13

2. Input Devices
1. Definition: An input device is a peripheral device which provides man to machine
communication with computer. It accepts data from a user and sends it to the central
processing unit for processing. Input data can be of many forms:
1. A written program in computer's programming language.
2. By some recorded means like floppy disc, magnetic tape or cassette.
3. Audio input given through microphone.
4. The graphical data is put in computer with the help of electronic data tablet (digitizers)
5. Mechanical input means joystick, tracker ball, and mouse.
2. Popular Input Devices: There are many types of input devices that are invented to input data
that exist in various forms. Some of the popular devices are given below.
i. Keyboard
ii. Optical Mouse
iii. Microphone
iv. Digital Camera
v. Touch Screen
vi. Barcode Reader
vii. QR Code Reader
viii. Magnetic Stripe Reader (MS)
ix. Documents Reader.
1. Optical Mark Reader (OMR)
2. Optical Character Reader (OCR).
3. Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR).
x. 2D and 3D Scanners.
2.1. Keyboard: It is the most common input device which is used to input data in the form of
words and numbers. Keyboards are intelligent devices and contain their own chips. Each key
acts as a switch which closes when the key is pressed. The microprocessor scans the
keyboard hundreds of times per second to see if a key has been pressed. When a key is
pressed by the user, this generates an electronic signal that is interpreted by the transducer in
the keyboard and is translated into the bit pattern of corresponding ASCII code. This bit
pattern is then transmitted to the I/O module in the computer. In the computer, the text can be
stored in the same ASCII code which is then used by the computer program. In the case of
tablets and mobile phones, the keyboard is displayed on touch screen. Unfortunately, frequent

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use of these devices can lead to injuries, such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) in the hands and
wrists.
There is one more type of keyboard that is called virtual keyboard which is used in
financial/sensitive websites to give user id and passwords in order to avoid hacking. While
the layout of all other types of keyboards are fixed, virtual keyboards layout keeps changing
whenever it is loaded.
2.2. Optical Mouse: A mouse is a pointing device that translates its movements on a flat surface
into the digital information which is fed to the computer and this in turn causes the cursor to
move on the screen. Mouse has one, two or three buttons, which are used to make selection
on the screen. It uses tiny cameras to take 1500 images per second. Unlike an older
mechanical mouse, the optical mouse can work virtually on any surface. The change in the
reflecting pattern of this red light is considered as the movement of the ball of traditional
mouse.
A red LED/laser is used in the base of the mouse and the red light is bounced off the surface
and the reflection is picked up by a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor). The
CMOS generates electric pulses to represent the reflected red light and these pulses are sent
to a digital signal processor (DSP). The processor can now work out the coordinates of the
mouse based on the changing image patterns as it is moved about on the surface.

.
Advantages:
• It is easy and convenient to use.
• It selects a position on the screen more quickly than is possible with a keyboard.
• Mouse is used for pointing and moving graphics around the screen.
Disadvantages:
• It cannot be used to input text easily; we still need a keyboard to do that.
• It is not accurate for drawing purposes.
• The mouse requires a big flat non-glossy/mono coloured surface to operate.
• Continuous use of mouse puts enormous stress on the wrist and constant double
clicking can be the most strenuous function.

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Uses:
• To select options from a menu or from a set of icons.
• To select an object in a drawing.
• To select a piece of text to be copied, moved or deleted.
2.3. Microphone: Audio device that allows audio signals from diaphragm to be converted into
electric signals. A microphone can convert sound waves into an electric current. The current
produced is converted to a digital format so that a computer can process it or store it.
The electric current output from the microphone can also be sent to a computer where a
sound card converts the current into a digital signal which can then be stored in the computer.
The following diagram shows what happens when the word ‘hut’ is picked up by a
microphone and is converted into digital values:

1000 0001
0001 1110
1000 1110
0001 1100
1100 1100
1101 1110
Sound wave for ‘HUT’ Digital value after conversion

