A survey on mobile text entry handedness: How do users input text on handheld devices while nomadic?

Abstract

This paper presents results of a survey that explored users' typing handedness in various mobile settings, such as while walking, while commuting, and while driving. Results show that a substantial number of users input text on their handheld devices while walking (48%) and while commuting (90%). About half of these users use both hands, while the rest half use either their dominant or non-dominant hand to type. Single-hand text entry users usually use their dominant hand to type. Most mobile text entry users continue inputting text in situations where they have only one hand available to type. In such situations, however, the number of users who prefer using their non-dominant hand increases significantly. About half of the users who drive (58%), frequently input text while driving. In this case, however, most users (92%) prefer using their dominant hand to input text.