noun
A stick used for pointing at things, such as a teacher's pointer or a presentation stick.
先生は指し棒で地図を指した。
The teacher pointed at the map with a pointer.
プレゼン用に伸縮式の指し棒を買った。
I bought a telescopic pointer for presentations.
指示棒 is a more formal term for a pointer, often used in official or technical contexts, while 指し棒 is a common, everyday word.
ポインター is a loanword from English and can refer to a laser pointer or a computer cursor, whereas 指し棒 specifically refers to a physical pointing stick.
Compound of 指し (sashi, the continuative form of 指す 'to point') + 棒 (bō, 'stick').