In a method and a device for controlling the display on a display area of a display device in a transportation device, data are generated for the display of a background region and data for the display in a subregion of the display area. The display in the subregion covers the display of the background region, and the display content in the subregion displays at least a portion of the display content of the background region covered by the subregion in a different manner than in the background region. The subregion in the display is shifted relative to the display content of the background region, or the display content of the background region is shifted relative to the subregion, the display content in the subregion being updated in the process, so that, in the new relative position between the subregion and the display content of the background region, it continues to display at least a portion of the display content of the background region covered by the subregion in a different manner than in the background region.