On the keyboards of certain laptop models like ThinkPad and HP, there is a small red button that many people are unaware of its usefulness.
So, what is this red button in the middle of the keyboard, and what does it do? Let’s explore it in the article below.
Some laptops have a “red button” in the middle of the keyboard.
What is the Red Button on the Keyboard, and What Does It Do?
The small red button, the size of a fingertip, located between the G, H, and B keys on the keyboard is called the TrackPoint, and it usually appears on certain laptop models.
The TrackPoint is actually a combination of four pressure-sensitive resistors, topped with a rubber layer. This resistor changes when the user applies force to the knob, allowing you to control the mouse pointer. Depending on the amount of force applied, the mouse pointer will move faster or slower.
Typically, the TrackPoint is easily recognizable due to its red color, but it can also come in black or green. The TrackPoint was conceptualized by researchers Ted Selker and Joe Rutledger and first appeared on the IBM ThinkPad 700c, designed by Richard Sapir, one of the most significant industrial designers of the 20th century.
Why is TrackPoint Necessary?
Modern laptops are equipped with mice or trackpads, but TrackPoint was invented to save time when switching from typing to controlling the mouse pointer. Since the TrackPoint is integrated directly into the keyboard, the distance is shorter compared to moving your hand down to a separate mouse or trackpad.
Advantages and Disadvantages of TrackPoint
Advantages: It saves about 1.5 seconds of mouse pointer movement time while typing compared to moving your hand from the keyboard to the mouse or trackpad. The accuracy of mouse pointer movement is higher, especially when editing text. You can move the pointer continuously without dead zones, and it can be used even with wet hands.
Disadvantages: You cannot click the left or right mouse buttons or scroll. The pointer moves slower compared to trackpads. The finger operation space is small.