Analogue to digital conversion

The word ‘hut’ (in the form of a sound wave) has been picked up by the microphone; this is
then converted using an analogue to digital converter (ADC) into digital values which can
then be stored in a computer or manipulated as required using appropriate software.
Application: voice recognition, speech recognition
2.4. Digital Camera: A digital camera is a camera that records images in digital form by means
of a device that converts the optical image to an electrical signal. Modern digital cameras can
be linked to computer system via a USB port or by using Bluetooth. These cameras are
controlled by a microprocessor that automatically carries out the following tasks:

• Adjust the shutter speed,

• Focus the image,
• Operate the flash light,
• Adjust the aperture size,
• Adjust the size of the image, and
• Remove ‘red eye’ when the flash has been used.
The photograph is captured when light passes through the lens onto light-sensitive cell; this
cell is made up of millions of tiny sensors which are acting as photodiodes

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(i.e. Charge Couple Devices (CCD) which convert light into electricity). Each of the sensors
are also referred as ‘pixels’. The image is converted into tiny electric charges which are then
passed through an analogue to digital converter (ADC) to form a digital image array. The
number of pixels determines the size of the file used to store the photograph. For example, a
14-megapixel camera will need 42 MB to store each raw (uncompressed) photograph. This
image, when converted to JPEG, is reduced to 4 MB.

Mobile phones are using digital camera but the image quality suffers because of the lens
resolution and storage space. But many smartphones now have very sophisticated optics and
photography software as standard.

2.5. Touch Screen: A touch screen is a special kind of screen which is sensitive to touch. The
data can be entered into a computer just by touching the screen at the appropriate place with a
finger. Items from menu are selected just as they would be with a mouse pointer or a light
pen. There are three common types of touch screen technologies currently being used by
mobile phone and tablet manufacturers:
• Capacitive
• Infrared
• Resistive
i. Capacitive touch screens
Capacitive touch screens are composed of a layer of glass (protective layer), a transparent
electrode (conductive) layer and a glass substrate. Since human skin is a conductor of
electricity, when bare fingers (or a special stylus) touch the screen, the electrostatic field of
the conductive layer is changed. The installed microcontroller is able to calculate where
this change took place and hence determine the coordinates of the point of touching.

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There are presently two main types of capacitive touch screens:

• Surface
• Projective

In surface capacitive screens, sensors are placed at the corners of a screen. Small voltages
are also applied at the corners of the screen creating an electric field. A finger touching the
screen surface will draw current from each corner reducing the capacitance. A
microcontroller measures the decrease in capacitance and hence determines the point
where the finger touched the screen.
In projective capacitive screens, the transparent conductive layer is now in the form of an
X-Y matrix pattern. This creates a three dimensional (3D) electrostatic field. When a
finger touches the screen, it disturbs the 3D electrostatic field allowing a microcontroller
to determine the coordinates of the point of contact.
Advantage:
• Better image clarity than resistive screens, especially in strong sunlight
• Very durable screens that have high scratch resistance
• Projective capacitive screens allow multi-touch.
Disadvantage:
• Surface capacitive screens only work with bare fingers or a special stylus.
• They are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation (such as magnetic fields or
microwaves).
ii. Infrared touch screens
Infrared touch screens use a glass screen with an array of sensors and infrared transmitters.
The sensors detect the infrared radiation. If any of the infrared beams are broken (for
example, with a finger touching the screen), the infrared radiation reaching the sensors is
reduced. The sensor readings are sent to a microcontroller that calculates where the screen
was touched.

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Advantage:
• Allows multi-touch facilities.
• Has good screen durability.
• The operability isn’t affected by a scratched or cracked screen.
Disadvantage:
• The screen can be sensitive to water or moisture.
• It is possible for accidental activation to take place if the infrared beams are
disturbed in some way.
• Sometimes sensitive to light interference.

iii. Resistive touch screens

Resistive touch screens are made up of two layers of electrically resistive material with a
voltage applied across them. The upper layer is made of flexible polyethylene with a
resistive coating on one side. The bottom layer is made of glass also with a resistive
coating on one side. These two layers are separated by air or an inert gas. When the top
polyethylene surface is touched, the two layers make contact. Since both layers are coated
in a resistive material a circuit is now completed which results in a flow of electricity. The
point of contact is detected where there was a change in voltage.

