View source for Pointing stick

{{Short description|Joystick typically mounted in a keyboard}}
{{About|a computer input device|the teaching and presentation aid|Pointer (rod)}}
[[File:Mouse pointing stick.jpeg|thumb|Pointing stick on a [[Lenovo ThinkPad]]]]
[[File:Pointing stick of a Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard-4488.jpg|thumb|Detail: rear side of a Lenovo ThinkPad pointing stick with the [[strain gauge]]s. Size: 8 x 8 mm. [https://patents.google.com/patent/US6115030A/en?oq=6115030 Out of patent] ]]
[[File:Thinkpad trackpoint caps.JPG|thumb|IBM ThinkPad caps (left-to-right): Soft Dome, Soft Rim, Classic Dome, Eraser Head (discontinued)]]

A '''pointing stick''' (or '''trackpoint''', also referred to generically as a '''nub,''' '''nipple''' or '''clitmouse''') is a small [[analog stick]] used as a [[pointing device]] typically mounted centrally in a [[computer keyboard]]. Like other pointing devices such as [[computer mouse|mice]], [[touchpad]]s or [[trackball]]s, operating system software translates manipulation of the device into movements of the [[Cursor (user interface)|pointer]] on the computer screen. Unlike other pointing devices, it reacts to sustained [[force]] or [[strain (mechanics)|strain]] rather than to gross movement, so it is called an "isometric"<ref>{{cite web |title=WO2001014957A1 - Control stick for a finger pointing device - Google Patents |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2001014957A1/ko |date=2001-03-01 |access-date=2020-08-17}}</ref> pointing device. [[IBM]] introduced it commercially in 1992 on the [[ThinkPad 700]] series under the name "TrackPoint", and patented an improved version of it in 1997 (but the patent expired in 2017).<ref>{{cite web |title=US6115030A - Trackpoint device - Google Patents |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6115030A/en |date=1997-12-18 |access-date=2020-08-17}}</ref> It has been used for business laptops, such as [[Acer Inc.|Acer]]'s [[Acer TravelMate|TravelMate]], [[Dell]]'s [[Dell Latitude|Latitude]], [[HP Inc.|HP]]'s [[HP EliteBook|EliteBook]] and [[Lenovo]]'s [[ThinkPad]].

The pointing stick senses applied force by using two pairs of [[Electrical resistance and conductance|resistive]] [[strain gauge]]s. A pointing stick can be used by pushing with the fingers in the general direction the user wants the pointer to move. The velocity of the pointer depends on the applied force so increasing pressure causes faster movement. The relation between pressure and pointer speed can be adjusted, just as mouse speed is adjusted.

On a [[QWERTY]] keyboard, the stick is typically embedded between the G, H and B keys, and the mouse buttons are placed just below the [[space bar]]. The mouse buttons can be operated right-handed or left-handed due to their placement below the keyboard along the centerline. This pointing device has also appeared next to screens on compact-sized laptops such as the [[Toshiba Libretto]] and [[Sony Vaio UX Micro PC|Sony VAIO UX]].

== Variants ==
Pointing sticks typically have a replaceable rubber cap, called a nub, which can be a slightly rough "eraser head" material or another shape.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lenovo Support and Downloads: TrackPoint Caps and how to order for ThinkPad systems and TrackPoint Keyboards |url=http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/VLAR-443LTU.html |publisher=IBM.com |date=2007-07-17 |access-date=2009-04-06 |archive-date=2011-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524171140/http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/VLAR-443LTU.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The cap is red on ThinkPads, but is also found in other colors on other machines. It may be gray, pink, black or blue on some Dell models, blue on some HP/Compaq laptops, and green or gray on most Toshiba laptops produced before the 2000s.

Button configurations vary depending on vendor and laptop model. ThinkPads have a prominent middle mouse button, but some models have no physical buttons. Toshiba employs concentric arcs.

In the early 1990s, [[Zenith Data Systems]] shipped a number of laptop computers equipped with a device called J-Mouse,<ref>{{Cite web |title=J-Mouse - Trained In Tech |url=https://trainedintech.com/j-mouse/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505201003/https://trainedintech.com/j-mouse/ |archive-date=2023-05-05}}</ref> which essentially used a special keyswitch under the J key to allow the J keycap to be used as a pointing stick.

