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> When debugging code or studying a program, it is quite comfortable to depend on only one hand, and have the other free to scribble or relax. I wonder if the

> When debugging code or studying a program, it is quite comfortable to depend on only one hand, and have the other free to scribble or relax. I wonder if the OP is ambidextrous? If using the mouse gave me a hand free to scribble some notes, I'd be a much more enthusiastic mouse user. Alas, both writing and mousing require my right hand, and there aren't many good uses for my left.

jodrellblank 5y ago
Englebart’s classic “Mother of all Demos” has him using a mouse in his right hand and a one-handed chording keyboard in his left hand. USB mice are cheap, plug two in, one on each side. Makes it easier to use non-dominant hand occasionally without having to move the mouse around.
BeetleB 5y ago
It's easier to train your non-dominant hand to mouse than to write. It's awkward initially, but for most people takes only a few days to be comfortable with it. Then they switch back and forth easily (I do it several times a day). As an analogy, a lot of people (including me) started writing on a keyboard with only one hand (or at least hitting most buttons with one hand). We had to train our brains to use both. That was a lot more challenging than learning to mouse with the other hand.
throw10920 5y ago
I tried to train myself to become ambidextrous at one point. I failed, but in the process, I learned a few interesting things - one of which was that it was far easier for me to train myself to competently use my left hand for mousing than for writing. This might be the case for you, too - try using your left hand to mouse for a day or two and see if you can get the hang of it.
- michael-ax 5y ago
  EXACTLY! I just came back to add this observation. I started to code at 14. At 20 i was consulting and ran across my first system with a mouse. I quickly realized that there was no profit in using it with my right hand since that was needed for numpad and shift selects etc. So I moved the mouse to the left and never looked back. My hand just goes there when it makes sense -- never breaking my focus or the close-contact my right has with the keyboard. That has made this entire discussion about mouse good/bad a non-issue. It may take some time to train yourself if you're not a puppy anymore, but its worth stepping out of that argument and into something else. "for crying out loud", "they even moved the f-keys to the top row so that you can have the mouse on the left of your keyboard!" /<smiles> (p.s. op .. at 36 i learned to play the conga and that allowed me to go crazy with the ambidexterity like nothing else, ever. just buy a set and give it a go!)
- lordgroff 5y ago
  I'm left handed and use the right hand for the mouse. I can also use it just fine with the left hand but see no benefit. And yeah, writing is a different story entirely, although as another bizarre anecdote, I can write text on the chalkboard pretty much equally as well with my left and right.
wcarss 5y ago
I often find when I'm not actively writing code and am just scrolling up and down reading, it's nice to just pick the mouse up off the table and sit or stand with my arm and hand in a more neutral position, with my finger somewhere near the scroll-wheel/surface. I'll sometimes even switch it over to my left and give my right a break. But also, as a left-handed person I still use my right for the mouse when using it more actively, so I could scribble thoughts simultaneously with my left if I wanted to. I think I might have only done that like, once.

jodrellblank 5y ago

Englebart’s classic “Mother of all Demos” has him using a mouse in his right hand and a one-handed chording keyboard in his left hand. USB mice are cheap, plug two in, one on each side. Makes it easier to use non-dominant hand occasionally without having to move the mouse around.

BeetleB 5y ago

It's easier to train your non-dominant hand to mouse than to write. It's awkward initially, but for most people takes only a few days to be comfortable with it. Then they switch back and forth easily (I do it several times a day). As an analogy, a lot of people (including me) started writing on a keyboard with only one hand (or at least hitting most buttons with one hand). We had to train our brains to use both. That was a lot more challenging than learning to mouse with the other hand.

throw10920 5y ago

I tried to train myself to become ambidextrous at one point. I failed, but in the process, I learned a few interesting things - one of which was that it was far easier for me to train myself to competently use my left hand for mousing than for writing. This might be the case for you, too - try using your left hand to mouse for a day or two and see if you can get the hang of it.

michael-ax 5y ago
EXACTLY! I just came back to add this observation. I started to code at 14. At 20 i was consulting and ran across my first system with a mouse. I quickly realized that there was no profit in using it with my right hand since that was needed for numpad and shift selects etc. So I moved the mouse to the left and never looked back. My hand just goes there when it makes sense -- never breaking my focus or the close-contact my right has with the keyboard. That has made this entire discussion about mouse good/bad a non-issue. It may take some time to train yourself if you're not a puppy anymore, but its worth stepping out of that argument and into something else. "for crying out loud", "they even moved the f-keys to the top row so that you can have the mouse on the left of your keyboard!" /<smiles> (p.s. op .. at 36 i learned to play the conga and that allowed me to go crazy with the ambidexterity like nothing else, ever. just buy a set and give it a go!)
lordgroff 5y ago
I'm left handed and use the right hand for the mouse. I can also use it just fine with the left hand but see no benefit. And yeah, writing is a different story entirely, although as another bizarre anecdote, I can write text on the chalkboard pretty much equally as well with my left and right.

wcarss 5y ago

I often find when I'm not actively writing code and am just scrolling up and down reading, it's nice to just pick the mouse up off the table and sit or stand with my arm and hand in a more neutral position, with my finger somewhere near the scroll-wheel/surface. I'll sometimes even switch it over to my left and give my right a break. But also, as a left-handed person I still use my right for the mouse when using it more actively, so I could scribble thoughts simultaneously with my left if I wanted to. I think I might have only done that like, once.