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Advantage:
• Good resistance to dust and water.
• Can be used with bare fingers, stylus and gloved hand.
Disadvantage:
• Low touch sensitivity.
• Doesn’t support multi-touch facility.
• Poor visibility in strong sunlight.
• Vulnerable to scratches on the screen.

2.6. Barcode Reader: Barcode Reader is an input device which can read barcodes, decodes it,
and send the decoded information to a computer.
A Barcode is a set of parallel lines of different thickness which represents a number. Often
the number represented by the barcode is also printed above or below the bar codes. If the
barcode reader cannot read a barcode, the number can be keyed in instead. Bar codes appear
on a variety of items-tags, tickets, plastic cards or on packets and cans in shops. Barcodes are
basically used to identify the item correctly. The information contained in barcode is to
identify:
o the country of its origin,
o the manufacturer's code,
o the item number of the product,
o the check digit.

The price is not included in the data on a barcode because prices change so often. Instead
the price is stored in the computer and when the price is needed it is retrieved form there.
Bar codes are read by:
• A hand held 'wand' that is attached to a computer. It is passed over the code
perpendicular to the bars.
• A stationary scanner that scans the barcode as the product is passed across it.
The computer can match the information with data in its files to tell the check-out counter
the current price of the article. And at the same time log in its memory a sale of the item.
Advantages:
• Shopkeepers don't have to write down or key in the name of the item or its price
which in turn saves time.
• Chances of typing/reading errors are minimized.

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Uses:
• In libraries, to identify books and borrower identification.
• Luggage handling systems at airports
• Warehouse stock control system.
• Printed on shop goods e.g. supermarket.
• On labels on shelves, used for stock taking e.g. in factory stores.

2.7. Quick Response (QR) Code Reader: A QR code consists of black modules (square dots)
arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device
(such as a camera, scanner, etc.) It is a two-dimensional barcode widely used for many
purposes. When scanned with a mobile tagging app in a smartphone, it can cause a Web page
to download with information about a product, local event or just about anything. QR codes
can make mobile payments and they can download apps or capture business card data. Codes
are found in newspapers, magazines, brochures and store shelves, and billboard-size codes
can be scanned at a distance, because the QR app uses the phone's
camera. For example, the QRC given on the right contains the
URL of our school’s website. Scan it with your smart phone and
see the outcome.
Newer QR codes (called frame QR codes) are now being used
because of the increased ability to add advertising logos. It is
possible to include graphics or images inside the code itself.

Advantages of QR codes compared to barcodes

To make a comparison, normal barcode can hold up to 30 digits whereas the QR code can
store up to 4,296 alphanumeric or 7,089 numeric characters and also allows internet
addresses to be encoded within the QR code, and if a high level of error correction is used, up
to 30% of the image can be smudged and still be recognized. It is also possible to encrypt QR
codes which give them greater protection than traditional barcodes. QR codes are easier to
read; they don’t need expensive laser or LED scanners like barcodes.
Disadvantages of QR code compared to barcodes
More than one QR format is available and QR codes can be used to transmit malicious codes
– known as attagging.

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2.8. Magnetic Stripe Reader: Magnetic Stripe Reader or a card reader is an input device which
can read information contained in the magnetic stripe of a card, decodes it, and send the
decoded information to a computer
A Magnetic strip is a rectangular magnetic coating printed on the surface of a ticket or a card.
The stripe usually contains information to identify the ticket or card and its user.
Swipe Card Reader: A card with a magnetic stripe on the back is called a swipe card. The
stripe has information written on to it only once. After that, it can be read but data can no
longer be written on it. It is often encased in a plastic film for protection.
To swipe a card with a magnetic stripe means to move the card through a reader so that the
stripe can be read.

Advantages:
• They are simple to produce
• They are not easily damaged except by strong magnetic fields
• Each card stores a fairly large number of characters (about 72)
• They cut down the amount of writing involved in a transaction.
Disadvantages
• The data can be changed or erased by magnetic fields.
• The stripe can be damaged by scratching.
Applications
• Tags attached to clothes in a shop.
• Railway, bus and other tickets.
• Electronic Cards like Credit cards,ATM cards, Self service card, Phone card,etc.

