A computing device includes a display device, an accelerometer, and an orientation determination module. The orientation determination module sends a heartbeat of orientation data obtained by the accelerometer to a host device at a first data transfer frequency, and compares a plurality of orientation data most recently received from the accelerometer for at least one axis of orientation to the current orientation data measurement. In response to a difference between the current measurement and any of the plurality of orientation data most recently received from the accelerometer exceeding a threshold, the computing device sends the current orientation data to the host device at a second data transfer frequency, and adjust content displayed on the display device based on the current orientation data received by the host device.