handhållen

Handhållen is a Swedish term commonly used to describe equipment designed to be held and operated with the hand, rather than mounted or fixed in place. In English, the term is handheld or hand-held. It denotes devices and tools intended for portable, manual use.

Handheld devices are designed to be portable and usable without external fixtures; they are typically compact, lightweight, and often powered by batteries. They emphasize ergonomics and ease of one- or two-handed operation, enabling operation in diverse settings.

The scope is broad and includes consumer electronics such as smartphones, handheld game consoles, and pocket cameras; power tools and instruments like drills and multimeters; and field equipment such as laser distance meters and portable spectrometers. The common thread is the ability to function without being connected to a fixed platform.

Design considerations for handheld devices include weight distribution, grip comfort, button and control layouts, display readability, battery life, durability, and environmental resistance. The term encompasses devices used in domestic, professional, and outdoor contexts, often requiring robustness and simple user interfaces.

Historically, handheld devices evolved from pocket calculators and radios to modern smartphones and compact imaging devices, driven by advances in battery technology, microprocessors, and human–machine interfaces. The handheld format offers immediacy and convenience but imposes constraints on screen size, input methods, and processing power relative to stationary systems.

See also: handheld computer, mobile device, ergonomics, portable equipment.