2.9. Document Reader: A Document Reader is a scanning device, which can read data directly
from source documents. Documents can come in all shapes and sizes.
Example:
• A bank cheque
• A multiple-choice question paper
• An electricity meter-reader form.

Types of code on the Document

• Marks: Appropriate area is shaded by hand, usually in pencil, on preprinted card or
document.

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• Characters: Hand written text e.g. on electricity meter-reading slips, Printed text e.g.
in magnetic ink on bank cheques.
• Printed Codes: - The most common of these is the bar code.

2.9.1. Optical Mark Reading (OMR): OMR allows direct transfer of data from source document
to computer. Information is collected on a preprinted OMR form by marking the
predetermined position with a pencil or pen to indicate each selected response. OMR converts
the marks into computer readable data. The Optical Mark Reader is a combination of
hardware and software; the hardware is a scanner that detects the presence (or absence) of a
mark on a form by sensing reflected infra-red light. The software in the reader interprets the
marks into the meaningful characters, which can be passed to the computer for storage and
analysis.
Advantages:
• It has better recognition than OCR. Fewer mistakes are made by machine reading marks
than are made reading hand written characters.
• Data can be prepared without any special equipment and thus reduces the cost of
inputting large volume of data.
• Data can be prepared where it is collected e.g. market researchers can mark a
questionnaire while asking people questions in the market.
• This method is useful, when result of the processing is needed very quickly.
• Sensitivity can be altered to allow for different surfaces and pencils and inks.
• Errors can be easily corrected.
Disadvantages:
• Input of data to the computer is slow. Card reader is slower than disc unit.
• Documents for mark readers are complicated to design. Too many boxes made for several
options.
• Documents may be difficult to understand and fill in or impractical to design.
• The document reader has to re-programmed for each new document design.
• If the forms are creased or folded then they may be rejected by the machine. This will add
the time needed to read the data.
Uses:
• Multiple choice examinations, aptitude tests;
• Insurance premium collection;

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• Market research questionnaires- consumer research.

• In supermarkets for stock reordering;
• Traffic survey;
• Payroll data entry.

2.9.2. Optical Character Reading (OCR): An Optical Character Reader (OCR) is a special device
which is used to read characters printed in a special font or possible characters drawn by
hand. OCR can recognize characters from their shapes.
Scanners are used to scan pictures as well as read text. With the help of sophisticated OCR
software in the computers, the scanned image is converted in ASCII code. In an OCR, the
text is never treated as a picture, since each individual letter is recognized on its own and
edited using word processor software. It must differentiate S and 5, 3 and 8 etc. OCR must be
able to read different fonts, different type sizes and upper and lower case letters.
Characters are read by an optical character reader that senses light reflected from the paper
and ink and convert the characters to electronic signals. OCR has a memory and processing
capability so that the signals can be matched with internally stored reference patterns for a
given character set or font. A font is a set of characters of a particular size and style. OCR can
recognize typed or printed and even hand-written characters, provided they are neatly written
like a standard font. Patterns cannot be read cause the document to be rejected. Data that is
accepted can be either read directly into the computer or recorded on the magnetic disk or
tape for later processing. Typical OCR reader speeds are between 100 and 1500 documents
per minute depending on the type of document and font type.
Advantages:
• Different printed fonts can be used.
• OCR usually accepts hand printing and normal type.
• Documents don't have to be typed so precisely for OCR.
• The data for OCR can be read and checked by the people.
• Written and printed data can be read at the same time.
• Documents can be read directly into a computer without any typing e.g. documents
received by fax, old books etc.
Disadvantages:
• OCR often fail to recognize characters, particularly if they are handwritten or in unusual
fonts.

