< hardware > A pointing device consisting of a ball housed in a socket containing sensors to detect rotation of the ball about two axes - like an upside-down mouse . The user rolls the ball with his thumb or the palm of his hand to move a cursor. Tracker balls are common on CAD workstations for ease of use and on modern portable computers , where there may be no desk space on which to use a mouse . Some clip onto the side of the keyboard and have integral buttons which have the same function as mouse buttons.
(1996-08-04)