Correlation field
Many measurements. Far fewer choices.
Pointer hardware reports dense streams, but neighboring coordinates mostly describe the same continuing movement.
Hands-on evidence
Mouse Correlation Trace
Draw one smooth path and watch hundreds of coordinates collapse into a much smaller number of meaningful changes.
Try a straight line, a circle, then a jittery scribble. Compare direction persistence and occupied grid cells.
Start, then move here
Coordinate samples0raw x/y records
Occupied coarse cells0of a 12 × 8 grid
Meaningful turns0direction changes over 45°
Path / displacement—one sign of path structure
Serial movement correlation: 0%
Direction persistence: 0%