We know that users in bi-directional (bi-di) locales (speakers of Arabic and Hebrew) for example read/write text from right-to-left (RTL) and read/write numbers from left-to-right. hence we have bi-di unicode algorithms and rendering techniques (HTML DIR="RTL", for example) to detect locale or language requirements and flip the screen. But...
In the case of mobile users, would flipping a screen on a mobile device impact usability or user experience in the hand? Assume a screen layout with an action header on a simple app:
Save Cancel
For example, a right-handed user would expect a short finger gesture to cancel an action on an english screen. What if the screen was
Cancel Save
Any impact?
How about swipe gestures in the hand? Surely a swipe to the left is a swipe to the left, regardless.
Why ask? Wondering if we need a responsive design NOT to flip certain pages on small hand-held devices. Any thoughts on this? Anyone come across this issue or know of research?
For an example of bi-di, see http://dojotoolkit.org/reference-guide/1.10/dojox/mobile/bidi.html. Now imagine a right-handed (for example) user with phone in one hand wanting to turn on Airplane Mode. Which is easier? LTR or RTL screen.
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