Joystick

          A joystick is a personal computer peripheral or general control device consisting of a handheld stick that pivots about one end and transmits its angle in two or three dimensions to a computer.It works on the same principle as a mouse. A joystick is generally configured so that moving the stick left or right signals movement along the X axis, and moving it forward (up) or back (down) signals movement along the Y axis. In joysticks that are configured for three dimensional movement, twisting the stick left (counter-clockwise) or right (clockwise) signals movement along the Z axis.

          Joysticks are often used to control video games, and usually have one or more push-buttons whose state can also be read by the computer. The term joystick has become a synonym for game controllers that can be connected to the computer since the computer defines the input as a "joystick input".

          Apart from controlling game joysticks are also used for control machines such as aircraft, cranes, powered wheelchairs and some zero turning radius lawn mowers. More recently miniature joysticks have been adopted as navigational devices for smaller electronic equipment such as mobile phones.

          Additionally joysticks often have one or more fire buttons, used to trigger some kind of action. These are simple on/off switches.

          Most I/O interface cards for PCs have a joystick (game control) port. Modern joysticks use a USB interface for connection to the PC.