A pointing device is an input interface (specifically a human interface device) that allows a user to input spatial (i.e., continuous and multi-dimensional) data to a computer. CAD systems and graphical user interfaces (GUI) allow the user to control and provide data to the computer using physical gestures by moving a hand-held mouse or similar device across the surface of the physical desktop and activating switches on the mouse. Movements of the pointing device are echoed on the screen by movements of the pointer (or cursor) and other visual changes. Common gestures are point and click and drag and drop.

TechFilter: Filtering undesired tremorous movements from PC mouse cursor

Informatics is becoming essential in our daily activities. The use of the human machine interface requires fine movements from the user. When human movements are distorted, for instance, by tremor, performance could be improved by digitally filtering the intermediate signal before it reaches the controlled interface. This paper presents a novel device able to filter out tremorous movements from the cursor of a mouse in the screen of the computer. This task requires real-time discrimination between voluntary and tremorous movement.

Drawing Assist System for Reducing Effects of Involuntary Movements

Creative activities, such as painting and playing instruments, are sources of satisfaction and fulfillment for people with disabilities. However, some individuals with disabilities cannot satisfactorily enjoy such activities because of involuntary movements. In this study, we developed a drawing assist system for users with athetoid cerebral palsy and muscle tension, who experience involuntary movement.

A mouse adapter for people with hand tremor

Hand tremor, which affects millions of individuals worldwide, can make it difficult or impossible to operate computers that rely on a mouse, or similar pointing device, for controlling the user interface. We describe an assistive adapter that, when inserted between the mouse and the computer, provides digital motion-smoothing filtering, rejection of inadvertent mouse button clicks, and enhanced double clicking. Because its behavior closely emulates a standard mouse, this setup is operating-system independent and requires no special software on the computer.

On the usefulness of off-the-shelf computer peripherals for people with Parkinson’s Disease

People who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease face many challenges using computers, and mice are particularly problematic input devices. This article describes usability tests of standard peripherals for use by people with Parkinson’s Disease in order to search for optimal combinations relative to the needs of this user group. The results are used to determine their effect upon inertia, muscle stiffness, tremor, pain, strain and coordination and show that widely available equipment could significantly improve mouse pointer control for many users.

Some Milestones in Computer Input Devices: An Informal Timeline

This page is a work in progress.  It is an attempt by my to capture some of the key events, dates, and players that have helped drive the evolution of the range of input devices, technologies and techniques that we use today.  I have organized the page in chronological order.  And, be clear that my purpose here is to provide a brief overview, not a text book.  I am not trying to chronicle the full history; rather the key highlights.

Source: Extract from introducction

Design Guidelines for Wearable Pointing Devices

This paper presents design guidelines and recommendations for developing cursor manipulation interaction devices to be employed in a wearable context. The work presented in this paper is the culmination three usability studies designed to understand commercially available pointing (cursor manipulation) devices suitable for use in a wearable context. The set of guidelines and recommendations presented are grounded on experimental and qualitative evidence derived from three usability studies and are intended to be used in order to inform the design of future wearable input devices.