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Media Types, Groups and Similarities

Media Types
Media Groups
Media Type Similarities by Multiple Media Groups
Media Type Similarities by Single Media Group

Media Types

All

An "all" media type may be rendered using any media-type device.

Aural

An aural media type rendering is targeted for speech and sound synthesizers.

Braille

A braille media type rendering is targeted for Braille touch-feedback devices.

Embossed

An embossed media type rendering is targeted for Braille paged printing devices.

Handheld

A handheld media type rendering is targeted for small or handheld devices (eg: devices with small screens, limited bandwidth or display capabilities - perhaps monochrome screens.)

Print

A print media type rendering is targeted for page-by-page use, typically printed on paper.

Projection

A projection media type rendering is targeted for projection (eg: screen projections) using transparent media (eg: slides.)

Screen

A screen media type rendering is targeted for continuous (non-paged) color computer screens.

TTY

A TTY media type rendering is targeted for media that uses a fixed-pitch character grid (eg: terminals and teletypes.)

TV

A TV media type rendering is targeted for television-like devices (eg: color, basic sound capabilities, limited resolution and scrollability.)

For more information see: Recognized media types.

Media Groups

Interface (continuous/paged)

This group describes the way a user experiences the entirety of a document with a given Media type. Options include:

Continuous - The document is experienced using a movable window/portal on the content.
Paged - The document is experienced a page at a time.
Both - CSS properties are applied using either continuous or paged media.

Sensory Experience (visual/aural/tactile )

This group describes the human senses used to experience a document with a given Media type. Options include:

Visual - A document's content is experienced primarily using the eyes.
Aural - A document's content is experienced primarily using the ears.
Tactile - A document's content is experienced primarily using the sense of touch.

Layout (grid/bitmap)

This describes the method used by a media type to render character content. Options include:

Grid - Content is laid out using a character grid.
Bitmap - Content is rendered as a bitmap.
Both - Content can be rendered with a character grid or bitmap device.

Interactivity (interactive/static )

This group describes the level of interaction possible using a specific media type. Options include:

Interactive - Allows interactivity with the user.
Static - Dos not allow interactivity with the user.
Both - Applies to both Static and Interactive media types.

For more information see: Media groups.

Media Type Similarities by Multiple Media Groups

Print and Projection

	Interface	Sensory Experience	Layout	Interactivity
print	paged	visual	bitmap	static
projection	paged	visual	bitmap	static

Print and Projection are very similar in interface, sensory experience, layout, and interactivity.

Interface =
Paged: The document is experienced a page at a time.
Sensory experience =
Visual: The document's content is experienced primarily using the eyes.
Layout =
Bitmap: Content is rendered as a bitmap.
Interactivity =
Stactic: Does not allow interactivity with the user.

Print, Projection and Screen

	Sensory Experience	Layout
print	visual	bitmap
projection	visual	bitmap
screen	visual	bitmap

Print, Projection and Screen are similar in sensory experience, layout, and in part interactivity.

Sensory experience =
Visual: The document's content is experienced primarily using the eyes.
Layout =
Bitmap: Content is rendered as a bitmap.

Aural and TV

	Interface	Sensory Experience	Interactivity
aural	continuous	aural	both (interactive and static)
tv	continuous component (both continuous and static)	aural component (both aural and visual)	both (interactive and static)

Aural and TV are similar by interactivity and also in part by interface and sensory experience.

Interface =
Aural is continuous. TV is "both" so it can be continuous also.
Sensory experience =
Aural: The document's content can be experienced using the ears. Aural is heard using the ears. And TV can also be heard using the ears.
Interactivity =
"Both" Static and Interactive apply to Aural and TV.

Handheld and TV

	Interface	Sensory Experience	Interactivity
handheld	both (continuous and paged)	visual	both (interactive and static)
tv	both (continuous and paged)	visual, aural (has an visual component)	both (interactive and static)

Handheld and TV are similar in interface and interactivity. They are somewhat similar in sensory experience and layout also.

Interface =
Both - CSS properties are applied using either continuous or paged media.
Sensory =
Handheld is visual and TV also has a visual component.
Interactivity =
Both Static and Interactive.

Braille and Emboss

	Sensory Experience	Layout	Interactivity
braille	tactile	grid	both (interactive and static)
emboss	tactile	grid	both (interactive and static)

Braille and Emboss are similar in sensory experience, layout, and interactivity.

Sensory =
Tactile: A document's content is experienced primarily using the sense of touch.
Layout =
Grid: Content is laid out using a character grid.
Interactivity =
Both: Applies to both Static and Interactive media types.

Handheld, Screen and TV

	Sensory Experience	Layout	Interactivity
handheld	visual	bitmap component (both bitmap and grid)	both (interactive and static)
screen	visual	bitmap	both (interactive and static)
tv	visual, aural	bitmap	both (interactive and static)

Handheld, Screen and TV are are similar in sensory, layout, and interactivity.

Sensory =
Visual: The document's content is experienced primarily using the eyes.
Layout =
Bitmap: Content is rendered as a bitmap..
Interactivity =
Both: Applies to both Static and Interactive media types.

Handheld, Screen, and TTY

	Sensory Experience	Interactivity
handheld	visual	both (interactive and static)
screen	visual	both (interactive and static)
tty	visual	both (interactive and static)

Handheld, Screen and TTY are similar in sensory experience and interacivity.

Sensory =
Visual: The document's content is experienced primarily using the eyes.
Interactivity =
Both: Applies to both Static and Interactive media types.

Aural, Braille, Screen, TTY

	Interface	Interactivity
aural	continuous	both (interactive and static)
braille	continuous	both (interactive and static)
screen	continuous	both (interactive and static)
tty	continuous	both (interactive and static)

Aural, Braille, Screen, and TTY are are similar in interface and interactivity.

Interface =
Continuous.
Interactivity =
Both: Applies to both Static and Interactive media types.

Media Type Similarities by Single Media Group:

Media Types Similar in the Interface Media Group

	Interface continuous/paged
handheld	both
tv	both
braille	continuous
screen	continuous
tty	continuous
aural	continuous
print	paged
emboss	paged
projection	paged

Media Types Similar in the Sensory Experience Media Group

	Sensory Experience visual/aural/tactile
aural	aural
tv	aural, (visual)
emboss	tactile
braille	tactile
print	visual
projection	visual
screen	visual
tty	visual
handheld	visual
tv	visual, (aural )

Media Types Similar in the Layout Media Group

	Layout grid/bitmap
projection	bitmap
print	bitmap
screen	bitmap
tv	bitmap
handheld	bitmap (and grid) both
braille	grid
handheld	grid (and bitmap) both
tty	grid
emboss	grid
aural	N/A

Media Types Similar in the Interactivity Media Group

	Interactivity interactive/static
braille	both
emboss	both
handheld	both
tty	both
screen	both
tv	both
aural	both
print	static
projection	static

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© 1998-2025 Laura L. Carlson
Email: lcarlson@d.umn.edu
Department: Information Technology Systems and Services, University of Minnesota Duluth
Document Last Modified: 2002
Page URL: http:// www.d.umn.edu /~lcarlson/csswork/media/mediagroups.html

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.