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Pointing Devices
A pointing device is an input interface (specifically a human interface device) that allows a user to input spatial (i.e., continuous and multi-dimensional) 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 — for example, 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 the screen by movements of the pointer (or cursor) and other visual changes.
Few common pointing devices are:
- Mouse used in most PCs
- Touchpad usually found on Laptop computers
- Trackerball is used by people with limited motor skills e.g. young children or people with disabilities.
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