pointing device

    Any hardware component that allows a user to input
   spatial 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 - typically 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 a
   graphical representation of a desktop on the screen by
   movements of the mouse pointer and other visual changes.

   While the most common pointing device by far is a mouse, other
   kinds include tracker ball, trackpad, lightpen, various
   kinds of digitising tablets which use a stylus, and even a
   special "data glove" that translates the user's movements to
   computer gestures.

   (1997-02-03)