Trackball

A trackball is a pointing device that stays in one fixed spot on the desk, with a ball on top that the fingers or thumb roll to move the cursor, rather than moving the entire device across a mousepad the way a standard mouse works. The rest of the hand, wrist, and arm stay largely still while only the digit controlling the ball does the work.

Because the device never needs to travel across the desk, a trackball can suit a smaller desk or a cramped work area where there is not enough clear space for a mouse to glide freely. It also removes the repeated arm movement of sliding a mouse back and forth, which some people find reduces shoulder and forearm fatigue over a long session.

Trackballs come in a few control layouts, including thumb-operated and finger-operated ball positions, and switching from a standard mouse takes practice since cursor control feels different, particularly for fast or precise movements. Trying a model in person or checking a generous return policy is worth doing before committing, since comfort with a given layout varies a lot from person to person.