pointing device

hardware Any hardware component that allows a user to input

spatial data to a computer. CAD systems and Graphical UserInterfaces (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.

(1997-02-03)