Editing Pointing stick (section)

=== Ergonomics ===
Some users feel that pointing sticks cause less wrist strain because a user does not need to avoid resting wrists on a touchpad, which are 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.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Pointing device performance for laptop computers |journal=Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 42nd Annual Meeting |publisher=Human Factors Society |author1=Batra, S. |author2=Dykstra, D. |author3=Hsu, P. |author4=Radle, K. |author5=Wiedenbeck, S. |year=1998 |pages=535–540 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Interacting with notebook input devices: An analysis of motor performance and users' expertise |publisher=Human Factors Society |author1=Sutter, C. |author2=Ziefle, M |journal=Human Factors |volume=47 |issue=1 |year=2005 |pages=169–187 |pmid=15960095 |doi=10.1518/0018720053653893 |s2cid=8573990 }}</ref> Most studies find that touchpad is slightly faster; one study found that "the touchpad was operated 15% faster than the trackpoint".<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.psych.rwth-aachen.de/ifp-zentral/upload/sutter/08_SuArmOeM.pdf |title=Office work places with laptop computers: User specific requirements for input devices and software design |publisher=USA Publishing |last1=Sutter |first1=Christine |last2=Armbrüster |first2=Claudia |last3=Oehl |first3=Michael |last4=Müsseler |first4=Jochen |year=2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |title=How to handle notebook input devices: an insight in button use strategy |journal=Contemporary Ergonomics 2003 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=9780415309943 |author1=Sutter, C. |author2=Ziefle, M. |year=2003 |pages=241–251 }}</ref>