In addition to appearing between the G, H and B keys on a QWERTY keyboard, these devices or similar can also appear on gaming devices as an alternative to a [[D-pad]] or [[analog stick]]. On certain Toshiba Libretto mini laptops, the pointing stick was located next to the display. IBM sold a mouse with a pointing stick in the location where a [[scroll wheel]] is common now.
[[File:Pointing stick Toshiba.jpg|thumb|A pointing stick on a mid-1990s-era Toshiba laptop. The two buttons below the keyboard act as a computer mouse: the top button is used for left-clicking while the bottom button is used for right-clicking.]]
Optical pointing sticks are also used on some Ultrabook tablet hybrids, such as the Sony Duo 11, ThinkPad Tablet and Samsung Ativ Q.

On the Gateway 2000 Liberty laptop the pointing stick is above the enter key on the right side of the keyboard.

A pointing stick was featured in the [[New Nintendo 3DS]] as a secondary analog stick, known as the '''C-Stick'''.

== Design challenges ==
The IBM TrackPoint III and the TrackPoint IV have a feature called Negative Inertia that causes the pointer's velocity to "overreact" when it is accelerated or decelerated. Negative Inertia is intended to avoid the feeling of inertia or sluggishness when starting or stopping movement.<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=5570111 |title=Graphical user interface cursor positioning device having a negative inertia ... |fdate=1994-10-03 |gdate=1996-10-29 |invent1=Robert C. Barrett |invent2=Robert S. Olyha, Jr. |invent3=Joseph D. Rutledge}}</ref> Usability tests at IBM have shown that it is easier for users to position the pointer with Negative Inertia, and performance is 7.8% better.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=R. C. Barrett |author2=E. J. Selker |author3=J. D. Rutledge* |author4=R. S. Olyha* |year=1995 |title=Negative Inertia: A Dynamic Pointing Function |url=http://www.sigchi.org/chi95/proceedings/shortppr/rcb_bdy.htm |url-status=dead |journal=IBM Almaden Research Center |publisher=[[SIGCHI]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220093752/https://sigchi.org/chi95/proceedings/shortppr/rcb_bdy.htm |archive-date=2017-02-20 |access-date=2012-12-03}}</ref>

Another challenge with pointing stick design is identification of the zero position (the position where no motion is desired). Because the amount of motion is small, the sensitivity of the sensors must be high, and they are subject to noise interference.

A typical solution, which assumes that pointing sticks frequently go out of calibration, is to interpret a variation below a certain threshold (over a given interval, perhaps one or several seconds) as being a neutral stick. However, the recalibration can also allow brief periods of 'drifting' (movement of the pointer while the user is not moving the pointing stick).<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/2hvpzj/track_point_drift/ | title=R/Thinkpad - Track point drift| date=30 September 2014}}</ref>

In practice, if the re-calibration interval is set too short and if the user applies moderately consistent pressure to the stick for such an interval, this method results in an incorrect zero point. Additional pressure again moves the pointer, but the calibration may occur again, requiring even more force. If the user releases pressure at this point, the change will be interpreted as an instruction to move the opposite direction. In time, the software will re-calibrate and stop the motion.

Additionally, if "press-to-select" is enabled, the software may generate unexpected click events by touching the pointing stick during typing.

== History ==

In 1984, [[Ted Selker]], a researcher at [[PARC (company)|PARC]], worked on a pointing stick based on a study{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}} showing that it takes a typist 0.75 seconds to shift from the keyboard to the mouse, and comparable time to shift back. Selker built a model of a device that would minimize this time. It was only three years later, working at IBM, that Selker refined his design, resulting in the TrackPoint product<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.petergolden.com/Articles/ThinkPad-1(EB-PAG).htm |title=The development of the IBM ThinkPad, Part I: big BLUE'S big ADVENTURE |last=Golden |first=Peter |access-date=2012-12-03 |archive-date=2013-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513125158/http://www.petergolden.com/Articles/ThinkPad-1(EB-PAG).htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> for which IBM received US [[patent]]s in 1996<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=5521596 |title=Analog input device located in the primary typing area of a keyboard |fdate=1992-05-29 |gdate=1996-05-28 |invent1=Edwin J. Selker |invent2=Joseph D. Rutledge}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=5489900 |title=Force sensitive transducer for use in a computer keyboard |fdate=1994-06-03 |gdate=1996-02-06 |invent1=Matthew F. Cali |invent2=Jerome J. Cuomo |invent3=Donald J. Mikalsen |invent4=Joseph D. Rutledge, Edwin J. Selker}}</ref> and 2000.<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number= US6115030 |title= Trackpoint device |fdate=1997-12-18 |gdate=2000-09-05 |invent1=Viktors Berstis |invent2=Thomas Guthrie Zimmerman}}</ref>

