Hand dominance and implications for left-handed operation of controls

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 right-handers, 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.