A computer-based method for selecting an actionable item displayed in a graphical user interface on a mobile computer system is provided. The method includes detecting a first gesture, ending at a first position, on a lower portion of a touchscreen; in response to detecting the first gesture, activating a single-handed operation mode; determining a sequence of actionable items for a foreground application executing on a processor; detecting a second gesture on the touchscreen, the second gesture beginning at the first position and ending at a second position; in response to detecting the second gesture, highlighting one of the actionable items of the sequence based on the second position; detecting a third gesture on the touchscreen; and, in response to detecting a release at the second position as the third gesture, selecting the highlighted actionable item for processing by the foreground application and de-activating the single-handed operation mode.