Input Devices

Input Devices

1. Keyboard

   • It is used to enter characters such as letters, punctuation marks, numbers and symbols.
   • It can be used to enter commands into a computer or for typing letters, memos, reports or entering data into spreadsheets or databases.
   • Has keys that are labelled and with characters and set out in a pattern.

2. Specialist Keyboards

   • Have keys labelled with characters set out in a different pattern to an ordinary keyboard or with the raised marks of Braille to enter characters.
   • Design purpose
     • Designed for disabled users, e.g Braille keyboards for the visually impaired.
     • Engineering keyboards for specialised character entry.

3. Mouse

   • Is used to move a pointer on screen and has one or buttons that are clicked to choose items from an on-screen menu and select items by clicking.

4. Microphone

   • Convert sounds to electrical signals which can be digitised.
   • Used when talking on a mobile phone or when using videoconferencing or audio chat.

5. Keypad

   • has fewer keys than an ordinary keyboard: often only numbers and characters such as * and #.
   • It can be used when entering the price or cost of an item.

6. Touch pad

   • A touch-sensitive panel that responds to fingers.
   • It can be used instead of a mouse to move a pointer on screen by tapping, which can act as a mouse click does.

7. Remote control

   • Input commands or instructions into computer systems or equipment and can be wired or wireless sending command signals to devices such as TVs or wheelchairs.
   • in business they can be used to control training equipment and TV displays.

8. Scanner

   • Use reflected light from the documents or photographs to capture a digital version of a document or image.
   • Image or document can then be used in software applications such as a word processors.

9. Bar code reader or scanner

   • Can scan the lines or matrix of a barcode and convert them for input into a computer system.
   • The captured barcode can be used to look up the details of an item in a database.

10. Chip and pin reader

    • The chip in the slot card is read in a slot and there is a key pad for entering the pin.
    • A magnetic stripe reader is used if the chip cannot be read (or if a card has not chip).
    • Card details are read from the card and checked using the pin entered by the purchaser when using a credit or debit card.

11. Magnetic strip reader

    • Reads the data from a magnetic stripe on the card when a card is 'swiped' through a slot in the reader.
    • Data is read from the magnetic stripe if the card has no chip or the chip cannot be read when a credit or debit card is used.