Pointer (rod)

For the electronic counterpart, see Laser pointer. For a computer input device with the same name, see Pointing stick. For all other uses of the term, see Pointer.
Robert McNamara points at a Vietnam map using a pointing stick.

A pointer or pointing stick is a solid rod used to point manually, in the form of a stick, but always finished off or artificially produced.

The typical pointer is simply a long, slender, often flexible stick made in a strong material, designed to indicate places on maps, words on blackboards etc.[1][2] In addition it may be used like any ordinary stick for other purposes, e.g. for punitive caning (compare rulering).[3]

Some are telescopic and can be carried in a pocket like a pen.[4]

  1. ^ "pointer". Reference.com. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  2. ^ "UIUC Physics Lecture Demo: Pointer Rod". University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. 1996. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  3. ^ "Teacher was right the day she caned all 3B". Daily Sketch. 11 January 1955. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Nobo telescopic pointer pen". Retrieved 9 August 2014.