Developers

2.5.4 Motion Actuation (Level A)

Functionality that is activated by device or user motion, for example, shaking a device or signaling to a camera, should be able to be disabled and an alternative for equivalent activation should be available.

What you need to know

  • If your website or app has functions that are activated or triggered by moving a phone/tablet (for example, shake to do undo, tilt to move) or by the user making gestures to a camera or sensor, these same responses should be capable of being made in an alternative way. Those other ways could be through a keyboard, pressing a button, or a voice command.

What you need to do

  • Give users the option to turn off the moving or gesture activation. For example, imagine you’re taking an Uber from the airport and every time the driver hits a pothole, your phone shakes and the app you’re using undoes your previous action. You’d want the ability to turn off that shake feature and make it so only when you press or say undo, say undo is your previous action is undone.
  • Make it so your website or app is fully functional without the use of device movement or gestures.  Of course, it can still have these features, but you’ll want to provide alternatives. There is an exception for those movements or gestures which are essential.
  • For functions that are activated by motion, provide a simpler, alternative means of action. Also, give users the option to turn off the motion activation.

Reference

Read the full explanation of success criterion 2.5.4 on W3.org.

Related Resource

Check out Failure due to inability to deactivate motion actuation” from W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative for more information about this success criterion.