Pointing sticks were the dominant pointing device for laptops before the advent of the [[touchpad]]. During later years, they faced a decline in popularity as most laptop-producing brands switched to touchpads, although as of 2021, some manufacturers like [[Lenovo]] still produce laptops with pointing sticks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/why-the-thinkpad-trackpoint-still-a-thing-according-to-lenovos-chief-designer |title=Why the ThinkPad TrackPoint is still a thing, according to Lenovo's chief designer |last=Osborne |first=Joe |date=2017-06-21 |work=TechRader |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref>

== Problem scope==
[[File:Ultranav assembly.JPG|thumb|A ThinkPad UltraNav featuring both a red pointing stick (top right) and a [[touchpad]] (bottom left)]]

=== Space constraints===
[[File:Dell Latitude E6430 (Trackpoint).jpg|thumb|A Dell Latitude E6430 laptop with a pointing stick (upper middle) and a [[touchpad]] (bottom). They were commonly featured together on Dell Latitude laptops, beginning in the late 1990s.]]
The pointing stick can be used in ultra-compact netbooks<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/01/07/vaio-p-hands-on |title=Sony VAIO P hands-on |last=Miller |first=Paul |publisher=Engadget |date=2009-01-07 |access-date=2012-12-03}}</ref> where there would be no place for a touchpad.

=== Finger motion reduction ===
The pointing stick is positioned such that the hands do not need to be removed from the [[Touch typing|home row]] to manipulate the mouse pointer.<ref name="jonlee">{{cite web |url=http://www.jonlee.ca/trackpoint-vs-touchpad |title=Trackpoint vs Touchpad |date=2007-04-25 |last1=Lee |first1=Jon |website=jonlee.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429193922/http://www.jonlee.ca/trackpoint-vs-touchpad |archive-date=2007-04-29}}</ref>

=== Continuous motion ===
Some people find them more appealing for mobile gaming than a touchpad, because the trackpoint allows infinite movement without repositioning.<ref name="jonlee" /> This is because a user's finger may run off the edge of a touchpad while positioning the pointer, requiring them to reposition their finger in order to continue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/looking-for-nub-best-and-worst-notebook-pointing-sticks|title=Looking for Nub: Best and Worst Notebook Pointing Sticks|website=www.laptopmag.com|date=27 April 2011 |access-date=2016-04-25}}</ref>

=== Ergonomics ===
Some users feel that pointing sticks cause less wrist strain because a user does not need to avoid resting wrists on a touchpad, which are usually located just below the keyboard. One criticism is that because the pointing stick depends on the user's applying pressure, it can cause hand [[Cramp|cramps]] (although this can be partly solved by setting the sensitivity higher and lifting the finger when the pointer is not being moved).
Another criticism is that it stresses the index finger and may lead to [[repetitive strain injury]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}.

A number of ergonomic studies to compare trackpoint and touchpad performance have been performed.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Pointing device performance for laptop computers |journal=Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 42nd Annual Meeting |publisher=Human Factors Society |author1=Batra, S. |author2=Dykstra, D. |author3=Hsu, P. |author4=Radle, K. |author5=Wiedenbeck, S. |year=1998 |pages=535–540 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Interacting with notebook input devices: An analysis of motor performance and users' expertise |publisher=Human Factors Society |author1=Sutter, C. |author2=Ziefle, M |journal=Human Factors |volume=47 |issue=1 |year=2005 |pages=169–187 |pmid=15960095 |doi=10.1518/0018720053653893 |s2cid=8573990 }}</ref> Most studies find that touchpad is slightly faster; one study found that "the touchpad was operated 15% faster than the trackpoint".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sutter |first1=Christine |last2=Armbrüster |first2=Claudia |last3=Oehl |first3=Michael |last4=Müsseler |first4=Jochen |year=2008 |title=Office work places with laptop computers: User specific requirements for input devices and software design |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235653135_Office_work_place_with_laptop_computers_User_specific_requirements_for_input_devices_and_software_design |journal=RWTH Aachen University |publisher=USA Publishing}}</ref> Another study found that average object selection time was faster with a touchpad, 1.7 seconds compared to 2.2 seconds with a trackpoint, and object manipulation took 6.2 seconds with a touchpad, on average, against 8.1 seconds with trackpoint.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=How to handle notebook input devices: an insight in button use strategy |title=Contemporary Ergonomics 2003 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=9780415309943 |author1=Sutter, C. |author2=Ziefle, M. |year=2003 |pages=241–251 }}</ref>

