Pointing stick

A pointing stick (nub, or nipple) is a small joystick used as a pointing device typically mounted centrally in a computer keyboard. Like other pointing devices such as mice, touchpads or trackballs, operating system software translates manipulation of the device into movements of the pointer or cursor on the monitor. Unlike other pointing devices, it reacts to sustained force or strain rather than to gross movement, so it is called an "isometric"[1] pointing device. IBM introduced it commercially in 1992 on its laptops under the name "TrackPoint", patented in 1997.[2]

This article is about a computer input device. For the teaching and presentation aid, see Pointer (rod).
Pointing stick on a Lenovo ThinkPad
Detail: rear side of a Lenovo ThinkPad pointing stick with the strain gauges. Size: 8 x 8 mm. Out of patent
IBM ThinkPad caps (left-to-right): Soft Dome, Soft Rim, Classic Dome, Eraser Head (discontinued)

The pointing stick senses applied force by using two pairs of resistive strain gauges. A pointing stick can be used by pushing with the fingers in the general direction the user wants the cursor to move. The velocity of the pointer depends on the applied force so increasing pressure causes faster movement. The relation between pressure and cursor or 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.

Variants

Pointing sticks typically have a replaceable rubber cap, called a nub, which can be a slightly rough "eraser head" material or another shape. [3]

The cap is red on ThinkPads, but is also found in other colours on other machines. For example, it may be grey, 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", 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.

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 feeling of inertia or sluggishness when starting or stopping movement.[4] 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.[5]

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 cursor while the user is not moving the pointing stick).[6]

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 cursor, 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.

Since ThinkPad computers have a nub that is responsive to pressure in a direction, and there is a patent for this, other companies have made it so a person has to move the finger a large distance to cause the nub to rock from side to side in a much less efficient way.

History

In 1984, Ted Selker, a researcher at PARC, worked on a pointing stick based on a study 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[7] for which IBM received US patents in 1996[8][9] and 2000.[10]

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 2017, some manufacturers like Lenovo still produce laptops with pointing sticks.[11]

Problem scope
A ThinkPad UltraNav featuring both a red pointing stick (top right) and a touchpad (bottom left)

Space constraints
A Dell Latitude E4310 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[12] 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 home row to manipulate the mouse pointer.[13]

Continuous motion

Some people find them more appealing for mobile gaming than a touchpad, because the track-point allows infinite movement without repositioning.[13] 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.[14]

Fine positioning

Some users claim it is easier to finely position the pointer than when using a touchpad because there is virtually no "dead zone".

Ergonomics

Some users feel that pointing sticks cause less wrist strain because a user does not need to avoid resting wrists on a touchpad, 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 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.

A number of ergonomic studies to compare trackpoint and touchpad performance have been performed.[15][16] Most studies find that touchpad is slightly faster; one study found that "the touchpad was operated 15% faster than the trackpoint".[17] 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.[18]

Naming and brands
NameBrandCurrent ModelsPast ModelsColor
AcerFineTrackNoneTravelMate 6410, 6460, 6492, 6492G, 6592, 6592G, 6593Green
AsusSensePointExpertBook P2S200, S200N, S300
ASUS pro: B8230UA; ADVANCED BU201		Black/Gray, Blue/Gray
Casio? Cassiopeia Fiva MPC series
DellTrackStick, Dual PointLatitude: 5490/5495, 5590, 7490
Precision: 3530, 5530, 7530, 7730		Latitude: 13": E4300, E4310, E6320, E6330; 14": E5400, E5410, E5420, E5430, E5440, E5450, E5470, 5480, E6420, E6430, 6430u, E7440, E7450, E7470, 7480; 15": E5530, E5540, E5550, E5570, 5580, E6500, E6510, E6520, E6540,
Retro Latitude: D400, D410, D420, D430, D600, D610, D620, D630, D800, D810, D820, D830, XT;
Precision: M2300, M2400, M4300, M4400, M4500, M4600, M4700, M4800, M6700, M6800, M6400, M6500, 3510, 3520, 5510, 5520, 7510, 7520, 7710, 7720;
Inspiron: 4000, 8100, 8200, 8600, 9100; L		Blue, black or gray
ElonexMouse emulatorElonex ONENoneBlack
FujitsuStickPoint, QuickPoint, Quick Touch[19]NoneLifebook 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
GPD?NonePocket 1Blue
HPPointStickAll EliteBooks excluding 1000 series and Folio;
Some ZBooks excluding Studio series;
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, 8500Black, orange or blue (older models)
JVC, Victor (InterLink)Pointing Stick, TrackpointMP-XP3210, MP-XP5220, MP-XP7210, MP-XP7220, MP-XP7230, MP-XP731, MP-XP7310, MP-XP741, MP-XV631, MP-XP831, MP-XV841, MP-XV941
Blue/Gray
IBM, LenovoTrackPointAll ThinkPads, excluding most Chromebooks; Travel Keyboard with UltranavMost ThinkPads, Space Saver II, Model M13, Model M4-1, Trackpoint IV, Trackpoint USB Keyboard, TransNote, Trackpoint MouseRed
NECNX PointNoneEasyNote MX45, MX65, S5Dark Gray
NintendoC-StickNew Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL and New Nintendo 2DS XL[20][21]Light GrayGray
SamsungPointing stickSeries 6, Ativ QSeries 4All colors
SonyPointing stickSony PS3 Wireless Keyboard[22]Sony Vaio Duo 11, Sony VAIO P series, BX series, C1 series, U8 series, UX series, X505None
SprintekFlexPointSK8702/SK8703 for Laptop/Tablet PC/Netbook/Industrial KeyboardNoneNone
Dynabook (formerly Toshiba)AccuPointTecra R Series, Z Series and W Series, Portege Z Series and R SeriesPortégé (not current models 06/2007), 300-7000 series, T3000 series; Tecra series 500-9000, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, M2, M5, M9, M10, M11, S Series; Satellite Pro series 400-4000, T2000; Satellite 100-4000 series, Libretto 50CT, 70CT, 100CTGreen, blue
UnicompPointing stickEnduraPro (for desktop)On-The-Stick, Mighty MouseRed

