Celebrating Lefty Day: Razer’s Commitment to Inclusive Design for Left-Handed Gamers

2023-08-15 02:23:53

The design process is always more than just aesthetics and function. For Razer, and for me personally, it’s regarding recognizing and meeting the diverse needs of the global gamer community. As a tribute to Lefty Day, I want to share some reflections on our journey in pioneering the Lefty Mouse – a project I care regarding. In our right-handed world, lefties like me often find ourselves adapting to tools and technologies that weren’t designed for them. This challenge extends to the digital realm, where default settings on devices, especially the ubiquitous mouse, favor right-handed users. Celebrating Lefty Day: Recognizing Uniqueness and Challenges Lefty Day is a moment that Razer cares deeply regarding, reminding us of the importance of inclusivity in our designs. As we mark this day, we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to serve the left-handed gaming community. Since the advent of the computer mouse in the 1960s, left-handed users have struggled to find devices tailored for right-handers. As technology becomes ubiquitous, calls for inclusivity have grown louder. In the late 1990s, various manufacturers attempted to produce left-handed mice, but these mice often lacked the sophistication and ergonomics of the right-handed models. Razer’s Leadership in Left-Handed Mouse: A Designer’s Pride One of our proudest moments came in 2010 when Razer launched the Razer DeathAdder Left-Handed Edition. It’s not just another product; it’s a product. This is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity. That promise was further cemented at Lefty Day 2020 with the release of Naga Lefty, a technology that resonates deeply with MMO gamers around the world. For left-handed gamers, these innovations are transformative. The challenges of setting up game rigs, as well as the complexities of gameplay are eased. In our commitment to design and inclusivity, we help level the playing field. Conversations with the Community We often ask the game community for feedback and really understand the impact of our designs. It’s in this spirit that we teamed up with left-handed gamer and Twitch variety host Krysellia. Krysellia is an architectural designer who enjoys role-playing, video games, and travel. We wanted to get her thoughts on the gaming peripheral scene and being a left-handed gamer: Q1. As an LH player, what’s your game setup like? How do you tweak it to suit your gaming preferences? good question! Actually my setup is not fundamentally different from anyone else’s. However, it reflects where I hold the mouse with my left hand and the keyboard with my right. I do prefer the full, tenkeyless, and 60% boards because it’s more comfortable for my hand since it doesn’t cramp as much. Q2. What tweaks did you make to enhance the gaming experience and performance? Oh, not a lot. I’ve always used my mouse with my left hand, but that had to change when I first started playing FPS games. Realigning my right hand was very difficult as I felt out of aim and unsteady. It was just a weird experience. Since most mice are right-handed, I had to look for an ambidextrous mouse if I wanted to continue gaming with my left hand. The default keybindings are also an issue. I’ve tried using the same keybindings as everyone else with my right hand, but it’s never comfortable. That’s when I got the idea for the flip control – use PL;” instead of the typical WASD. Q3. For Razer’s efforts to cater to different play styles and needs, especially for left-handed gamers like you, would you What experience? I’m very happy that gaming companies are starting to offer accessories for different play styles. Gaming should be a pastime, a competitive experience for everyone. As a lefty, I used to have a hard time finding gaming accessories, but improving the Awareness of left-handed struggles is a step in the right direction. I’m glad it’s now more accessible. Thanks for sharing, Kiselia! Moving forward with design at its core Today, as we mark Lefty Day In reality, our commitment to Razer and my personal mission as Global Head of Design is to continue to innovate for all gamers. We don’t just create devices; we create devices. We create experiences. The future holds limitless potential, and we want every Design touches lives, inspires gamers, and drives the industry toward greater inclusivity. To all of us left-handed gamers, and all those who advocate for inclusive design: Cheers to more left-handed turns in the gaming world! Source: Razer
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