ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation

2.1 Input devices and their uses

• Identify input devices and their uses, e.g. keyboard, numeric keypad, pointing devices
(such as mouse, touchpad, tracker ball), remote control, joystick/driving wheel, touch
screen, scanners, digital cameras, microphone, sensors (general), temperature
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

sensor, pressure sensor, light sensor, graphics tablet, video camera, web cam
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses

Input Devices in their Use

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Input Devices allow data to be input into a computer.

Input Central
Processing Unit
Output
Devices (CPU) Devices

Storage
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices

Device Use Advantages Disadvantages

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Keyboard • Inputting data into • Easy and familiar to Slower method

applications use compared to
• Typing commands into • Fast entry of Text direct data entry.
a CLI Interface into a document

Numeric Inputting numeric data Straight forward to • Keys can be

Key Pad into: enter numeric data like too small.
• ATM pins or prices at a POS. • Difficult to type
• POS Terminals letters (older
• Chip and Pin Mobiles to
• Mobile Phones etc. text)
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices

Device Use Advantages Disadvantages

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Mouse To control the pointer on • Easy to navigate • Easily

the screen to: through menu Damaged
• Selecting Windows options • Flat surface
• Clicking Icons • Quicker to select an required.
• Menu Options option compared to
• Positioning Pointer using a keyboard.
Touch Pad • Used as a pointing • Is part of the • More difficult
device on a laptop. keyboard so no to use
need for separate compared to a
device. normal mouse.
Tracker Ball • Used by users who • Easier to use • Tend to be
tend to have limited compared to mouse more
motility in their wrist • More accurate expensive.
(RSI) positing of the • Not familiar to
pointer. users.
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices

Device Use Advantages Disadvantages

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Remote Used to control: • Can be used from a • Signal could be

Control • TV Channels and distance. blocked by
Menu options obstacles or
• Multimedia Systems walls.
• Industrial applications
Joystick • Used in computer • Easier to used • More difficult
games and simulators. compared to a to use
keyboard. compared to a
normal mouse.
Driving • Used by gamers in • Driving experience • More
Wheel computer games is more accurate expensive.
(Racing/Driving). than using • Movement
• Used in simulators. keyboards. could be too
sensitive
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices

Device Use Advantages Disadvantages

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Touch Used on: • Very easy to use • Options could

Screen • Mobile/Tablets and select options. be selected
• Point of Sale (POS) accidently.
• Interactive White • Screen can get
Boards dirty.
Scanners • Used to scan in • Copies can be • Quality is
documents or created. dependant on
photographs. resolution
settings.
Digital • Used to take • Higher Resolution • Transferring,
Cameras photographs and small images can be storing and
video clips. stored on memory editing images
• Data can be cards. can be
transferred to • No need to develop complicated
computers. film.
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices

Device Use Advantages Disadvantages

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Video Cameras • Used to record video • Can record in HD • HD movie take

footage. • Footage can be up a lot of
edited on a storage.
computer. • Cost of camera
Microphone • Used to input sound • Voice overs can be • Voice
into a computer. added to recognition is
• Used in voice presentations. not as accurate
recognition • Recorded audio can as typing text
applications. be typed directly into a
into Word Processor computer.
applications.
Graphics • Used with a stylus to • Very accurate • Longer to
Tablet draw free hand method of drawing produce
drawings which can be compared to a drawings
stored on a computer. pointer device. • Cost of tablet
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices

Device Use Advantages Disadvantages

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Web Cams • Used by users who • Allows for face to • Quality is

want to have a web face video chat. dependant on
conference (Skype • Can contact people internet
Call) without the need to connection
travel.

Light Pens • Used in CAD • More accurate than • Only used with
applications for touch screens CRT Monitors
drawing onscreen • Small in size • Dated
Technology
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices : Sensors

A sensor is a device that converts a real world property into data that a
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

computer can process.

Sensor Example Use
Temperature Used in green houses to measure temperature
Light Umpires check light conditions in cricket match
Moisture To check the moisture in the soil in a green house
Water-Level Used in washing machine to measure water level
Proximity Used when parking cars to judge distance.
Movement Detects movement which could trigger an alarm
Pressure Used in burglar alarms
 ICT IGCSE Theory – Revision Presentation
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices : Sensors

Real world measurements

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

are collected as an analogue

signal from the sensor.
Data collected from Sensor is in
A computer only Analogue
understands digital signals.
ADC - Analogue-to-digital converter
An ADC (Analogue-to-digital Analogue Signal now can be
converter) is needed to understood by computers.
convert the signal so a
computer understands the
signal.