A pointing device comprising: a sensor having an input surface to detect a user's tactile interaction; and a gel-based portion to interface with the input surface and receive the user's tactile action, the gel-based portion including: a gel-based body that allows controlled displacement during the user's tactile interaction and retains a default shape absent the user's tactile interaction, the gel-based body comprising a first material; a tactile surface affixed to a first side of the gel-based body, the tactile surface configured to receive the user's tactile interaction from a finger of the user that causes the controlled displacement of at least a portion of the gel-based body, the tactile surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and a base surface affixed to a second side of the gel-based body that is opposite the first side, the base surface adhering the gel-based body directly to the input surface of the sensor, the base surface configured to translate to the input surface of the sensor at least a force from the controlled displacement of the gel-based body in response to the user's tactile interaction; wherein a height of the gel-based body corresponds to a distance between the tactile surface and the base surface; wherein at least one of the tactile surface and the base surface includes a film for stabilizing and preventing deformation of the gel-based body; the pointing device being characterized in that the gel-based body includes a support tether between the tactile surface and the base surface that limits an amount of the controlled displacement of the gel-based body in at least a lateral direction to avoid laterally overextending the gel-based body. a sensor having an input surface to detect a user's tactile interaction; and a gel-based portion to interface with the input surface and receive the user's tactile action, the gel-based portion including: a gel-based body that allows controlled displacement during the user's tactile interaction and retains a default shape absent the user's tactile interaction, the gel-based body comprising a first material; a tactile surface affixed to a first side of the gel-based body, the tactile surface configured to receive the user's tactile interaction from a finger of the user that causes the controlled displacement of at least a portion of the gel-based body, the tactile surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and a base surface affixed to a second side of the gel-based body that is opposite the first side, the base surface adhering the gel-based body directly to the input surface of the sensor, the base surface configured to translate to the input surface of the sensor at least a force from the controlled displacement of the gel-based body in response to the user's tactile interaction; a gel-based body that allows controlled displacement during the user's tactile interaction and retains a default shape absent the user's tactile interaction, the gel-based body comprising a first material; a tactile surface affixed to a first side of the gel-based body, the tactile surface configured to receive the user's tactile interaction from a finger of the user that causes the controlled displacement of at least a portion of the gel-based body, the tactile surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and a base surface affixed to a second side of the gel-based body that is opposite the first side, the base surface adhering the gel-based body directly to the input surface of the sensor, the base surface configured to translate to the input surface of the sensor at least a force from the controlled displacement of the gel-based body in response to the user's tactile interaction;