Mastering One-Handed Typing: Solutions and Insights for Injury Recovery and Accessibility

When a dominant arm is out of commission for months, typing becomes a significant challenge. A Hacker News user sought advice for a relative in this situation, and the community responded with a wealth of practical solutions and personal experiences. The suggestions generally align with the original poster's categories: training, keyboard remapping, and specialty hardware, with voice control emerging as a strong contender.

Software Solutions & Keyboard Remapping

For those looking to adapt existing hardware, software modifications offer powerful and often low-cost solutions.

Mirrored Keyboard Layouts: This was a highly recommended approach. The idea is to use a toggle key (often Caps Lock or a dedicated key on a programmable keyboard) to make one half of the keyboard (e.g., the left side) act as a mirror of the other half. This leverages existing touch-typing muscle memory. Commenters mentioned using QMK firmware (swap_hands feature), kmonad, and AutoHotkey for this. Randall Munroe of xkcd fame also described a similar "mirrorboard" setup. Users found this relatively easy to adjust to, especially if already familiar with touch typing or split keyboards.
One-Handed Dvorak Layouts: August Dvorak developed specific left-hand and right-hand versions of his keyboard layout, designed for amputees or one-handed use. These are often available as standard options in operating systems like macOS and Windows. Some users reported reaching decent typing speeds (e.g., 40 WPM) within a couple of weeks.
Custom Key Remapping & Sticky Keys: Tools like Karabiner-Elements (macOS) allow for extensive customization. Re-mapping IDE shortcuts to be more accessible with one hand was also a tip from a programmer who is an arm amputee. Standard OS accessibility features like "sticky keys" (where modifier keys like Shift, Ctrl, Alt remain active after being pressed once) are crucial for one-handed typing on any layout.

The Power of Voice: Dictation and AI Assistance

Voice input has matured significantly and was a frequent suggestion, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for typing altogether.

Voice Control and Dictation Tools: TalonVoice was repeatedly mentioned as a powerful freeware (not open source, as one commenter clarified) tool for voice control of the entire computer, including text input and application navigation. It has a strong community and scriptable plugins. Built-in dictation in macOS and Windows is also quite capable. Specialized apps like SuperWhisper, MacWhisper, and CarelessWhisper, often leveraging the Whisper AI model, were recommended for high-accuracy dictation.
Voice Coding: For developers, tools like Cursorless integrate with Talon to enable coding by voice.
AI for Text Refinement and Coding: Several users pointed out that LLMs can be a significant aid. One can dictate or roughly type text and then use an AI to add punctuation, correct syntax, or even generate code from detailed English prompts. This can greatly reduce the typing burden for editing and refinement.

Specialized Hardware for One-Handed Use

While often more expensive, dedicated hardware can offer optimized ergonomics and functionality.

Dedicated One-Handed Keyboards: Brands like Maltron and TiPY create keyboards specifically designed for single-hand use. These are often ergonomically shaped but come with a high price tag (e.g., TiPY mentioned at €1000). Employers or health insurance might cover these costs in some cases.
Chorded Keyboards: These devices use combinations of a few keys (chords) to produce characters. Examples include the Twiddler (which also integrates mouse functions), Artsey.io (an 8-key open-source layout), Charachorder, and the older FrogPad. They have a steep learning curve but can allow for high typing speeds with minimal hand movement. Some users found them invaluable, especially when the injured arm couldn't be in a standard typing position.
Programmable and Split Keyboards: Many modern mechanical keyboards (e.g., Moonlander, Keyboard.io Model 100, Kinesis Freestyle2 with a large split option) are split into two halves. For one-handed use, one half can be unplugged or set aside, and the remaining half programmed with a one-handed layout (like a mirrored layout or a custom configuration). These often support QMK or similar firmware for easy customization. Macropads (small auxiliary keypads) can also be programmed with layouts like Artsey.io.

Adapting to Standard Keyboards

For temporary injuries, many found that elaborate solutions weren't necessary.

One-Handed QWERTY Typing: Several commenters shared that they simply learned to type on a standard QWERTY keyboard with their non-dominant hand, or by hunt-and-pecking across the whole keyboard with one hand. While slower (e.g., dropping from 90 WPM to 20 WPM, or achieving ~60 WPM with practice), it was often sufficient for a recovery period of a few months, avoiding the time investment of learning a new system.
Training Software: Programs like "Five Finger Typist" are designed to teach one-handed typing on a standard keyboard.

Other Innovative Approaches

Dasher: This predictive text entry system, based on information theory, allows users to "steer" towards letters and words. It can be effective with minimal input, like a headmouse, and adapts to the user's vocabulary. It has a learning curve but is powerful for those with severe motor limitations.
Text Expansion Tools: Software like Keyboard Maestro (macOS) or AutoHotkey can be used to create text macros, expanding short typed codes into frequently used words or phrases, significantly reducing typing effort.
Smartphone Swipe Typing: For general text, swipe-style typing on a smartphone is fast and one-handed. Some suggested looking into ways to use this as input for a computer.
Morse Code: A few users mentioned Morse code as a viable, albeit slower, one-handed input method, with various software and hardware tools available.

Key Considerations When Choosing

The best solution depends on individual circumstances:

Duration of Injury: For a temporary recovery of several months, users often advised against solutions with steep learning curves unless absolutely necessary. Mirrored layouts or simple one-handed QWERTY were preferred.
Learning Curve vs. Immediate Usability: Mirrored layouts leverage existing skills, while chorded keyboards or new layouts like Dvorak require dedicated practice.
Cost: Software remapping is often free or cheap. Specialty hardware can be hundreds or even over a thousand dollars.
Type of Work: Coding has different demands than writing prose. Voice control and AI assistance can be particularly helpful for both, but complex symbol entry for code might favor certain keyboard setups.
Personal Comfort and Existing Skills: What works well for one person might be frustrating for another.
Ergonomics of the Injured Arm: The ability to keep the injured arm in a comfortable position, or not use it at all, will heavily influence choices. Some solutions, like the Twiddler, can be used even if the arm is in a sling.

Ultimately, the discussion highlighted that there are many paths to productive one-handed typing. Experimentation with different software options is often a good starting point due to low cost. It's also important, as one user recovering from an injury noted, to be prepared for a general drop in productivity and the increased difficulty of everyday tasks beyond typing.