbs. We also optimized the system for horizontal scrolling, which feels fast and fluid in both landscape and portrait modes." – Washington said.
