User Preferences
Introduction
Some of these are experimental.
We’ll put them in order of importance. (our take on that)
Font size
![](https://perpetual.education/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2021-10-12-at-10.14.00-AM.png)
The browser will let you choose a base font size preference. It’s usually something like “small,” “medium,” or “large.”
This is why we suggest taking a look at rem
units for body copy and micro copy too.
Reduced motion
![](https://perpetual.education/wp-content/uploads/Screen_Shot_2021-10-12_at_10_43_29_AM-2.png)
Got a wild animation? Well, not everyone wants to see it. So, you can put it behind a flag. It’ll only do its thing – if the user hasn’t explicitly set their preferences to reduces motion.
Note: you can use window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)");
to hook into these things with JS.
The size of the window / viewport
![](https://perpetual.education/wp-content/uploads/sizes.jpg)
You can’t change the size on all devices – but you’ll have to assume that the user can decide what size the viewport will be.
Sounds obvious, but it’s a user preference – right?
This also includes how many bookmarks and addons and chrome that contribute to the clutter.
Zoom
![](https://perpetual.education/wp-content/uploads/zoom.jpg)
This can be set in preferences or changed on the fly.
Contrast
![](https://perpetual.education/wp-content/uploads/contrast.png)
Still super new, but – something to consider / and be on top of. Looks like it’s going to happen.
Color scheme
![](https://perpetual.education/wp-content/uploads/theme.png)
You know that light and dark mode stuff? Users can set this in the larger computer scope.
Not happening yet
prefers-reduced-data
,
Any other new things on the horizon? Or things we missed? Let us know!