iPhones, iPods, smartphones, tablets and the like are able to change their screen orientation from portrait to landscape when the user turns the device. They are able to do this because they contain an accelerometer.
An accelerometer mearures forces of acceleration applied to a device. The sensors in an accelerometer are able to discern the direction from which the force is being applied. Accelerometers are also able to detect the pulling force of gravity. Thus they can detect whether or not the device is being held in a portrait, or landscape position and adjust the screen accordingly.
It seems to me that this has many useful applications. Sometimes the user is able to decide for themselves which way they prefer the device to display the information they want. For example on smartphones, when entering a text message, the keyboard is much larger when the device is being held in a landscape position, but less information is able to be displayed. The user is given the option of either, so that they can choose the view that best suits their needs for each situation.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerometer
for information on accelerometers and how they work.
Not that I specified it in the activity, but try to use references not from Wikipedia OR follow the references in wikipedia to the primary source. Good reference on the keyboard enlarging when rotated. Do you think the usability is diminished with the smaller screen? Is it a trade-off?
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