Disclosed herein is a pointing device for controlling the position of a pointer in a graphical user interface, GUI, of a computer. The device comprises: an operation interface for sensing operation by an operator of the device for controlling the pointer in the GUI, and a biometric skin-contact sensor configured to obtain biometric identifier data, for identifying the operator, by sensing contact of surface contours of the operator's skin. The biometric skin-contact sensor is a contact surface of the operation interface configured to obtain the biometric identifier data during the operation to control the pointer.