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While you’re at it remember that 20% of your user base will be left-handed. Since you’re probably right-handed anything you put within reach for yourself will

While you’re at it remember that 20% of your user base will be left-handed. Since you’re probably right-handed anything you put within reach for yourself will be difficult to reach for southpaws.

morley 7y ago
This is directly addressed in the article: it estimates 66% right thumb, 33% left thumb use, and app screenshots are shown with left- and right-handed "reachability" heat maps.
- Jaruzel 7y ago
  Ahh but later on in the article, there are bunch of linked videos and follow on commentary, that only work for right-handers. If we're going to fix mobile UI, please let us left-handers at least flip the button from the left to the right of the screen. Having a fly-out menu button in the bottom right is great for right-handers, but impossible to reach for left-handers.
Fnoord 7y ago
> While you’re at it remember that 20% of your user base will be left-handed Try 10%. "Studies suggest that approximately 10% of the world population is left-handed. [...] Studies suggest that approximately 90% of the world population is right-handed." [1] The same webpage also suggests that in e.g. sports, left handed people are overrepresented and have an [at times severe] advantage. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- Jaruzel 7y ago
  Does this mean we're to be ignored? If so, I am insulted. There are approximately 2% of people in wheel-chairs in the UK and approximately 3% of blind people, would you ignore them in your accessibility design? No, of course not. Then why should 10% of left-handers be ignored? And before you say 'left-handedness is not a disability' try living as a leftie for 1 week, and see the problems we have to deal with every day.
  - Fnoord 7y ago
    > Does this mean we're to be ignored? If so, I am insulted. No, I'm sorry you got that impression. I am just setting the facts straight (20% is a completely different percentage than 10%). My partner is left-handed, my daughter might be, and I grew up with a disabled father (he ended up in wheelchair and was practically blind). I feel a lot of empathy to minority groups such as the ones you mentioned (plus a myriad of others). In my youth, I knew a guy who'd cross his arms while gaming (he was left-handed). This was approx 1995. Quite clever. He was using the mouse with his left hand, and the keyboard with his right. It worked for him (he was a decent gamer). He adopted, though it looked weird.
    - Jaruzel 7y ago
      > No, I'm sorry you got that impression. Ok, Fair enough :)
PeterisP 7y ago
The "handedness" of phone use is also not stable. For example, a right-handed person might want to swipe stuff on the phone in the left hand with the left thumb while holding a mug in my right hand.
- hanley 7y ago
  Good point. As a single data point from a left-handed person: I primarily use my phone with my right hand.

While you’re at it remember that 20% of your user base will be left-handed. Since you’re probably right-handed anything you put within reach for yourself will be difficult to reach for southpaws.

morley 7y ago

This is directly addressed in the article: it estimates 66% right thumb, 33% left thumb use, and app screenshots are shown with left- and right-handed "reachability" heat maps.

Jaruzel 7y ago
Ahh but later on in the article, there are bunch of linked videos and follow on commentary, that only work for right-handers. If we're going to fix mobile UI, please let us left-handers at least flip the button from the left to the right of the screen. Having a fly-out menu button in the bottom right is great for right-handers, but impossible to reach for left-handers.

Fnoord 7y ago

> While you’re at it remember that 20% of your user base will be left-handed Try 10%. "Studies suggest that approximately 10% of the world population is left-handed. [...] Studies suggest that approximately 90% of the world population is right-handed." [1] The same webpage also suggests that in e.g. sports, left handed people are overrepresented and have an [at times severe] advantage. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
Jaruzel 7y ago
Does this mean we're to be ignored? If so, I am insulted. There are approximately 2% of people in wheel-chairs in the UK and approximately 3% of blind people, would you ignore them in your accessibility design? No, of course not. Then why should 10% of left-handers be ignored? And before you say 'left-handedness is not a disability' try living as a leftie for 1 week, and see the problems we have to deal with every day.
- Fnoord 7y ago
  > Does this mean we're to be ignored? If so, I am insulted. No, I'm sorry you got that impression. I am just setting the facts straight (20% is a completely different percentage than 10%). My partner is left-handed, my daughter might be, and I grew up with a disabled father (he ended up in wheelchair and was practically blind). I feel a lot of empathy to minority groups such as the ones you mentioned (plus a myriad of others). In my youth, I knew a guy who'd cross his arms while gaming (he was left-handed). This was approx 1995. Quite clever. He was using the mouse with his left hand, and the keyboard with his right. It worked for him (he was a decent gamer). He adopted, though it looked weird.
  - Jaruzel 7y ago
    > No, I'm sorry you got that impression. Ok, Fair enough :)

PeterisP 7y ago

The "handedness" of phone use is also not stable. For example, a right-handed person might want to swipe stuff on the phone in the left hand with the left thumb while holding a mug in my right hand.

hanley 7y ago
Good point. As a single data point from a left-handed person: I primarily use my phone with my right hand.