Apple Watch Will Allow Left-Handed Users to Choose Interface Orientation

[crawler1975]

I think there can be a huge spread between people who know something about watches (e.g. why a $1000 watch is better that a $50 watch) and those who only know about smart watches (e.g. I can't decide between a Casio and a Timex). Apple will be successful because their watch is targeted to the first group. That's why they called it Apple Watch and not iWatch. In that respect, perhaps Switzerland should be paying attention.

Edit: I should add that I'm part of both groups, in that I know the difference but can only afford a Timex, but I'll be saving up for a second gen Apple Watch. And this is how they'll be successful with the second group.

yes, Switzerland should be paying attention because from the looks of it, it looks stunning and have that "swiss" feel ...

 

[AppliedMicro]

Were there really people who were worried about this? It was obvious this is what Apple would have to do.

This.

I expected no less from Apple.

 

[guspasho]

As a lefty, I was worried when I didn't see anyone wearing the watch on their right hand at the keynote. But since you can just turn it upside down and that puts the crown on the lower left, I think we might have gotten the better end of the deal, if only so slightly by a better crown position.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

I'm a leftie, but I've always worn my watches on my left wrist. It somehow doesn't feel natural on the right. Anyone else do this?

Second this...all watches I've ever owned have the dials on the right side of the face, and I have always worn the watch on my left hand even though I am left handed.

I've honestly never, ever even thought of wearing a watch on my right hand, they are designed to be worn on the left one, simples.

Has never bothered me one bit, not when writing or anything else...

 

[grahamperrin]

Saw this on Instagram. I believe it's some of the Apple employees who worked on the watch.

Image

Thanks. I wonder whether that's an Apple Watch on the lady's right wrist. It appears to be worn unusually loosely (hanging low).

I'm right handed, and I don't wear a watch but I have found that I have been able to get used to not wearing a watch on either hand.

… at the bottom. I don't see that as an issue at all unless there are operations that require the use of both buttons at the same time. …

… Interesting that it is not mentioned, but clearly is happening, it's not the screen that is switched around, it is also the functional direction on the dial right? On the right hand scrolling down causes a counterclockwise rotation while in "leftie mode" down would cause a clockwise mode. So it is quite important that this was more that just the screen flipping like a iPhone does for example.

Good point. And if a developer wishes to design part of a GUI to align with the button at top right, I wonder how they'll feel about adapting that GUI to have that part at the opposite corner. Maybe Apple WatchKit (and/or human interface guidelines) will caution against designs that assume a single predictable position for the wheel, a single predictable position for the button. Plus maybe something within WatchKit will make it easy for on-screen layouts to be rearranged for the alternative positions.

… silly. Like Apple would alienate a good portion of it's customers for a niche product.

276 readers of MacRumors Forums polled … around one person in five finds pre-release Yosemite to be uglier than a prior version of (Mac) OS X. Uglier than all prior versions? More than ten percent of voters.

That's why it was a little surprising that they didn't mention lefty usage at all in the keynote. Lefties are something like 10% of the population but probably that percentage is much much higher for people who work at Apple or use Apple products (for work).

… U-Boat Classico watches, left hand designed

I never heard of that brand before now. For other readers who are curious, found in the UK with DuckDuckGo and Google:

• http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&f=187&t=1111683
• http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/collections/u-boat-watches/subcat-classico-53mm
• http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Find/U-Boat/Classico/Watches

… pretty much every watch ever made has had its winding stem (analog) or buttons (digital) on the right side, a lot of us just wore ours on our left wrists like all the righties.

I very rarely use the wheel whilst the watch is on the wrist. Particularly for winding, I prefer to remove the watch.

I'm sorry change is difficult for you. …

Without evidence, that's a very poor assumption to make about a person.

… Design isn't how something looks--it's how it works. Let's see what exactly Apple (and developers?) do with the extra button that could not be done if you ONLY had a Home button. Then we can judge.

+1

I suspect Apple has thought this through already....

Since Yosemite, I no longer have that level of confidence in the ability of Apple to do what's best. My assumptions about the company's recent abilities in this area are based on test experiences over a number of years.

… a nice watch with a little size to it. … notice it would catch onto the page or something else …

Also to be considered (to be felt, hands-on): with the wheel towards the hand, the ulna, and anything that may be relatively mobile around the wheel: will it react to any unexpected touch? Not necessarily a touch by a part of the body. I can't guess sensitivity of the wheel, or its context within all types of future app, but (for example) some types of sleeve may be more likely to brush/rub against the wheel when the wheel is not towards the elbow …

Postscript: I just realised, the wheel is typically towards the hand (not the elbow) when a watch is on the left wrist. Honestly, I'm so right-wristed, I never realised that before now … all those photos and videos over the years of how other people wear watches, it never sank in. I'm just so accustomed to the wheel being away from my hand, I thought that was the norm.

 

[iJandro]

This fellow left approves! Well done reloj de manzana!

 

[grahamperrin]

Push wheel on the left of a digital watch

News and Article Discussion > MacRumors.com News Discussion > Jony Ive Discusses Design Philosophy, Relationship with Steve Jobs, and Future of Apple in New Interview (2014-03-17) > Apple, Bang & Olufsen, Braun, Dieter Rams and memorable objects

The attached screenshot is of one of the Braun resources linked from that post.

Related

iPhone, iPod and iPad > Apple Watch > Apple Watch has shown that Apple has lost its way > Dieter Rams, Braun and more (photos, links)

 

[grahamperrin]

… reply to messages using a drawing type on screen, which some may want to …

I might want to use such features but I'll probably find myself unable to do so. I'm both right-handed and right-wristed, but not ambidextrous enough to write or draw with my left hand.

A person who is both left-handed and left-wristed might have the same thought.

That's an observation on suitability, not a criticism of the design of hardware.

 

[thisrocks]

I'm a leftie, but I've always worn my watches on my left wrist. It somehow doesn't feel natural on the right. Anyone else do this?

being a lefty myself I know all too well the easiness in succumbing to right handed products (heck I learned guitar right handed) but my watch was never an option. Although I tried, whenever I would write for longer than 2 minutes, it would become far too irritating.

I had a feeling this would be a non-event for us lefties, considering the lack of announcement.

As a lefty, I was worried when I didn't see anyone wearing the watch on their right hand at the keynote. But since you can just turn it upside down and that puts the crown on the lower left, I think we might have gotten the better end of the deal, if only so slightly by a better crown position.

Agreed, when I got my duct tape out and had a little play, much preferred in the lower position. Thumb scrolling on the crown, and index finger on the contacts button (which I hope can be re-purposed. Would totally JailBreak 4 that)

 

[TEG]

How is that going to be a problem?

First is Wrist action, which might trigger the crown button. The second is sweat, I haven't worn a watch since I got my own cell phone in 2005, with a front clock, because sweat was actually eating and pitting the stainless steel on the watch.

TEG

 

[THE JUICEMAN]

And while they may have their own alloys, nickel is not one of the recognized elements in 7000 series Aluminum

I'm so glad you said this! I have a nickel allergy as well. Hopefully you are right and the Apple watch won't break me out.

 

[nia820]

Well this is good to know. I'm a rightie but I've always worn my watch on my right wrist.