| Devices of a desktop computer can be classified | | | | Track ball is a pointing device that is mounted in |
| into two categories - input devices and output | | | | the shape of ball in between the two mounts of |
| devices. Both of them together build a relationship | | | | the mouse. When the user rolls the track ball, the |
| between a computer and the external world. | | | | information on the monitor starts rolling either in |
| Input devices are the part of the hardware | | | | the downward direction or in the upward direction. |
| mechanism of the computer that changes | | | | Another pointing device is the touch pad. It is |
| information to make it acceptable by the | | | | generally used in the laptops. They are in the |
| computer. However, this information is completely | | | | shape of a flat pad where rubbing finger leads to |
| under the user control that uses them to give | | | | movement of cursor on the screen. |
| commands or concepts that has to be processed | | | | Space ball is used for the 3-D computer designs |
| by the computer. | | | | and is used by graphic professionals. Touch screen |
| There are different types of input devices. We | | | | is also a pointing device which acts as a display |
| have classified them according to the duration of | | | | and the device at a same time. User just needs |
| the time period. Earlier, there were only different | | | | to point over the screen of the computer to give |
| types of keyboards that are included in the | | | | it the desired directions. A light pen is also a |
| category of input devices of computer. Like there | | | | pointing device. It is light sensitive device and is |
| are computer keyboards, chorded keyboard and | | | | used to point out the displayed things on the |
| keyer in the category of input devices only. But | | | | computer. |
| later on, with technological advancement, pointing | | | | Joysticks are the hand held devices that are used |
| devices were developed and got added in the | | | | to handle video games on computer in the best |
| types of input devices. | | | | way while pointing stick is used to touch the |
| A pointing device is a hardware device that | | | | monitor for the computer for giving it commands |
| makes it possible for the user to install constant | | | | and directions. And the last pointing device that is |
| and multi-dimensional information in the system. | | | | used quite commonly is the wired glove. By using |
| The three main functions of the pointing devices | | | | the wired glove device, the wearer can give the |
| are - to point somewhere on the monitor, click | | | | directions to the computer by bending his fingers. |
| and drag. Motion of the pointing device on the | | | | So, these were some of the pointing devices for |
| table is followed by the movements on the | | | | the desktop as well as the laptop computers. |
| screen. The most common pointing device about | | | | More than half of them are used in our day to |
| which everybody knows is the mouse. However, | | | | day lives while others are used for official |
| there are some other pointing devices as well and | | | | professional purposes only. |
| now, we will discuss about them. | | | | |