Which is your dominant hand, when using your reader?

[boxcorner]

I use a Sony PRS-650 reader, plus the Sony cover with light. I hold my reader with my left hand, and operate it with right hand. That seems to be the way it's intended to be used, however I am left-handed.

In terms of design ergonomics, most e-book readers are intended to be used by right-handed people, or so it seems.

Watching this video concerning the Pocket Edge dual screen eBook reader led me wonder whether dual screen readers might be more suitable for left-handed people. However, if the user is limited to the use of one particular screen for note taking, then the other screen would be obscured by the user's hand. With some readers, screen(s) can be inverted, but buttons, or their annotations, would be upside down.

I wonder how many other MobileRead members are left-handed. According to Wikipedia, 8–15% of the world's population are left-handed (there will soon be 7 billion people on the planet).

Do you find any aspects of using your reader a bit awkward, perhaps because it was designed for a right-handed person?

[Pookeysgirl]

I'm a lefty, but I use my right hand for almost everything. I mainly use my right hand for holding my reader/turning pages and find it awkward to use my left.

[OtterBooks]

I hold it with both hands and operate it with my right, sometimes using my left hand for page turning depending on how I'm positioned. I don't think being ambidextrous would matter since there's no real dexterity involved.

[twowheels]

I primarily hold my reader in my left hand and use my left hand to operate it (not on the poll), but use either hand without hesitation and actually switch back and forth from time to time.

[ProfCrash]

It depends on what hand I need to have free for petting a dog, holding my hubby's hand, or holding a cup of tea. I normally turn the page with the same hand that I am holding my Kindle as well. Which is why I can pet the dog, hold my hubby's hand, or hold a cup of tea.

[Worldwalker]

I'm not ambidextrous in most things, but I am with e-reader use. I tend to read lying on my back on the bed, holding up the Sony 505 (yes, I have to take it out of its case for this) and I switch hands as one gets tired holding it up. When I'm using just one hand (or sitting in a more conventional position) it's usually my left, as that's most convenient for the round page-turn button, but like ProfCrash, I'll still switch once in a while and use the buttons on the right instead, depending on the whole spouse, pet, tea, etc., situation.

This leads to an interesting thought: I'm planning to make leather reader covers and probably sell them on Etsy, once I've got my own done (does anyone have a round tuit I could borrow? I seem to need one). All of the book-style covers I've ever seen have opened on the right, like a western book. Would anyone (lefties?) be interested in one that opened on the left, like manga?

[FF2]

Worldwalker - a Hebrew or other right-left language reader cover - I like it! (G)

[boxcorner]

I have asked a moderator to add two more options:

I use my right hand both to hold and operate my reader
I use my left hand both to hold and operate my reader

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

This leads to an interesting thought: I'm planning to make leather reader covers and probably sell them on Etsy, once I've got my own done (does anyone have a round tuit I could borrow? I seem to need one). All of the book-style covers I've ever seen have opened on the right, like a western book. Would anyone (lefties?) be interested in one that opened on the left, like manga?

Some might prefer cases that flip up like a notepad... I personally don't mind the spine on the left as I usually just bend it back behind the kindle when standing and hold it like a paper book when sitting.

[Mickey330]

With my PB360, I either hold and operate it in my left hand or hold and operate it in my right hand. I switch up between the two.

Except when I hold it in my right hand and operate it with my left hand ... and vice versa. But, I find one-handed operation is best.

A very handy [...snicker...] device, the Pocketbook 360.

Marilyn

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

This leads to an interesting thought: I'm planning to make leather reader covers and probably sell them on Etsy, once I've got my own done (does anyone have a round tuit I could borrow? I seem to need one). All of the book-style covers I've ever seen have opened on the right, like a western book. Would anyone (lefties?) be interested in one that opened on the left, like manga?

I'm a lefty, and when I received my first reader (EZ Reader Basic) I found the cover got in my way a lot. I discovered rather quickly that the cover could be used as intended or upside-down so that the spine is on the right. I've seen very few covers that are reversible like that, so that may be something to consider as an option.

[Caltsar]

I use one hand usually to hold and operate my nook, but I switch hands depending on how I'm sitting, laying, or otherwise positioned. I personally find it odd that most eBook readers aren't ambidextrous.

[Witchbaby]

I mostly use my left hand to hold/operate my Kindle even though I'm a righty. Actually it's because I'm a righty - it leaves my "good" hand to do other things, like ProfCrash said.

[jgaiser]

Let's see.. I write left-handed, throw a ball and bat right handed, can use a mouse or hammer with either hand. Yes, I'm ambidextrous. Whatever I need.

[CazMar]

Surprising how many "ambis" are out there! I use a mouse left handed but write right handed and have a similarly strange mix of "hands". But the Kobo is designed for right-hand use only and that took a while to get used to.