Touchpads

=Strand 3: IT Systems=

Touchpads
=What is a Touchpad?=

A touchpad is a device designed to translate user input in the form of motions aimed at moving a cursor (arrow) to a computer. It works like a mouse allowing users to move a cursor to select and perform other functions. But it is designed in a different way to a mouse, Instead of using sensors and roller ball or laser it has a soft pad with sensors that respond to finger movements on the pad.

=How a Touchpad works.=

Under the soft skin of the touchpad there is an array of sensors which create an electrical field. Your finger changes the character of the electrical field, allowing you to drag a cursor across the screen. Most touchpad’s come with come with mouse buttons allowing the user to click on objects. While other interpret taps on the touchpad as taps of a mouse button.

=Advantages of a Touchpad.=

In addition to the basic mouse-like functions that a touchpad provides, it can also be programmed to have ‘hot spots’. If the user taps on one of these ‘spots’ it can be used to scroll a document, open a frequently used program or perform some other commonly used function. And most manufacturers also include safeguards with their touchpad’s, so that they will not respond to being brushed with a palm or an object other than a finger.