Hand dominance and implications for left-handed operation of controls∗

∗ The author is now located at Boston University, Department of Psychology, 64 Cummington St, Boston MA 02215, USA.

Abstract

This review paper argues that the consequences of control performance among left-handed operators, who may represent a sizeable portion of the population, should not be disregarded as a design issue. Principally, the control panel designer may err in assuming that left-handers, given enough time and effort, will simply ‘learn’ to operate a complex control intended for right-handed usage. This widely held position is unfounded in light of the available evidence; left-handers, as well as righthanders, consistently perform less well with the non-dominant hand as compared to the dominant one in a variety of behavioural tasks. The designer should be aware of the potential decrement in performance which may be associated with operation by the non-dominant hand, especially in critical control situations. A model for determining the relevance of the operator's handedness in the design and layout of controls is presented.

Keywords:

• Hand dominance
• Hand controls
• Design and location of controls

Notes

∗ The author is now located at Boston University, Department of Psychology, 64 Cummington St, Boston MA 02215, USA.