Computer input switching device

A switching device for automatically sharing a pointing input device between a plurality of computers is described. The switching device includes an input for receiving relative pointer position data from the pointing input device and a plurality of outputs, each connectable to a respective one of a plurality of computers. A controller receives the input relative position data and converts the relative pointer position data to absolute pointer position data. Which of the plurality of computers to route input data to is determined based on the absolute pointer position data. Input data is routed to one of the plurality of computers so that a cursor position on a display device of the computer can be controlled by the pointing input device. Switching apparatus is also described that combines video data from the plurality of computers for display on a single display device and the cursor position on a portion of the display device corresponding to a one of the computers is controlled by the input pointing device.