Input devices

Input devices

1. Keyboard

   • Uses
     • Entering data into applications
     • Entering commands into the computer
   • Advantages
     • Fast entry of data
     • Very easy to use
     • Information immediatly appears on the screen
   • Disadvantages
     • Can be painful to use for people with wrist problems
     • Takes up a lot of desk space
     • Slow compared to automatic methods e.g. barcode scanner

2. Numeric Keypad

   • Uses
     • ATMs
     • Telephones
     • Chip and Pin devices
   • Advantages
     • Faster than normal keyboards for entering numbers
     • Small
   • Disadvantages
     • Hard to use for people with large hands because they are small
     • Difficult (but not impossible) to enter text information

3. Pointing Devices

   • Mouse
     • Types
       • Optical Mouse
       • Ball Mouse
     • Uses
     • Advantages
       • Very easy to use
       • Small
       • Faster to select icons and options than keyboard
     • Disadvantages
       • Needs flat surface
       • Ball mice can pick up dirt which affects accuracy
   • Touchpad
     • Uses
     • Advantages
       • Built into laptops so don't need flat surface
       • Won't get clogged with dirt
       • Doesn't run out of room unlike mouse
     • Disadvantages
       • More difficult to control than mouse such as drag/drop
       • Hard to use for people with with wrist problems
   • Trackerball
     • Uses
       • Opening, closing, maximising and minimising programs and files
       • Moving, grouping and deleting of files
       • Controlling a pointer on screen to select icons or move around the page
       • Editing images in term of size and position on screen
     • Advantages
       • People with wrist problems can still use it
       • More accurate than mice or touchpad
       • Doesn't need a flat surface
       • No limit on ball travel (with a mouse you can run out of room)
     • Other Uses
       • Arcade gaming machines
     • Disadvantages
       • More expensive than mice
       • More difficult to learn to use than mice

4. Remote Control

   • Uses
     • Home entertainment systems
       • Hi-fi systems
       • DVD/Blu-ray Players
       • Satellite systems
       • Some overhead projectors
     • Industry
       • Cranes with heavy loads
       • Robot arms in hazardous chemical plants
       • Activating explosives in demolition
   • Advantages
     • Devices can be operated without people having to go to them
     • Devices can be activated in dangerous situations
   • Disadvantages
     • Can be difficult to use for people with limited hand movement
     • Infra-red signal can be blocked

5. Joystick

   • Uses
     • Video game controller
     • Control machines in industry
     • Simulators
   • Advantages
     • Easier to control a video game than with keyboard
     • Easy to use
     • Can be used by disabled people
   • Disadvantages
     • Not as easy to control than mouse
     • Hand/wrist issues can cause problems
     • Difficult (but not impossible) to enter text information

6. Touchscreen

   • Uses
     • Mobile phones
     • Public information boards at airports or tourist information offices
     • Interactive whiteboards
     • Some multiple choice tests(e.g. driving tests)
   • Advantages
     • Fast and easy to use
     • No training needed
   • Disadvantages
     • Limited number of options on screen
     • Expensive compared to other input devices
     • Can become dirty and full of germs by touching

7. Scanner

   • Uses
     • Scanning hard copy documents into computer
     • Preserving old photos or important documents
     • Copying documents
   • Advantages
     • Very fast and easy to use
     • Damaged photos can be repaired in software
   • Disadvantages
     • Can reduce quality
     • Takes up a lot of diskspace

8. Graphics Tablet

   • Uses
     • Allows designers to produce digital images.
   • Advantages
     • Much easier to draw with than with mouse so much more accurate
     • Allows fine detail
     • Useful in languages where drawings or symbols are used instead of text. e.g. Japanese
   • Disadvantages
     • Very expensive compared to mouse.
     • Not useful for some input needs

9. Light Pen

   • Uses
     • Selecting objects on a CRT screen
     • Drawing on a CRT screeen
   • Advantages
     • More accurate than touchscreen as end of pen is thinner than finger
     • Very small
   • Disadvantages
     • Not as accurate as graphics tablet.
     • Can only be used with CRT screens
     • Can be uncomfortable to hold pen up to screen for a long time

10. Microphone

    • Uses
      • Inputting sound for many applications(e.g. videoconferencing and video games)
      • Voice recognition software
      • Hands free mobile phones
    • Advantages
      • Faster to speak than type
      • Word processors can be used by people who can't use their hands
      • Very cheap
      • Driving is safer because people can use their phones without their hands
    • Disadvantages
      • Takes up a lot of storage space
      • Homophones can be mixed up(e.g. 'see' and 'sea')
      • Background noise can interfere

11. Digital Camera

    • Advantages
      • No film to develop
      • Unwanted images can be easily deleted
      • Easy to make copy of images
      • No need to print as images can be viewed on computer screen
      • Memory cards can store a lot
      • Easy to transfer using bluetooth, emails and mobile phones
      • Images can be edited easily
    • Uses
      • Capturing digital images(taking photos)
      • Taking photos for editing
      • Short video clips
    • Disadvantages
      • Needs computer skills
      • Not all will produce as high quality images as traditional cameras
      • Some artistry of photography is lost

12. Web Camera

    • Uses
      • Video conferencing
      • Capture video and image content
      • Parents to keep an eye on their children
      • Cheap alternative to security cameras
      • Viewing traffic conditions on roads
    • Advantages
      • Allows long-distance face to face conversations - Cheap video conferences
      • Allows parents to make sure their children are safe
      • Can be left running constantly
    • Disadvantages
      • Image/video quality can be poor
      • Must be permenantly fixed to computer
      • Usually fixed so hard to move