How to prepare motion sensors for a museum demo

A motion sensor demo can feel broken if the tablet is on the wrong browser, permissions are blocked, or the device barely moves. A few checks before opening can help you tell a device problem from a setup problem.

Use the same phone or tablet, browser, and stand that visitors will use. The Sensors Test can check motion, gyroscope, compass, light, location, and vibration sensors in the browser.

Prepare the device and test it

1. Open the Sensors Test on the device that will be part of the exhibit. Check it in the same browser and on the same network you plan to use during the demo.
2. Respond to any permission request needed for the sensor you want to demonstrate. If you are not showing location, do not grant location access just to test motion.
3. Set the device in its exhibit position, then move it gently in a clear space. Try tilting it forward and sideways, turning it, and holding it still again. Keep your hands away from cables and exhibit hardware.
4. Watch for sensor readings or activity to change as you move the device. Repeat the same movement several times so you know what a normal response looks like.
5. Test the complete visitor setup. If the device will be fixed to a stand, check that the stand allows enough movement. If it stays still, explain which motion visitors should try rather than expecting the sensor to react on its own.

Keep the screen awake during the demonstration. Set the device to a comfortable brightness, secure its stand, and make sure a charging cable will not snag when someone tilts or turns it.

What the result means

The readings respond when you move the device

The browser is receiving sensor data, and the device is suitable for a basic motion demo. Use a repeatable movement, such as slowly tilting the top edge toward and away from the visitor. A clear, gentle movement is easier to see than a quick shake.

Motion changes, but turning does not

Different sensors measure different kinds of movement. An accelerometer detects changes such as tilting or acceleration. A gyroscope detects rotation. A device may provide one reading but not another, or the browser may not expose every sensor. Choose the movement that produces a reliable response on this specific device.

Nothing changes

The browser may not have permission, the device may not have the sensor, or the browser may not support access to it. First check the browser's site permissions and try again. If another supported device responds in the same setup, the original device or its browser is the likely difference.

The compass reading jumps or points the wrong way

Compass readings can be affected by nearby metal, magnets, speakers, or electrical equipment. Move the device away from the exhibit hardware and test again. A compass is not the same as a motion reading, so a poor compass result does not automatically mean the accelerometer or gyroscope is faulty.

How to fix an unreliable demo

1. Check the browser permission. Click the site controls icon beside the address bar, review the permissions for the page, and allow the relevant sensor access if the browser offers it. Reload the page after changing a permission.
2. Check motion access on a phone or tablet. On iPhone or iPad, look in Settings › Apps › Safari › Motion & Orientation Access. On some iOS versions, Safari appears directly in Settings. In Chrome on Android, check Chrome › ⋮ › Settings › Site settings › Motion sensors, if that setting is available.
3. Check location only if the demo needs it. Location is separate from motion. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Location. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services. Also allow location for the browser or site if you are demonstrating that reading.
4. Try another browser on the same device. Browser support and permission handling can differ. If the readings work in one browser but not another, use the browser that works for the exhibit.
5. Remove sources of interference. Move the device away from speakers, magnets, metal frames, or powered equipment when checking the compass. For motion, loosen a stiff mount and make sure the device can tilt or turn safely.
6. Restart and retest. Close other pages or apps using sensor features, restart the browser, and test again. If that does not help, restart the device before changing the exhibit setup.

When the device may be the problem

A browser test cannot prove that a sensor is physically damaged. It can show that sensor data is not reaching the page, but the cause might still be a missing sensor, browser limits, a permission, or a device setting. Compare the exhibit device with another phone or tablet using the same browser and movements. If the second device responds and the exhibit device does not in more than one browser, check the device maker's support options or arrange a repair.

Make the demo easy to repeat

Before visitors arrive, write down the device model, browser, stand position, and movement that produced a clear response. Keep that setup consistent. Test again if you move the exhibit or add nearby equipment, especially when you use the compass.

Sensor readings depend on the device and browser, so present the test as a live example of what this device can report, not as a precise measurement of every visitor's movement.