Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus including: a coordinate positioning machine having a measuring probe for interacting with an artefact to obtain measurement data regarding the artefact. The measuring probe and artefact are moveable relative to each other in at least one machine degree of freedom. The apparatus further includes a hand-held device, moveable in free-space in a plurality of device degrees of freedom, for controlling movement of the measurement probe relative to the artefact. The hand-held device includes at least one motion sensor for sensing movement of the hand-held device in free-space. The apparatus is configured such that the relative movement of the measurement probe and artefact is controlled by said movement of the hand-held device in free-space.