Input devices

Input devices

1. Barcode reader

   • Uses laser to read light reflected from black and white lines
   • This binary code represents product information which can be stored in a database

2. Digital Camera

   • The pattern of light associated with the image is stored digitally on internal memory or memory card
   • The image is often compressed and stored in a standardised format, can be imported into a range of different applications and modified to suit the user's needs

3. Keyboard

   • The keyboard tralates key selections inoto digital format text/ number values
   • Contains a number of function keys which allow the user to send instructions to the computer - delete, scroll and down etc

4. Magnetic Ink Character Reader

   • Data is printed in the form of specially designed characters. The ink used to print these characters contains a magnetic substance
   • Can be read by a sensitive input device. Software then translates the patterns into text/ numerical values

5. Smart Cards

   • Magnetic strip cards store encoded data about the owner
   • When the card is swiped through sensitive reader it is translated into data which can be processed by a computer

6. Pointing Devices

   • Mouse is a flexible input device which allows the user to communicate a wide range of commands to the computer
   • The mouse ball sends positional information to the computer which is then translated into the movements of a pointer on the screen