Manipulative pointing device, and portable information processing apparatus

A portable information processing apparatus comprising:

• a pointing device comprising a stick having an axis, a vector detection mechanism physically spaced apart from the stick by a predetermined distance so as to surround the stick and define an empty void and a physically insensitive zone therebetween, wherein the vector detection mechanism does not detect motion of the stick within the physically insensitive zone, and wherein the vector detection mechanism outputs a signal corresponding to a contact direction and the strength of a force applied in the contact direction when the stick physically contacts the vector detection mechanism, and a detector for detecting a force applied in an axial direction of the stick;
• and
• a display device.

A portable information processor comprising:

• a pointing device comprising a stick having an axis, a vector detection mechanism located around and physically spaced apart from the stick by a predetermined distance so as to surround the stick and define an empty void and a physically insensitive zone, wherein the vector detection mechanism is incapable of detecting motion of the stick, and wherein the vector detection mechanism outputs a signal corresponding to a force vector of a force applied by the stick when the stick physically contacts the mechanism, and a detector for detecting a force applied in an axial direction of the stick;
• and
• a controller for, in response to a signal output from the vector detection mechanism, judging whether an evaluation value of the force vector satisfies a predetermined condition, and for instructing the execution of a first kind of operation according to the evaluation value when the evaluation value satisfies the predetermined condition, and for instructing the execution of a second kind of operation when the evaluation value does not satisfy the predetermined condition.