31–40 of 76 posts
Years ago I made an attempt at a UI that wouldn't even require repositioning the phone in your hand: the buttons are literally under your thumb (if you forgive my shameless self-plug): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/futurecalc-futuristic-calculat...
I very recently started using a phone which is too large to be used with one hand. Not because I wanted to, but because my old phone was aging, I needed a new one and nowadays there aren't any recent and decent phones anymore which are small enough to allow one-handed usage. And so far it's been mostly annoying. Sure, the larger display is great, but the lost ability to operate the phone with single handed is a real…
Years ago I made an attempt at a UI that wouldn't even require repositioning the phone in your hand: the buttons are literally under your thumb (if you forgive my shameless self-plug): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/futurecalc-futuristic-calculat...
Ohh nice. Very LCARS-y!
Years ago I made an attempt at a UI that wouldn't even require repositioning the phone in your hand: the buttons are literally under your thumb (if you forgive my shameless self-plug): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/futurecalc-futuristic-calculat...
Interestingly, such UI (well done, but seen such before) challenges the whole size of the smartphone as we know it, akin to a gaming keypad [1] challenging a keyboard. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaming_keypad
Before the N9 I had a Windows Mobile 2003? And even though it had touch support, it was designed to be used with a stylus. With a stylus you need two hands, or a table, but you can reach anywhere on the screen, and the pen is very accurate, so you can have higher information density. Android nor iOS is designed to be used with a stylus though. Modern phones have the same screen resolution as desktop monitors, so in theory using a stylus/pen (and sharp eye-sight) you could have the same user interface on the mobile as on the PC. Also writing on a virtual keyboard using the stylus is not that bad, although not as fast as typing on a keyboard, but faster then typing by touch.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
> 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/wi…
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.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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/wi…
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 da…
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.
I've been pretty disappointed that Apple has not pushed harder in this area, has kept this first party by not updating native components, and has not updated their HIG. We've had to move to third party libraries. It has been at least 3 years since they started using this paradigm.