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Uses:
• It can scan text directly into Word processor.
• It is used to scan financial document such as company accounts directly into spreadsheets.
• It is used in billing e.g. gas and electricity bills, insurance premium renewals. (Billing of
ten involves a turn-around document. For example, electricity bills are prepared by the
computer, sent out to customers who return them with payment cheques. These
documents are then re-entered via the OC reader into the computer system as evidence of
payment. No transcription is needed.)

2.9.3. Magnetic Ink Character Reading (MICR)

A Magnetic Ink Reader recognizes characters printed in magnetic ink. When the Document is
passed into the reader, the ink containing the iron is magnetized so that the magnetic pattern
formed by the characters can be identified by the strength of magnetism. Usually MICR
devices use font E13B which contains only 14 characters (10 digits from 0 to 9 and four
special characters).
Advantages:
• MICR is difficult to forge.
• Documents can still be read when folded, written on etc.
Disadvantages
• MIC readers and encoders are expensive and thus suitable only for very large scale
applications.
• The system can only accept a fixed font.
Uses:
• The banking industry for cheques: In bank cheques, before issuing a cheques to the
customer, the information consisting the codes(from left to right)
• the serial number of the cheques,
• the code number of the branch, and
• the individual customer account number.

are all printed at the bottom of the cheques. When the customer writes a cheque, the receiver
takes it to its bank and pays it into its account. The bank then passes the cheque through the
MICR reader to recognize the characters at the bottom of the cheques. Once the details are
known it adds the amount of money (in the space below the signature) to the bottom of the
cheques in magnetic ink using MICR encode. The cheques can then be sorted automatically

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and sent back to the bank of the originals' customer. The money is then deducted from his or
her account.

2.10. Scanners: There are two types of scanners; 2D scanners and 3D scanners.
1. Two Dimensional (2D) Scanners: It is a device that is used to input already-printed-data
and graphics. Using appropriate OCR software, the text can be input as text (in editable
form). 2D Scanners are of two main types
• Hand-held device, which is moved across the picture being scanned. It is cheap and
portable.
• Flat-bed scanner, the picture is laid flat on this and the scanner remains stationery on a
table while the picture is scanned. It is very accurate, giving a high-resolution image.
Disadvantage:
• Scanned pictures take up far more storage space than pictures which have been digitized
with a graphic tablet. This is because every dot on the picture has to be stored.
Application of 2D scanners at an airport: 2D scanners are used to read passport by making
use of OCR technology. The OCR software is able to review the image, separate the text
from images, and place the text in appropriate fields of the database.

At many airports the photograph on the passport is also scanned and store as JPEG image.
The passenger‘s face is also photographed using a digital camera. The two images are then
compared using face detection/recognition software. The key features of a face that are
compared are:

• Distance between the eyes.

• Width of the nose
• Shape of the cheek bones
• Length of the jaw line
• Shape of the eyebrows.
2. Three Dimensional (3D) Scanners: These are the scanners that can scan solid objects and
produce a three-dimensional image. Since solid objects have x, y, and z coordinates, these
scanners take images at several points along these three coordinates. A digital image which
represents the solid object is formed.
The scanned images can be used in Computer Aided Design (CAD) or can be used to
produce a working model of the scanned image using a 3D printer. We will learn about the

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3D printer later in this chapter.

There are many technologies used in 3D scanners – lasers, magnetic resonance, white light,
etc. The descriptions of these technologies are beyond the scope of our syllabus. The
following application describes the use of 3D printer.

Application of 3D scanning in Computed Tomographic (CT) scanners: Computed

Tomographic Scanners are used to create a 3D image of a solid object. This is based on
Tomography technology which basically buildup an image of the solid object through a series
of very thin “slices”. Together these 2D “slices” make up a representation of the 3D solid
object.

Each slice is built up by use of X-Rays, radio

frequencies or gamma imaging; although a number of Tomography is a technique for
displaying a representation of a
other models exist. Each slice is then stored as a
cross section through a human
digital image in the computer memory. The whole of
body or other solid object using
the solid object is represented digitally in the computer
X-rays or ultrasound.
memory. The figure below shows a simple of how
tomography works.

