Android allows swapping out the entire interface by installing a different launcher, and customizing the layout of app icons, search bars, and keyboards for easier one-handed access. Samsung Galaxy phones offer additional customization options like Good Lock and One Hand Operation + to enhance one-handed usability.
Gboard, a keyboard app from Google, allows adjusting the size and position of the keyboard for one-handed use. Some Android devices come with Gboard pre-installed as the default keyboard, while others require downloading it from the Google Play Store and setting it as the default keyboard.
Gboard's one-handed keyboard mode allows typing faster and easier with one hand, improving the texting experience. This mode can be activated within the Messages app or by navigating to the keyboard settings.
How-To Geek suggests that voice transcription on smartphones can be a useful alternative to typing, allowing hands-free interaction. The publication also mentions that foldable phones offer a more compact and pocketable design, potentially easier to hold and use with one hand than traditional smartphones.
Accessibility features like Gboard's one-handed mode may inspire users to look for similar features in other apps and devices to enhance one-handed usability.
Sources: The Verge, How-To Geek, Cyberguy
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
