In one embodiment, a technique for browsing a document on a portable electronic device is disclosed. The document is opened and displayed in a document browsing application. A state of a user-selectable activation control disposed on the device is determined. In response to the activation control being in a selected state, orientation data is read from a sensor of the device. From the orientation data, it is determined if the device has rotated in a first predetermined direction about an axis that extends through a center of the device. If so, the application zooms in on a portion of the document being displayed. Further, from the orientation data, it is determined if the device has turned in reference to a fixed coordinate system. If so, the application pans up, down, left or right. In response to the activation control being in a released state, zooming and/or panning ceases.