Re: Pointing device question

["Michael West" <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com>]

From: "Chris Morton" 

 

 

>I'm documenting a medical device that uses a trackball, mounted to an

>integrated keyboard, to manipulate a biopsy needle. There are times when
the

>trackball is used for navigation and targeting much like one would use a

>joystick in a game.

 

-- 

 

My view is that a trackball that is mounted into a keyboard is not a mouse
at all. To me, a mouse is a hand-held device that rolls or slides on a
surface. An integrated trackball rolls, but remains stationary.

 

A mouse is a pointing device, but not all pointing devices are mice (mouses
if you prefer). Is a joystick a mouse? I don't think so. Neither is a
keyboard-integrated trackball.

 

However, if that is an established usage among your audience, and they are
accustomed to referring to the trackball as a mouse even though it isn't,
then your first priority must be to avoid confusing them by suddenly using
different terms. Still, I can't think calling trackball a trackball instead
of a trackball mouse would confound them in any serious way.

 

But those are the people you should ask, I think.

 

Mike West

Melbourne, Australia

 

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