== Naming and brands ==

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Name !! Brand !! Current Models !! Past Models !! Color
|-
|[[Acer Inc.|Acer]] || '''FineTrack''' || None || [[Acer TravelMate|TravelMate]] 6410, 6460, 6492, 6492G, 6592, 6592G, 6593 || Green
|-
|[[Asus]] || '''SensePoint''' ||  ExpertBook P2  || S200, S200N, S200Ne, S300N  <br /> ASUS pro: B8230UA; ADVANCED BU201|| Black/Gray, Blue/Gray
|-
|[[Casio]]|| {{dunno}} 
|
|Cassiopeia Fiva MPC series
|
|-
|[[Dell]] || '''TrackStick''', '''Dual Point''' ||None||[[Dell Latitude|Latitude]]: 13": E4300, E4310, E6320, E6330, XT3; 14": E5400, E5410, E5420, E5430, E5440, E5450, E5470, 5480, 5490/95, E6420, E6430, E6430s, 6430u, E7440, E7450, E7470, 7480, 7490; 15": E5530, E5540, E5550, E5570, 5580, 5590, E6500, E6510, E6520, E6540<br/>Retro [[Dell Latitude|Latitude]]: D400, D410, D420, D430, D600, D610, D620, D630, D800, D810, D820, D830, XT;<br/>[[Dell Precision|Precision]]: M2300, M2400, M4300, M4400, M4500, M4600, M4700, M4800, M6700, M6800, M6400, M6500, 3510, 3520, 3530, 7510, 7520, 7530, 7540, 7710, 7720, 7730, 7740;<br/>[[Dell Inspiron|Inspiron]]: 4000, 8100, 8200, 8600, 9100; L || Blue, black or gray
|-
|[[Elonex]] || '''Mouse emulator''' || None || [[Elonex ONE]]|| Black
|-
|[[Fujitsu]] || '''StickPoint''', '''QuickPoint''', '''Quick&nbsp;Touch'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Support & Downloads |url=http://www.fujitsu-pc-asia.com:80/support/drv_lb_c6571_6581.html |publisher=Fujitsu |date=2002-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021201103021/http://www.fujitsu-pc-asia.com:80/support/drv_lb_c6571_6581.html |access-date=2020-08-17|archive-date=2002-12-01 }}</ref> || None ||[[Lifebook]] T2010, T2020, S7110, S7210, S7220, B2400/2500/2600 series, E8310 (optional), E8410 (optional), E8420 (optional), U1010/U810/U50, U820/U2010, P1100/1500/1600 series, P1620, P1610, P1630, P2120, || Black or blue
|-
|[[GamePad Digital|GPD]]|| {{dunno}} || None || Pocket 1 || Blue
|-
|[[HP Inc.|HP]] || '''PointStick''' || All [[HP EliteBook|EliteBooks]] excluding 1000 series and Folio;<br/>Some [[HP ZBook|ZBooks]] excluding Studio series; <br/>[[HP ProBook|ProBook]] 6450b, 6455b & 6550b || All EliteBooks excluding 1000 series; all models ending with '''p''' or '''w'''; all models starting with '''nc''', '''nw''' or '''c'''; 6445b (optional), 6545b (optional), tc4200, tc4400; Presario models starting with '''v''', 8500 || Black, orange or blue (older models)
|-
|[[JVC]], [[Victor (InterLink)]] || '''Pointing Stick, Trackpoint''' ||    || MP-XP3210, MP-XP5220, MP-XP7210, MP-XP7220, MP-XP7230, MP-XP7250, MP-XP731, MP-XP7310, MP-XP741, MP-XV631, MP-XP831, MP-XV841, MP-XV941 <br /> || Blue/Gray
|-
|[[IBM]], [[Lenovo]] || '''TrackPoint''' || All [[ThinkPad]]s, excluding most Chromebooks; Travel Keyboard with Ultranav || Most [[ThinkPad]]s, Space Saver II, Model M13, Model M4-1, Trackpoint IV, Trackpoint USB Keyboard, TransNote, Trackpoint Mouse || Red
|-
|[[NEC]] || '''NX Point''' || LaVie Nextreme || EasyNote MX45, MX65, S5 || Dark Gray
|-
|[[Nintendo]] || '''C-Stick''' || None|| [[New Nintendo 3DS]], New Nintendo 3DS XL and New Nintendo 2DS XL<ref>{{Cite web |title=Controller |date=26 April 2024 |url=https://www.ssbwiki.com/Template:Controller}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=2015-02-04 |title=New Nintendo 3DS XL Review |url=http://uk.pcmag.com/new-nintendo-3ds-xl/39464/review/new-nintendo-3ds-xl |access-date=2018-06-19 |magazine=PC Magazine}}</ref>|| Gray
|-
|[[Samsung Electronics|Samsung]] || '''Pointing stick''' || Series 6, Ativ Q || Series 4 || All colors
|-
|[[Sony]] || '''Pointing stick''' || None || Sony Vaio Duo 11, [[Sony Vaio P series|Sony VAIO P series]], BX series, [[Sony Vaio C1 series|C1 series]], [[Sony Vaio U series|U8 series]], [[Sony Vaio UX Micro PC|UX series]], [[Sony Vaio 505 series|X505]], [[PlayStation 3|Sony PS3]] Wireless Keyboard<ref>{{cite web |title=Japan scores official Bluetooth PS3 keyboard for ¥5,000 |date=7 June 2011 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/japan-scores-official-bluetooth-ps3-keyboard-for-5-000 |access-date=2013-05-25}}</ref>|| None
|-
|[[Sprintek]] || '''FlexPoint''' || SK8702/SK8703 for Laptop/Tablet PC/Netbook/Industrial Keyboard || None || None
|-
|[[Dynabook Inc.|Dynabook]] (formerly [[Toshiba]]) || '''AccuPoint''' || Tecra R Series, Z Series and W Series, Portege Z Series and R Series|| [[Dynabook Portégé|Portégé]] (not current models 06/2007), 300-7000 series, T3000 series; [[Dynabook Tecra|Tecra]] series 500-9000, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, M2, M5, M9, M10, M11, S Series; [[Toshiba Satellite Pro 400 series|Satellite Pro series 400]]-4000, T2000; [[Dynabook Satellite|Satellite]] 100-4000 series, [[Toshiba Libretto|Libretto]] 50CT, 70CT, 100CT || Green, blue
|-
|[[Unicomp]] || '''Pointing stick''' || EnduraPro (for desktop) || On-The-Stick, Mighty Mouse || Red
|}

