pointing stick

TrackPoint
pointing stick

   <hardware> (Or "pointing stick", "nipple") A small knob found
   in the middle of some {keyboards} that works like a very short
   {isometric joystick}.  Pressing it toward or away from you or
   from side to side moves the {pointer} on the screen.  Ted
   Selker brought the concept of an in-keyboard pointing device
   to {IBM} in September 1987.  TrackPoint was introduced in 1992
   on the {IBM} {ThinkPad} and later on some {desktops}.

   It takes up virtually no extra room on the box or the work
   area and also requires minimal movement of the hands from the
   keyboard.

   Many imitations of highly variable quality appeared.  Pointing
   sticks have also been used in many other {notebook} brands,
   including {TI}, {HP}, {Compac}, {Dell}, {Toshiba}
   (e.g. Portege 4000's "AccuPoint II"), and {AST} (e.g. Ascentia
   910N).

   "TrackPoint" and "Trackpoint" are IBM trademarks.

   (http://research.ibm.com/mathsci/cmc/trackpoint.htm).

   [INTERACT'90, North Holland Pub Co, pp. 700-706].

   (2003-10-15)