Re: Pointing device question

["Steven Gaghan" <sgaghan12 -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Will any screen shots/images be included in the documentation? If so, you
can eliminate all confusion by including a screen shot with a callout to the
"trackball."

Either way, I think using the term "trackball" is fine.

Steven P. Gaghan
West View, Pennsylvania
On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 7:30 AM, Michael West <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com> wrote:

> 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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