A cursor control device is shown for enabling a user to input directional commands; a display for displaying a plurality of discrete areas and a cursor; a cursor controller for controlling the movement of the cursor in the display in response to the directional input commands, having: a first operational state in which a cursor is moved, in response to input directional commands from the cursor control device, within a first discrete area in a free-roaming manner and a second operational state in which a cursor is moved, in response to input directional commands from the cursor control device, in a discrete-roaming manner from discrete area to discrete area; and a user operable switching means for controlling the operational state of the cursor controller.