How Do Users Interact with Mobile Devices? An Analysis of Handheld Positions for Different Technology Generations

While interacting with digital information, input devices are varying widely as technology is constantly changing. The most successful input devices are currently touchscreens, as they combine information input and output on a single interface. The aim of the present research was to gain a basic understanding of how people hold their hands when interacting with handheld devices and how this interaction changes depending on task context. To gain a large sample size, the study was administered via an online questionnaire. Five different hand positions were evaluated with regard to three different tasks: typing short text, typing long text, and reading. When considering user characteristics with regard to technology, one of the most influential factors is the user’s age. Therefore, the sample (N = 1022) was analyzed with regard to four different technology generations. Results show that there are significant differences in handheld positions with regard to different tasks and depending on the interaction with a smartphone or tablet PC. Furthermore, significant differences were detected between the four technology generations.