Pointing stick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The pointing stick (trademarked by IBM as the TrackPoint & by Synaptics as the Touchstyk) is an isometric joystick used as a pointing device (compare especially touchpad). It was invented by research scientist Ted Selker. It is present on many brands of laptop, including IBM's line of ThinkPad laptops (now made by Lenovo), Toshiba Satellite laptops, HP business notebooks and on Dell Latitudes under the name of Track Stick. It has also been observed on computer mice and on some desktop keyboards, such as the UltraNav. Pointing stick devices are sometimes informally referred to as a "nipple" [1][2], "nub" [3], "nipple mouse" [4], or "clit mouse"[5][6][7] The pointing stick has a replaceable rubber cap, traditionally red on the ThinkPad but also found in other colors on other machines. On a QWERTY keyboard, the stick is embedded between the 'G', 'H' and 'B' keys, and the mouse buttons are placed just below the Spacebar. The cap can also be a slightly rough "grippy cat's tongue" material. The mouse buttons are usually operated by the right thumb, but some people use both left and right thumbs, for buttons 1/3 respectively.
The pointing stick operates by sensing applied force (hence it is also known as an isometric joystick), by using a pair of resistive strain gauges. The velocity of the cursor depends on the applied force.
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[edit] Features
The sensitivity of the TrackPoint is usually adjustable, and can be set to provide an extremely light touch.
Press-to-select is an optional feature, where a sharp tap on the pointing stick is equivalent to a button-click. The button thus clicked can be configured to be 1, 2 or 3. However, it is quite easy to accidentally "click" the mouse when typing.
Together with software wheel-emulation, the Trackpoint (and 3 buttons) can provide almost the entire behavior of a 3-button, 2-wheel mouse. Tapping button-2 will generate a middle-click; holding button-2 while simultaneously moving the pointer will generate vertical and horizontal scrolling events.
The TrackPoint III and the TrackPoint IV have a feature called Negative Inertia that causes the cursor's velocity to "overreact" when it is accelerated or decelerated. Usability tests at IBM have shown that it is easier for users to position the cursor with Negative Inertia enabled than it is with the feature disabled.
[edit] Problems
Cursor drift is a ubiquitous problem among pointing sticks, requiring frequent recalibration. However, TrackPoints automatically recalibrate when the stick recognizes a steady cursor drift; to trigger a recalibration, the user must lift his finger temporarily off the TrackPoint for about 1 second.
[edit] Comparison with Touchpads
The pointing stick seems to be declining in deployment, to the dismay of those who find it to be preferable to either mouse or touchpad. It is especially liked by touch-typists and IT professionals because it is one of the few pointing devices which does not require the user to remove their fingers from the home row.
Some people find it easier to finely position the pointer than when using a touchpad because there is virtually no 'dead zone'. One criticism is that because the pointing stick depends on the user applying pressure, it can cause hand cramps (although this can be partly solved by setting the sensitivity to high, and lifting the finger when the pointer is not being moved). Another criticism is that it stresses the index finger and may lead to RSI injuries.
[edit] Naming and Brands
| Name | Brand | Current Models | Past Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrackPoint | IBM / Lenovo | All known ThinkPads (not IdeaPads), and Travel Keyboard with Ultranav | Most ThinkPads, Space Saver II, Model M13, Model M4-1, Trackpoint IV, Trackpoint USB Keyboard |
| PointStick | HP (Compaq) | 2510p, 6910p | nc2400, nc4400, nc6230, nc6400, nc8430, nw8440, nw9440, & tc4400 series |
| NX Point | NEC | None known | |
| Pointing Stick | Sony | BX series | |
| StickPoint, QuickPoint | Fujitsu | P1620, T2010, optional on E8410, S7210, E8310 | S7110 (optional), B2400/2500/2600 series, P1120, P1510, P1610 |
| Track Stick | Dell | Latitude D430, D630, D830, XT | Latitude, Precision, Inspiron 4000, Inspiron 8200 |
| AccuPoint | Toshiba | Tecra A9, M9 | Portege (not current models 06/2007), Tecra A7, Tecra A8, Tecra M2, Tecra M5, Tecra S Series, Satellite Pro 4000 Series, Satellite Pro 410 Series |
| FineTrack | Acer | Travelmate 6492, Travelmate 6592 | |
| Mouse emulator | Elonex | Elonex ONE | |
| Pointing Stick | Unicomp | EnduraPro, Mighty Mouse (both for desktops) | On-The-Stick |
