Any hardware component that allows a USer to input spatial 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" - point, click, and drag - typically by moving a hand-held moUSe across the surface of the physical desktop and activating switches on the moUSe. Movements of the pointing device are echoed on a graphical representation of a desktop on the screen by movements of the moUSe pointer and other visual changes. While the most common pointing device by far is a moUSe, other kinds include tracker ball, trackpad, lightpen, varioUS kinds of digitising tablets which USe a stylUS, and even a special "data glove" that translates the USer' s movements to computer gestures. (1997-02-03)