Depending upon how the image is formed, the type of tomographic scanner can have
different names. For example:

X-Ray CT scanners Computerized Tomography

Radio Frequencies MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Gamma Rays SPECT Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography.

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2.11. Voice Recognition: It is an input technique through which the inputs are given in audio form.
With voice recognition, the users can speak directly to the computer. A microphone is used as
the input device and human speech is coded into a sequence of electrical signals. The
computer being used, searches a set of stored patterns for the sound which has been input.
Special systems can recognize a limited, standard vocabulary of spoken words via a
microphone linked with a computer system. The system processes the sounds and converts
them into binary patterns.
A user must train the system to recognize his or her voice by repeating each word in the
vocabulary for a given number of times. Each word is analyzed and filed for later matching
and identification. Once this reference data has been set up, the user can call up the system
and speak into the microphone. The recognition software analyses the spoken commands and
matches them against patterns in memory to select the corresponding vocabulary word. The
recognized words are usually displayed on screen for checking and it is possible to erase any
incorrect word and repeat the right one.
Advantages
• No typing or data preparation needed.
• The system can be used remotely by telephone or by those who are handicapped.
• Useful in those situations where hands or eyes are busy handling documents or products
or where people are moving around, since wireless microphones can be used.
Disadvantage
• Recognition of word is slow.
• This method does not give good results. The error rate is relatively high.
• Limited vocabularies - most systems are still limited in words in isolation.
• The system is not suitable for use in noisy places without a shielded mouth piece.
Uses
1. Security and Access Control - Each person has a unique 'voice print' that can be used for
identification. This approach could be used in:
• Electronic funds transfer.
• House/car security: voice activated locks.
• Office security: room access.
2. Data Entry in Banks - Some American banks use speaker-dependent data entry devices
for transferring funds because they are more secure and less prone to operator error.
3. Quality Control and Automation in Factories: A checker whose hands are busy does

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not have to stop work to make entries in log books. He can simply give a running
commentary on the goods they are examining, e.g. Hitachi use spoken commands to order
robots about.
4. Automated Materials Handling: In airports, handlers' spoken commands direct luggage
to the appropriate conveyor belt.
5. Computed Aided Design (CAD): A designer, say of microchips, working at a terminal
can call up design patterns which are frequently used, instead of having to punch their
catalogue numbers into a keyboard.
6. Voice Activated Appliances: People, particularly the disabled, can use voice-recognition
devices to control doors or equipment, e.g. to switch TV channel or turn on the heating.
7. Voice Activated Toys and Games.
8. Fighter Pilot: On some advanced fighter planes, the pilot has a small display of some of
the instruments. This display can be changed by using one of a number of simple pre-
stored voice commands.
9. Telephoning Banking - Some banks allow customers to telephone the bank's computer.
The computer can recognize a caller from a spoken code and tell him or her state of a
requested account by synthesized voice output. It can also accept simple commands such
as 'repeat'.

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Exercise
1. a. A bank cheque contains data already printed on it. Give two examples of the data
already printed on the cheque.

Example 1: ___________________________________________________________

Example 2: ___________________________________________________________

b. What item of data does the bank record on the cheque before it is processed?

_____________________________________________________________________

c. Some of the data on the cheques is read by magnetic ink character recognition
(MICR). Give two benefits to the bank of using MICR.

Item 1: _______________________________________________________________

Item 2: _______________________________________________________________

2. QR code is better than barcode. Give two reasons.

Reason 1: ____________________________________________________________

Reason 2: ____________________________________________________________

3. A zoo has decides to introduce Quick Response codes in different places in the zoo. These
provide further information about the animals. Describe how customers obtain the
information from the Quick Response codes.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

4. Explain how the infrared touch screen detects a user’s touch.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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5. Explain how the barcode system could help the supermarket manage its stock.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6. Customers of InterBank are issued with plastic cards which have a magnetic stripe on the
back. Give two items of information contained in the magnetic stripe.

Item 1: _______________________________________________________________

Item 2: _______________________________________________________________

7. OCR is different from typical scanner. Give reason

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

8. State two uses of 3D scanners.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

9. How 2D scanners are useful in airports.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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