Pointer Speed

An operating system setting that controls how far the cursor moves on screen relative to physical movement of the mouse or pointing device. Higher pointer speed (gain) means less physical movement is required to traverse the screen, while lower speed provides finer control but requires more movement. Pointer speed settings are an important accessibility accommodation—individuals with limited range of motion may benefit from higher speeds, while those with tremors or difficulty with precise movements may need lower speeds. Most operating systems also offer pointer acceleration (Enhanced Pointer Precision on Windows) which varies speed based on how fast the device is moved.