A Right-Handed World
For centuries, there had been a stigma against left-handed people due to superstition and a lack of scientific knowledge and awareness. Today, we know it is science; it is biology and genetics that play a role in deciding if a person is left or right-handed.
A Right-Handed World
But this awareness is very recent. The foundations of our present world had been laid much earlier. The result? We live in a world that favours the right-handed people the most; the technology, the infrastructure, the little things around us often favour right-handed people, or most of them did until recently.
A quick look around, and you might spot several objects designed for right-handed people by default,
- scissors,
- shirts and pants — buttons and pockets placement,
- camera shutter button placement,
- opening and closing of a door, refrigerator, oven, closet…
- turning a book page leaf,
- few ergonomic computer mouse,
- numeric keypad on large computer keyboards,
- vending machine, atm,
- stringed instruments like violins, guitars
and several more…
Products were not exclusively developed for left-handed people. They had no other option but to accept and use the gadgets, equipment and machinery, that were by default designed for right-handed people. Over several decades, they had got used to it.
Accessibility Awareness
It is not necessary, that the future generation of lefties too should force themselves and get used to right-handed gadgets. With more awareness and accessibility-conscious designs, we could create a better world that is more friendly and neutral, irrespective of a person’s handedness.
How can we make our products more friendly, favourable and inclusive of left-handed people?
Studies suggest that approximately 10 to 15% of people are left-handed. So the markets and economics may not accept a product with 50:50 production quantities of left-handed and right-handed variations on the same product. We will have to invest more in RnD and make products that are neutral for both left and right-handed people. Some of them are already in active use in today’s world like,
- a revolving or sliding door,
- plain non-fancy computer mouse (you have options to interchange right and left click functionality through software or OS)
- devices with main controls in the centre,
- devices with main controls on both sides like the power button on the right and the volume button on the left,
- voice-activated technologies,
- double zipper bags,
- double pocket pants, no pocket shirts, zipper shirts…
An Inclusive World
Imagine if 200 years ago, we had the science and awareness about a person’s handedness, that we have today. Considering the developments and technologies we’ve had in the last two centuries are massive, we could be living in a whole new world right now (that is operated by different mechanisms but probably with the same or similar functionality.)
I believe our future generations will enjoy the new better world if we are conscious of accessibility and make inclusive design choices for all the products and services we will create.
