The trackball was invented by Tom Cranston, Fred Longstaff, and Kenyon
Taylor in 1952 while they were working at the Canadian company, SRI (now known
as Northern Telecom). The trackball was originally developed as a component of
an early radar system and was used as a pointing device for navigation.
In the 1960s, the trackball was incorporated into computer systems as an
alternative to the mouse. It was particularly popular in early laptop computers
and workstations, as it took up less desk space and allowed for greater
portability.
Over the years, the trackball has undergone several design changes,
including the introduction of optical tracking and the integration of
additional buttons for added functionality. Today, trackballs are still used in
a variety of applications, including gaming, graphic design, and industrial control
systems.
While the mouse has become the dominant pointing device for personal
computers, the trackball remains a popular choice for certain applications,
especially where space is limited or where a more precise level of control is
required.