Input Devices - Keyboards

Input Devices - Keyboards

1. Alphanumeric Keyboard

   • When: Type letters and numbers
   • Adv.: Fast for typing
   • Disadv.: Has no special symbols

2. Numeric Keypad

   • When: Type numbers
   • Adv.: Easy to type numbers
   • Disadv.: Can only type numbers

3. PIN Pad

   • When: Enter a personal code
   • Adv.: Easy to use
   • Disadv.: Can only type numbers

4. Input

   • Input - Pointing Devices
     • Mouse
       • When: Control pointer in a GUI
       • Disadv.: Takes up alot space
     • Touchpad / Trackpad
       • When: Control the pointer in a GUI
       • Adv.: Takes up less space
       • Disadv.: Can be difficult to use
     • Trackball
       • When: Control pointer in a GUI
       • Adv.: More precise and easier to use
     • Touch Screen
       • When: To select items on a screen
       • Adv.: Very intuitive
       • Disadv.: Expensive
     • Graphics Tablet
       • When: Natural hand movements should be input to a graphics application
       • Adv.: Easy to create 'hand-drawn' sketches
       • Disadv.: Expensive
     • Joystick
       • When: Playing games
       • Adv.: Can be any size
     • Light Pen
       • When: Writing on the screen of a computer
       • Disadv.: Graphics tablets and touch screens provide similar functionality
   • Input - Audio / Visual Devices
     • Scanner
       • When: Scanning images
       • Adv.: Takes photos with great detail
       • Disadv.: Takes alot of time
     • Digital Camera
       • When: Capturing photos
       • Adv.: Very simple
     • Web Cam
       • When: Taking pictures or videos
       • Adv.: Good for web chats
       • Disadv.: Low quality
     • Microphone
       • When: Coverts sound into a signal for the computer
   • Input - Card Readers
     • Magnet Strip Reader
       • When: To read data from a magnetic stripe
       • Adv.: It is easy
     • Smart Card / 'Chip' Reader
       • When: Read chips
       • Adv.: Can store much more data than magnetic strip cards
   • Input - Reading Text / Codes
     • MICR Reader
       • When: To read details from bank cheques
       • Adv.: It is quick and accurate
     • OMR Scanner
       • When: To read multiple-choice type forms
       • Adv.: Quick and accurate
     • OCR Scanner
       • When: To convert images of text into a text file
       • Adv.: Can recognise handwriting and printed text
     • Barcode Reader / Scanner
       • When: To read barcodes
       • Adv.: Quicker and more accurate than typing