Guest Author - Lisa Shea

A cursor is the thing you use to visually indicate where you are pointing on your computer screen. Usually it is an arrow for general mouse movement, or an I-bar for text work.

Choosing a good cursor for your screen size and eye issues can make a huge difference in how much eye strain you have and how much you hunch forward during your time with your computer.

First, how to change your cursor. Go into start - control panel - mouse.

Now there should be a series of tabs on your window. Choose the POINTERS tab.

Try out the different pointers and see which works best for your screen, your contrast level, and your eye ability. Don't necessarily just switch between pointers for 5 seconds a try. If there are a few that seem to appeal to you, try each one out for a full day. Sometimes it takes a little while to get used to a new pointer.

Now go into the POINTER OPTIONS tab. There are numerous options here that can help you with your cursor. These are:

MOTION
You can have your mouse move more slowly or more quickly. If you're having trouble keeping track of your pointer, or are finding that you have to use large, sweeping motions to move your mouse, use these settings to tune your mouse's behavior.

SNAP TO
If you tend to use button-pushing activities a lot, this can help. If your mouse gets near a button, it'll jump to it automatically for you.

POINTER TRAILS
If you tend to lose track of where your mouse cursor is, having pointer trails can be a huge help. This leaves a trail behind your mouse as it moves, helping you see where it is.

HIDE POINTER WHILE TYPING
Sometimes that I-beam can get in the way when you're trying to work with text. This option will make it temporarily vanish while you're busy using your keyboard.

SHOW LOCATION WITH CTRL KEY
I love this one! Sometimes you have no idea where your cursor has gone. Just tap the CONTROL key, and a bullseye will highlight over your mouse cursor. It's quick and easy.

All of these settings can help make your computing time MUCH more relaxing and enjoyable.