TrackPoint
<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://www.research.ibm.com/mathsci/cmc/trackpoint.htm.
[INTERACT'90, North Holland Pub Co, pp. 700-706].
(2003-10-15)
Nearby terms:
tracker ball « tracking « trackpad « TrackPoint
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