Scribd
Upload
23 views3 pages

Input and Output Devices

Input devices are hardware components that allow users to enter data into a computer, categorized as manual or automatic. Common input devices include keyboards, mice, and touch screens, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Keyboards are widely used for data entry, while mice facilitate navigation on screens, and touch screens allow direct interaction with displayed items.

Uploaded by

justinenamalawa48
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
23 views3 pages

Input and Output Devices

Input devices are hardware components that allow users to enter data into a computer, categorized as manual or automatic. Common input devices include keyboards, mice, and touch screens, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Keyboards are widely used for data entry, while mice facilitate navigation on screens, and touch screens allow direct interaction with displayed items.

Uploaded by

justinenamalawa48
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Input devices

An input device is a hardware device that allows a user to enter data into a computer system.
Input devices can be manual or automatic. Manual input devices need a user to press the keys
to enter data into a computer system whilst automatic input devices automatically read data
and input it into a computer system. An example of an automatic input device is a temperature
sensor which can take the temperature of a room and automatically input it into a computer
system without any user interaction.

Key terms
 Hardware- Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer.
 Software-Software is the programs and instructions run on a computer.

a) Keyboards
Keyboards are one of the main and most common methods of entering data into a
computer. They have a set of keys that can be pressed to enter the data. The keys will
generally allow entry of letters, numbers and symbols that are used in our everyday life.
Keyboards come in a number of types namely the standard keyboard and the concept
keyboard. A concept keyboard is a flat-bed or shaped set of contact switches covered by
a flexible membrane. System and software designers can allocate one or more switches
to respond in different ways. An overlay is placed over the keyboard with pictures or
symbols. Concept keyboards are popular for use with young children and anywhere that
liquid may be split as they can be wiped clean. They are also used in restaurants,
supermarkets, bars and cinemas. They are quick and easy to use as they utilise Point and
Touch methods of data entry.
Special and concept keyboards are designed to enable people to enter computer data
much more easily and quickly than with convectional keyboards.

Standard Keyboard
The keys on a standard keyboard are:
i. Alphabet keys. These represent all of the letters of the alphabet in lower case,
unless the shift key (Caps Lock) is pressed to produce upper case.
ii. Digit keys
iii. Other text characters produce punctuation and mathematical symbols.
iv. Keys that change the function of other keys. These are the shift key, and those
marked Caps Lock, Num Lock, Alt and Ctrl.
v. Function keys. These appear right at the top of the keyboard and are numbered
F1 to F12. Their function is set by the program running and extra functions can
usually be obtained by using the shift, Ctrl and Alt keys.
Advantages of a keyboard Disadvantages of a keyboard
Keyboards are very simple to use. It is easy to make a mistake when using a
If a person is trained to type faster then keyboard to input data.
inputting data using a keyboard can be If a person is not trained to type faster this
very efficient. makes inputting data using a keyboard can
be slow.

b) Mouse
A mouse is an input device that is used to control a pointer or a cursor on a screen. It
enables a user to move the pointer to navigate around the screen. The user can then
use the buttons that are generally part of a mouse to click items on the screen.

Advantages of a mouse Advantages of a mouse


A mouse is very simple to use. The user needs a flat surface next to the
A mouse lets the user efficiently navigate computer to move the mouse around in. If
around a screen. this space is limited it can restrict the use
of a mouse.
If the roller ball gets clogged with dirt, or if
dirt covers the optical laser, this can stop a
mouse working properly.

c) Trackball
d)
e) Touch sensitive pad
This is also known as a track pad. The user moves a stylus or finger across a pad and this
moves the cursor on the screen.

f) Foot mouse
g) Touch sensitive screen
A touch screen is a screen through which data can be entered into a computer by
touching it with a finger. Items are selected as they would be with a mouse or light pen.
Touch sensitive screens usually work by means of crisscrossing beams of infrared light
just in front of the glass and when the user touches the glass two sets of rays are
blocked giving an x and y axis.

h) Scanners
A scanner works by
Advantages of a scanner Disadvantages of a scanner

Key terms
Optical character recognition
Optical mark recognition

i) MIDI

References
 Revise GCSE Information Technology-Complete Study and Revision Guide Letts
and Lonsdale
 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science Coursebook Sarah Lawrey and Donald Scott

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy