Manually operable device for indicating position on a display screen

A position indication device that is manually operable by a user for indicating a position on a display monitor screen of an information processing system, comprising:

• a substantially closed, hollow housing for the position indication device, including a surface exposed to the user and having an opening therein;
• a planar, unitary position plate disposed within the housing, accessible to the user through the opening and adapted for movement by the user in any direction in a plane of translational movement of the position plate, where a position of the position plate indicates a corresponding position on the display monitor screen;
• a grip secured to the position plate and adapted to be engaged manually and be moved by the user in order to effect a desired movement of the position plate;
• a retention system applying a retention force directly to opposing sides of the position plate at least when the position plate has been moved to a new position in order to minimize unintended movement of the position plate, the retention system also acting to restrict movement of the position plate substantially to the plane of translational movement of the position plate;
• and
• a position sensing system directly sensing the translational movement of the position plate that effects a change in position of the position plate and generating at least one signal indicative of the change in position that is used to effect a corresponding change in position on the display monitor screen.