Top 10 Apps for People Who Are Left Handed

If you’ve ever thought that being left handed seems to be uncommon, you’d be right. In fact, research suggests that only between 10% and 12% of the world’s population is left handed, leaving the vast majority of the world with dominant right hands.

Whether you’re left or right handed doesn’t make any kind of intrinsic difference to your ability to do things. That is, neither is necessarily better than the other, nor will either provide you with more skill or dexterity than the other.

However, one thing that certainly does come into play is the fact that since most people are naturally right handed, most tools, devices and other physical objects tend to be designed with right handed users in mind. Now, this isn’t always the case, but unfortunately, very often, it is.

What does this mean for left handed people?

Well, sometimes, it’s not the end of the world. Without access to things like left handed scissors or left handed guitars, lefties tend to make do with what they’ve got, but it certainly does make like just that little bit more difficult.

 

Ordinary Tasks That Are Difficult for Lefties

 

We’ve already noted two of the most common things that lefthanded people tend to have trouble with – using so-called “ordinary” scissors and playing righthanded guitars – but there are plenty more tasks that are difficult for lefties to do.

 

• Use Pens Attached to Cords: For instance, when you need to fill out a form at a bank or a doctor’s office, the pen is normally attached on the right hand side.

 

• Pant Zippers: Zippers and the flap and button that covers them are all designed for use with a dominant right hand.

 

• Writing in a Ring Binder: Those who are left handed struggle with their hands knocking up on the hard spiral that gets in the way.

 

• Swiping a Card: Bank cards and designed to be swiped on the righthand side with the right hand.

 

• Fancy Pens on Tablets and Card Machines: The technological pens attached to tablets and card machines are always attached on the right hand side.

 

• Can Openers: Traditional can openers are designed for righthanded people, making them next to impossible to use with a dominant left hand.

 

• Vegetable Peelers: The blade of vegetable peelers is positioned to suit right handed people.

 

• Computer Keyboards: The number keys are all on the right of the keyboard.

 

…and that’s just the beginning. From door knobs and rulers to high-tech cameras, we could go on for days about how the world is really built for right handed people.

Rather, we’re going to give you some solutions by providing you with a list of the top 10 mobile apps designed specifically for left handed users.

 

Apps Designed for Left Handed Users

 

With the advent of digital technology and the popularisation of smartphones and apps, you’d think that it would be easy to immediately eliminate these issues, however, that’s not necessarily the case.

Mostly, it’s not due to ill intent – it’s just because game and app designers and developers are right handed themselves, so it simply doesn’t cross their minds to make apps accessible to those who are lefthanded.

Luckily, that’s beginning to change, with plenty of apps being developed that are specifically created and designed for easy use by lefties.

Here’s a list of 10 of the top apps designed for lefth-anded users or that have a leftie mode.

 

1. Procreate

 

 

Procreate is an advanced drawing application developed by iOS, but unlikely many other drawing apps, it offers a variety of customisable options.

This includes the option to reposition toolbars and menus from the right hand side of the screen to the left. This tends to make them far easier to use, as the initial design was created with the comfort of righthanded people in mind.

 

 

2. Gboard

 

 

Gboard is an Android keyboard app developed by Google. It allows users to customise its settings completely, changing the positioning of different buttons and keys based on preference.

This is particularly helpful for left handed people as it allows them to move things around or switch to one-handed mode with the keyboard on the left hand side of the phone for easier and quicker typing.

 

3. Adobe Illustrator Draw

 

 

Adobe Illustrator Draw is one of the most popular drawing apps in the industry not only because it boasts great technology, but because its tools can be moved around. Furthermore, it’s got the biggest collection of digital brushes, making it ideal for illustrators, sketches, animators or anyone else who wants to get creative. Also, it’s available on both iOS and Android devices.

This app makes digital drawing a dream, giving users the option to shift tools and buttons to the lefthanded side (or wherever is convenient) to avoid having to awkwardly reach over the screen while drawing.

 

4. Notability

 

 

Notability is a free-to-use app that allows users to take notes and keep records efficiently. It also allows for annotations of PDF documents.

This app is available on iOS, and with its advanced left hand mode, users can adjust the placement of the toolbar and change the palm rejection settings to suit lefties.

 

5. Swiftkey Keyboard

 

 

Available on both Android and iOS devices, Swiftkey Keyboard is one of the most easily customisable keyboard apps available on smartphones.

Not only can left handed users resize the keyboard to suit their hand positioning, but they can also move the whole thing to the left to make it closer to their left hand so they don’t have to strain while typing.

 

6. Sketchbook

 

 

Sketchbook is a professional-grade digital drawing, painting and illustrating app that allows users to get creative on pretty much any and all devices.

This is one of the top drawing, arty applications recommended to left handed users because, in addition to the fact that it can be customised, it also offers an overall uncluttered look, making use far less clumsy.

Of course, the main feature for lefties is that they can reposition the toolbar and the other interface elements to the left hand side of the screen to make life easier while drawing.

 

7. MyScript Nebo

 

 

MyScript Nebo is an advanced handwriting recognition application that is used by industry experts all over the world. The app is versatile in that it can be used across Android, iOS and Microsoft devices (although only with one operating system at a time).

For the left handed among us, MyScript Nebo is an ideal option because not only is it a top-recommended app that uses advanced technology, but it also allows users to move tools around. In addition, the app boasts a palm rejection feature making it even easier to use for left handed people.

8. Goodnotes

 

 

Goodnotes is an app that was designed with left handed users in mind. This note-taking application, suitable for use on Android devices, has not only adjustable features but a full-on lefthanded mode.

Left handed mode on Goodnotes adjusts the writing area and palm rejection settings, making it far easier for lefties to write in a natural, comfortable position.

 

9. Ulysses

 

 

Ulysses is a writing app designed specifically for iOS users, making it ideal for Macs, iPhones and iPads. It boasts a minimalist design that can be easily customised to suit the preferences of left handed users.

With a simply free interface as well as distraction-free writing modes, Ulysses makes creative writing easier than ever before. Sidebars and menus can be repositioned to allow the workspace to be shifted and repositioned.

 

10. LingoDeer

 

LingoDeer is a language learning app available on both iOS and Android devices that provides users with engaging and interactive lessons.

In addition to generally making it fun for users to learn new languages, it offers a special left handed mode, altering the app’s interface to make it more accessible for people with dominant left hands. Ultimately, LingoDeer is making linguistic learning technology more accessible to a broader audience of users.