Pointing Devices

         The mouse is the most widely used pointing devices today. Some users, however, work with other pointing devices. These include the trackball, touchpad, pointing stick, touch screen, touch-sensitive pads, stylus, pen, signature capture pad, and graphic tablet. But in this article I just want to explain you about Trackball, Touchpad, and Pointing stick.

Trackball

Trackball

         A Trackball is a stationary pointing device with a ball on its top or side. The ball in most trackballs is about the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

         To move the pointer using a trackball, you rotate the ball with your thumb, fingers, or the palm of your hand. I addition to the ball, a trackball usually has one or more buttons that work just like mouse buttons.

         A trackball requires frequent cleaning because it picks up oils from fingers and dust from the environment. For users who have limited desk space, however, a trackball is a good alternative to a mouse because the device is stationary.

Touchpad

Touchpad

         A touchpad is a small, flat, rectangular pointing device that is sensitive to pressure and motion. To move the pointer using a touchpad, slide your fingertip across the surface of the pad. Some touchpad have or more buttons around the edge of the pad that work like mouse buttons. On most touchpads, you also can tap the pad’s surface to imitate mouse operations such as clicking. Touchpads are found most often in notebook computers.

Pointing Stick

         A pointing Stick is a pressure-sensitive pointing device shape like a pencil eraser that is positioned between keys on a keyboard. To move the pointer using a pointing stick, you push the pointing stick with a finger. The pointer on the screen moves n the direction you push the pointing stick. By pressing buttons below the keyboard, users can click and perform other perform other mouse-type operations with a pointing stick. A pointing stick does not require any additional desk space.