Specify

Specify Adaptive Behaviour

Define how an interface adapts to diverse user needs — preferences, screen conditions, and cognitive requirements — as part of the design specification, not as a retrofit.

Process

Step 1: Define Preference Responses

Using user-preference-respect, specify how the interface responds to each system preference:

• prefers-reduced-motion: what changes
• prefers-contrast: what changes
• prefers-color-scheme: what changes
• forced-colors: what changes
• prefers-reduced-transparency: what changes

Step 2: Define Responsive Behaviour

Using responsive-accessibility, specify:

• Breakpoints and what reflows at each
• Behaviour at 200% zoom
• Orientation support
• Touch target sizing at each breakpoint

Step 3: Define Typography Behaviour

Using flexible-typography, specify:

• Type scale with relative units
• Line height and spacing values
• Behaviour when user scales text to 200%
• Dark mode typography adjustments

Step 4: Define Colour Strategy

Using colour-independence, specify:

• How every colour-encoded meaning has a second encoding
• Status indicator design (colour + icon + text)
• Chart and data visualisation colour strategy
• Greyscale test results

Step 5: Define View Options

Using simplified-views and information-density, specify:

• What simplified view contains vs full view
• How users toggle between views
• Available density levels
• Default density per viewport and context

Output

Deliver an adaptive behaviour specification:

1. Preference response table — each system preference and the interface's response
2. Responsive behaviour map — what changes at each breakpoint and zoom level
3. Typography specification — scale, units, spacing, scaling behaviour
4. Colour independence audit — every colour-dependent element and its second encoding
5. View and density options — what's available and how users control it