=== Informal names ===
<!-- NOTICE: Please do not remove "clit mouse" without consulting the talk page first. -->

Various informal names have been invented, including "nub",<ref name="xkcd243">{{cite web|url=http://www.xkcd.com/243/|first=Randall |last=Munroe|publisher=[[xkcd]]|title=Appropriate Term |date=2007-04-02|access-date=2014-01-26}}</ref> "clit mouse", which is an intercommunity term, usually seen on ThinkPad forums, and "nipple mouse".<ref name="xkcd243"/><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=nipple mouse |work=Jargon File |author=Eric S. Raymond, Guy L. Steele Jr.|url=http://catb.org/esr/jargon/html/N/nipple-mouse.html |access-date=2011-07-08|display-authors=etal}} Based on {{cite book |title=The New Hacker's Dictionary |year=1996 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=9780262680929}}</ref>

== Other uses ==

While typically employed on a computer keyboard, IBM included one on its Trackpoint Mouse product; suggested uses included scrolling (as with a [[scroll wheel]]) or a dual-cursor system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/tp/tpmouse.html |title=TrackPoint Mouse |publisher=IBM |access-date=2012-12-03 |archive-date=2010-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206082531/http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/tp/tpmouse.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Analog stick]]
* [[Optical trackpad]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pettijohn.com/2010/05/pointing-stick-usb-keyboard-roundup.html |title=Pointing stick USB Keyboard Comparison |date=2010 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_configure_the_TrackPoint |title=How to configure the TrackPoint under Linux |date=2017 |publisher=ThinkWiki}}
* {{cite journal |vauthors=Armbrüster C, Sutter C, Ziefle M |title=Notebook input devices put to the age test: the usability of trackpoint and touchpad for middle-aged adults |journal=Ergonomics |volume=50 |issue=3 |pages=426–445 |date=2007 |doi=10.1080/00140130601127885 |pmid=17536778|s2cid=24397810 }}
* an OEM supplier for nubs: http://sofpoint.com/
{{Basic computer components}}

[[Category:American inventions]]
[[Category:Pointing devices]]