Input devices: An input device is hardware that allows a user to interact with a computer and also allows the

computer to collect data. The following table lists a number of input devices together with some of their uses
as well as their advantages and disadvantages:

INPUT USES OF INPUT DEVICE ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Keyboard • Entering data manually • Well-known method • Difficult to use for people
into a computer • Easy method of entering with certain physical
• Typing in commands to a data into a computer disabilities
computer !e.g. PrtScrn, • Easier to carry out • Slow entry method
Ctrl+P and so on) verification checks on data compared to direct data
entered entry
• Can lead to ailments such
as RSI

Numeric • At ATMs to key in PIN to • Faster input method than • Keys can be small, making
keypad obtain money a standard keyboard when input difficult for some
• At POS terminals in case entering numeric data people
the barcode on an item • Easy-to-use input device • Order of numbers on
fails to scan properly since it involves fewer keys keypads is often not
• When using chip and PIN intuitive
 devices to make a card
payment
Pointing • Controls the position of • Faster method to choose • Difficult to use by people
device: an on-screen pointer to on-screen options with certain disabilities
mouse allow selections. open/ compared to a keyboard • Can lead to injuries such
close files and so on • Only requires a small as RSI
amount of desk space • Some surfaces don·t work
well with mechanical mice !
mouse slips on the surface)
• Similar to mouse but • Same advantages as a • Not everyone finds touch
Pointing uses a flat panel below mouse pads easy to control and
device: the keyboard on a laptop • Since it is integrated into a certain actions can be
touchpad computer laptop, there is no need to difficult (such as drag and
carry a mouse around with drop)
you

Pointing • Used in control rooms •More accurate positioning • More expensive to buy
device: where desk space is at a of pointer on screen than a than a mouse
trackerball premium land has more mouse • May require training to
accurate control than a •More robust and doesn·t use
mouse) need any special surface to properly since it is a less
• Used in luxury cars work properly well-known type of pointing
to select functions • Requires less desk space device
such as operating the than a mouse
Global Positioning • Less prone than a mouse
System, allowing use of at
smartphone and so on causing RSI
Remote control • Used to control functions on • Can operate from a • Easy to lose the device
televisions, Blu-ray players, hi-fi reasonable distance unlike • Batteries need replacing
equipment and so on for example, a wired mouse on a regular basis (an
• Easy-to-use interface environmental issue)
 • The remote·s infrared
signal can be blocked and
may not work well if not in
direct line of device
Pointing devices: • Both are used as input devices • More realistic interface • Movement can be too
joystick and driving to many gaming consoles or than a mouse in many sensitive, making the input
wheel simulators (e.g. flight simulator or games and simulations device difficult to use in
car driving simulator) to mimic • Easier and more accurate certain applications
actual controls than a mouse or keyboard • Doesn"t allow any
to control on-screen feedback during a
movements simulation

Touchscreen • Self-service tills !e.g. at a petrol • Fast data entry and easy- • Limited number of
station) to-use interface possible choices available
• ATMs to enter PIN, amount of • It is easy to expand screen • Screens can get very dirty
money required and so on size as necessary with no quickly and can cause
• Public information kiosks (e.g. need to change software or issues at fast food menu
at an airport) entry method screens, for example, if not
• Mobile phones and tablets • Easier to keep clean since cleaned on a regular basis
• Computer-based training the surface is glass • Screens can get
(keypads and keyboards are scratched, causing them to
more difficult to keep clean) malfunction

Scanner • Scanning in paper documents • Converts written text into • Quality of photos and text
and photos to be saved in electronic format. allowing depends on the scanner
electronic format on a computer the text to be manipulated resolution
• Archiving of valuable old by OCR software and use in • Scanning (particularly
manuscripts other documents (using a colour image scanning) can
• Used to scan in barcodes at a word processor) be a very slow process
POS using laser or LED scanners • Allows damaged photos • If the barcode being
• When used to read barcodes, and manuscripts to be scanned is damaged. the
recovered the scanner scanner can't successfully
 becomes a DDE device read it and a backup input
method is needed

Digital camera • Taking photographs or videos • Can take many photos • Need to be computer-
• A data capture device (e.g. compared to a traditional literate to use digital
reading of QR codes or a camera !unwanted photos cameras effectively
reversing aid in a vehicle) are easy to delete) • Some artistry is lost since
• In dentistry to photograph teeth • No need to develop brightness, sharpness,
for later dental work photos (saving money and exposure (etc.) can all be
• Creation of virtual tours around also gain immediate altered by software later on
buildings, industrial plants and feedback about photo just • Compression of images
so on taken when being stored can lead
• Easy to store photos on to some loss of quality
another device or in the
cloud

Microphone • Input speech/sound to be used • Fast input method and • Sound files can take up a
in presentations, special effects, useful for people with large amount of memory
music sampling and so on certain disabilities unless they are compressed
• As a sensor to pick up sounds • Allows the possibility of • Using verbal input can be
(e.g. in an intruder alert system, manipulating sounds in real inaccurate [e.g. 'how to
detection of liquid dripping from time wreck a nice beach" could
pipes) • Can be used in voice be mistaken for "how to
• In video conferencing activation systems recognise speech', which
• Input device for people with improving safety (e.g. verbal would be a problem if a
disabilities commands in a car to microphone was used to
operate key functions input data into a word
without the driver taking processor)
their hands off the steering • In voice activation, you
 wheel) must remember keywords or
certain functions of the
system can be activated by
mistake
Analogue sensors • Measure physical data from the • Readings taken are more • Faulty readings can lead
environment and send it to a accurate than manual to spurious results, which
computer methods can be dangerous e.g.
• Many sensors exist: • Readings taken sensors used in
- temperature (greenhouse continuously (no vital monitoring/controlling
environment) readings would be missed) functions in an airplane)
- pressure (intruder alert system) • Possible to take readings • Most sensors are
- light (control of street lighting) in places hazardous to analogue, which means they
- sound (intruder alert system) humans or when severe require conversion to
- humidity (monitor the weather causes risks to digital using an ADC
atmosphere in a chip human life
manufacturing process) • Data gathering is
- pH !monitor acidity automatic so it can be
levels in a chemical automatically sent to a
process) computer

Light pen • Selecting objects on a CRT • Have greater accuracy • Problems of 'lag· when
screen than touchscreens moving the pen on screen
• Used with CAD/CAM software on • Very small devices (useful (especially if the screen is
a CRT screen where space is an issue) not clean)
• Very easy input device to • Currently only work with
use CRT screens
• Very dated technology