Inner-sensor pointing device systems

Aspects discussed herein are directed to ergonomic pointing device systems. In one example, a pointing device system (100; 600; 700; 800; 1500; 1600; 1800; 1900) includes an elongate base member (108; 610; 702; 802; 1502; 1602; 1702; 1804; 1904), a sleeve (110; 704; 804; 1506; 1604; 1704; 1806; 1908) disposed to fit over at least a portion of the elongate base member, the sleeve configured to rotate about the elongate base member in a first direction and slide about the elongate base member in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, where the sleeve includes a pattern (304) on a surface thereof, and an optical sensor (602; 706) disposed within the elongate base member and positioned to detect at least one of a rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the sensor and an axial movement of the sleeve relative to the sensor based at least in part on a variation of the pattern within a field of view of the sensor.