Informal names

Various informal names have been invented, including "nub"[23] and "nipple mouse".[23][24]

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.[25]

References
  1. "WO2001014957A1 - Control stick for a finger pointing device - Google Patents". 2001-03-01. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  2. "US6115030A - Trackpoint device - Google Patents". 1997-12-18. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  3. "Lenovo Support and Downloads: TrackPoint Caps and how to order for ThinkPad systems and TrackPoint Keyboards". IBM.com. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  4. US 5570111, Robert C. Barrett; Robert S. Olyha, Jr. & Joseph D. Rutledge, "Graphical user interface cursor positioning device having a negative inertia ...", issued 1996-10-29
  5. R. C. Barrett; E. J. Selker; J. D. Rutledge*; R. S. Olyha* (1995). "Negative Inertia: A Dynamic Pointing Function". SIGCHI. Retrieved 2012-12-03. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "R/Thinkpad - Track point drift".
  7. Golden, Peter. "The development of the IBM ThinkPad, Part I: big BLUE'S big ADVENTURE". Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  8. US 5521596, Edwin J. Selker & Joseph D. Rutledge, "Analog input device located in the primary typing area of a keyboard", issued 1996-05-28
  9. US 5489900, Matthew F. Cali; Jerome J. Cuomo & Donald J. Mikalsen et al., "Force sensitive transducer for use in a computer keyboard", issued 1996-02-06
  10. US US6115030, Viktors Berstis & Thomas Guthrie Zimmerman, "Trackpoint device", issued 2000-09-05
  11. Osborne, Joe (2017-06-21). "Why the ThinkPad TrackPoint is still a thing, according to Lenovo's chief designer". TechRader. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  12. Miller, Paul (2009-01-07). "Sony VAIO P hands-on". Engadget. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  13. Lee, Jon (2007-04-25). "Trackpoint vs Touchpad". jonlee.ca. Archived from the original on 2007-04-29.
  14. "Looking for Nub: Best and Worst Notebook Pointing Sticks". www.laptopmag.com. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  15. Batra, S.; Dykstra, D.; Hsu, P.; Radle, K.; Wiedenbeck, S. (1998). "Pointing device performance for laptop computers". Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 42nd Annual Meeting. Human Factors Society: 535–540.
  16. Sutter, C.; Ziefle, M (2005). "Interacting with notebook input devices: An analysis of motor performance and users' expertise". Human Factors. Human Factors Society. 47 (1): 169–187. doi:10.1518/0018720053653893. PMID 15960095. S2CID 8573990.
  17. Sutter, Christine; Armbrüster, Claudia; Oehl, Michael; Müsseler, Jochen (2008). "Office work places with laptop computers: User specific requirements for input devices and software design" (PDF). USA Publishing. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. Sutter, C.; Ziefle, M. (2003). How to handle notebook input devices: an insight in button use strategy. Contemporary Ergonomics 2003. Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 241–251. ISBN 9780415309943.
  19. "Support & Downloads". Fujitsu. 2002-12-01. Archived from the original on 2002-12-01. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  20. "Controller".
  21. "New Nintendo 3DS XL Review". PC Magazine. 2015-02-04. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  22. "Japan scores official Bluetooth PS3 keyboard for ¥5,000". Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  23. Munroe, Randall (2007-04-02). "Appropriate Term". xkcd. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  24. Eric S. Raymond, Guy L. Steele Jr.; et al. "nipple mouse". Jargon File. Retrieved 2011-07-08. Based on The New Hacker's Dictionary. MIT Press. 1996. ISBN 9780262680929.
  25. "TrackPoint Mouse". IBM. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
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