Pointing+Devices

= Pointing Devices = **The Mou** **se**

A mouse is a small handheld device pushed over a flat surface. A mouse moves the graphical pointer by being slid across a smooth surface. The conventional roller-ball mouse uses a ball to create this action. Another common mouse is the optical mouse. This device is very similar to the conventional mouse but uses visible or infrared light instead of a roller-ball to detect the changes in position.


 * Mini-Mouse**



A Mini-mouse is a small egg-sized mouse for use with laptop computers; usually small enough for use on a free area of the laptop body itself.


 * Trackball**

A **trackball** is a pointing device consisting of a ball housed in a socket containing sensors to detect rotation of the ball about two axes, similar to an upside-down mouse: as the user rolls the ball with a thumb, fingers, or palm the mouse cursor on the screen will also move. Is usually used by physically impaired people.

Touchpad


A touchpad or **trackpad** is a flat surface that can detect finger contact. It's a stationary pointing device, commonly used on laptop computers. At least one physical button normally comes with the touchpad, but the user can also generate a mouse click by tapping on the pad.

Graphics tablet


A **graphics tablet** or **digitizing tablet** is a special tablet similar to a touchpad, but controlled with a pen or stylus that is held and used like a normal pen or pencil.

**Touchscreen** **Joystick**


 * Pointing Stick (Pimple)**



A pointing stick is a pressure sensitive small nub used like a joystick. It's usually found on laptops embedded between the 'G', 'H', and 'B' keys. It operates by sensing the force applied by the user. The corresponding "mouse" buttons are commonly placed just below the spacebar. It is also found on mice and some desktop keyboards.

By Maximilian