Pointing stick

Mouse pointing stick

A pointing stick is an isometric pointing device used as an alternative to a touchpad or an external mouse. It is typically found on laptop keyboards, positioned between the G, H, and B keys. The pointing stick allows users to control the movement of the cursor on the screen by applying pressure in the desired direction.

History

The pointing stick was first introduced by IBM in 1992 on their ThinkPad series of laptops. It was designed to provide a more efficient way to navigate the cursor without the need to move one's hands away from the keyboard. The pointing stick has since been adopted by various other laptop manufacturers.

Design and Functionality

The pointing stick is a small, rubberized nub that responds to the force applied by the user. Unlike a trackball or a mouse, the pointing stick does not require any physical movement across a surface. Instead, it uses pressure sensors to detect the direction and magnitude of the force applied, translating this into cursor movement on the screen.

Advantages

• **Space-saving**: The pointing stick occupies minimal space on the keyboard, making it ideal for compact laptop designs.
• **Efficiency**: Users can navigate the cursor without moving their hands away from the keyboard, which can increase typing efficiency.
• **Precision**: The pointing stick allows for precise cursor control, which can be beneficial for tasks that require fine movements.

Disadvantages

• **Learning curve**: New users may find the pointing stick less intuitive compared to a touchpad or a mouse.
• **Fatigue**: Prolonged use of the pointing stick can lead to finger fatigue due to the constant pressure required.

Variants

Several variants of the pointing stick exist, including:

• **TrackPoint**: The original pointing stick developed by IBM and now used by Lenovo in their ThinkPad series.
• **PointStick**: Used by HP in their business laptops.
• **AccuPoint**: Found in some Toshiba laptops.
• **FineTrack**: Used by Dell in their business laptops.

Related Pages

• Mouse (computing)
• Touchpad
• Trackball
• ThinkPad
• Laptop

See Also

• Input device
• Computer keyboard
• Cursor (user interface)