Pointer (rod)

{{Short description|Solid rod used to point to things}}

{{About||the electronic counterpart|Laser pointer|a computer input device with the same name|Pointing stick|all other uses of the term|Pointer (disambiguation){{!}}Pointer}}

File:Robert McNamera pointing to a map of Vietnam at a press conference, 1965.JPG 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.{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pointer|title=pointer|publisher=Reference.com|accessdate=23 April 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://demo.physics.uiuc.edu/lectdemo/scripts/demo_descript.idc?DemoID=1052|title=UIUC Physics Lecture Demo: Pointer Rod|date=1996|publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign|accessdate=23 April 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621013851/http://demo.physics.uiuc.edu/LectDemo/scripts/demo_descript.idc?DemoID=1052|archivedate=21 June 2010}}

In addition it may be used like any ordinary stick for other purposes, e.g. for punitive caning (compare rulering).{{cite web|url=http://www.corpun.com/uksc5501.htm|title=Teacher was right the day she caned all 3B|date=11 January 1955|publisher=Daily Sketch|accessdate=3 December 2010}}

Some are telescopic and can be carried in a pocket like a pen.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobo-34431151-Telescopic-Pointer-Pen/dp/B000J6879G|title=Nobo telescopic pointer pen|accessdate=9 August 2014}}