Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Thu, 06 Jun 2002 12:52:20 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1284608@logan.com>
From: Brent Regan <Brent@regandesigns.com>
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Subject: Re: Left Throttle, Right Stick
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I find it incredible that anyone would consider adding the complexity, 
unreliability and weight of dual throttles or build a "Mr. Potato Head" 
panel based on the mistaken idea that one hand is always better at doing 
something than the other. People confuse dominance with ability. Think 
of your dominant side as being your default side. If someone chucks a 
rock at you, your central nervous system reacts reflexively to deflect 
the projectile with your default limb. There isn't time to decide 
between two possibilities so evolution has preferred that it is better 
to get the job done quickly than to consider the response and select an 
option.

The result of this is that the dominant hand is used more so it is 
better trained. Given a new task (move stick, drive plane) either hand 
has the same intrinsic capability and the brain will adapt accordingly.

Consider this, most string instruments require greater dexterity from 
the left hand. How about the piano? Driving a manual shifting 
automobile? This freaking keyboard?

If there was a measurable safety related phenomenon due to a preference 
to the "sinistra" then wouldn't insurance companies require you to 
disclose this and, more importantly, charge a little extra?

Try this. Take a piece of paper and two pens. Starting in the center of 
the page, write your signature with both hands simultaneously but write 
backwards with your non-dominant hand (mirror image). Compare your 
backwards signature (in a mirror) to your normal signature. Surprising 
how good your non default hand's penmanship is, isn't it? Even without 
practice.

Building a dual throttle is a really bad idea. Even Boeing knows this. 
Besides the mechanical issues of weight, friction and jamming you have 
the added possibility of the passenger having unfettered access. Bad 
enough I have to warn them off the stick every time their seat gets 
adjusted. People have reflexes (see above) and one of those reflexes is 
to grab on to the nearest object if they are jostled.

Keep it simple. Practice emergency procedures. Be safe.

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

Regards
Brent Regan