A pointing device is any piece of hardware that is used to allow a user to input spatial data to a computer. By moving a mouse, pen or a finger around, a user can implement movements and changes on the computer screen. The most common type of pointing device is the mouse and the arrow. When the mouse is moved on a mouse pad, the arrow on the screen moves. When the user clicks down on the mouse, the arrow clicks on the object it is hovering over.

There are many different types of pointing devices. While the mouse is only one type, it has become the name of many different types of pointing devices, even if an actual mouse is not used.

Types of Pointing Devices

The first types of pointing devices are the ones that require the movement of an object. For example, a mouse is one of these. Another is a track ball. By moving the mouse or track ball around, it allows for the arrow on the screen to move. The mouse, though, doesn’t need to have a ball. There are now optical mice that can be used. The general theory about these types of devices is that by moving, they promote the arrow on the screen to move.

The next category is broader than the former. This is the collection of pointing devices that rely on touching a surface to create movement on the computer screen. The first type is the touch screen. In the past, this was not very popular; however, in recent years, this has become increasingly important. With the iPod, iPad, and other devices available now with touch screen, this technology is quickly becoming a growing commodity.

The next type is the graphics tablet. This is a tablet that, when using a pen or “mouse,” a user can make the arrow move. Instead of being a mouse with a roller ball or optical light, this relies on the actual table to bring the movement. More specifically, though, is the fact that each point on one of these tablets represents a point on the monitor. Therefore, if you touch the bottom right hand corner, the arrow will move to the bottom right hand corner.

The final is the touch pad which can be found on laptops. This detects the movement of a finger and moves the arrow accordingly. By tapping on the pad, the user is able to create a click. This has made it much simpler to use a laptop computer than it used to be.

Future of Pointing Devices

Without a doubt, the touch screen is the future of the pointing device. As more technology is released using the touch screen, more users will become used to it. When that happens, the need for a mouse, roller ball or any other type of pointing device will slowly but surely become obsolete.