pointing device

[′pȯint·iŋ di‚vīs]

(computer science)

A handheld device, such as a mouse, puck, or stylus, that controls a position indicator on a display screen. Also known as pick device.

pointing device

(hardware)

Any hardware component that allows a user to input spatial data to a computer. CAD systems and Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) allow the user to control and provide data to the computer using physical "gestures" - point, click, and drag - typically by moving a hand-held mouse across the surface of the physical desktop and activating switches on the mouse. Movements of the pointing device are echoed on a graphical representation of a desktop on the screen by movements of the mouse pointer and other visual changes.

While the most common pointing device by far is a mouse, other kinds include tracker ball, trackpad, lightpen, various kinds of digitising tablets which use a stylus, and even a special "data glove" that translates the user's movements to computer gestures.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

pointing device

An input device used to move the pointer (cursor) on screen. The major pointing device is the mouse for the desktop computer and the touchpad for the laptop, although many road warriors bring along a mouse. Pointing sticks are available on some laptops, and a small number of users prefer trackballs over the mouse. See mouse, touchpad, trackball and pointing stick.

The Major Pointing Devices

Clockwise from the mouse at the upper left are the trackball, pointing stick (red tip) and touchpad.

Freedom of Choice

Some laptops provide a pointing stick and touchpad on the same machine, both of which are active at the same time. (Image courtesy of Winbook Computer Corporation, www.winbook.com)

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References in periodicals archive

For subjects using pointing devices, Vigouroux et al.

Effect of dynamic keyboard and word-prediction systems on text input speed in persons with functional tetraplegia

Head movements typically use pointing devices to activate computer keyboards or switches (Bower et al., 1998-1999).

Computer assistive technology for people who have disabilities: computer adaptations and modifications

It requires 8 MB of RAM, a hard disk, a math coprocessor, Super VGA device, and a Microsoft- or SummaSketch-compatible pointing device. Release 4 will ship in the third quarter of 1994 and will retail for $3000.

More multimedia from Autodesk

A pencil-eraser-sized pointing device called the TrackPoint II is tucked between the keyboard's G and H keys and serves instead of a mouse.

The coming green computers

Connected to the PC, the digitizing tablet is used as a pointing device, The computer detects the position of the stylus and draws crosshairs on the video screen to show its current location, The operator draws with the stylus, much as an artist might sketch with a pencil or pen.

Forensic imaging comes of age

In the space of less than 10 years the expectation of what the interaction between human and computer would be like has changed from a terse, character-oriented exchange modeled on the teletypewriter to the now familiar Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointing device WIMP interface.

GUIs: the next generation

Cruise is a computer pointing device that requires no hand or wrist movement.

Cruise

But gunners sometimes need to mount additional items like a laser range finder or pointing device on the M2.

Second mounting rail available

The Mousetrapper Advance electronic pointing device from design company Moustrapper Nordic has been introduced in the UK through distributor Moustrapper UK.

Mousetrapper Advance introduced to the UK

Standard features include an integrated, three-button HulaPoint II[TM] pointing device, 24 function keys and a 10-key numeric pad.

Wireless keyboard