input devices

it is a hardware device that allows data to be input into a computer system.

Input devices can be manual or automatic. Manuals need a user that physically enter the data into
the computer system whereas automatic will automatically read data and input it into a computer
system.

Hardware = physical components of a computer.

KEYBOARD

Most common method of entering data into a computer.

They have set of keys with numbers, letters and symbols that must be pressed to enter the data.

They have special command and function keys programmed to perform specific skills.

Modern devices can have an on-screen keyboard. Keys are displayed on the screen and when
pressure is applied to a ‘key’ they will enter the data of that key.

They are created by software rather than being a hardware device.

Advantages Disadvantages
Simple to use , Easy to make mistakes
If a person is trained to type fast than inputting If a person is not trained to type fast than
data can be very efficient. inputting data can be slow.

Further type of keyboard = concept keyboard. A surface that is flat and has a grid of buttons on it.
Each button in a concept keyboard can be programmed do a specific task. An overlay can be place
over the buttons to indicate the tasks they performed.

It can be used when there is a limited amount of data that needs to be entered in a system. Example
in a fast-food restaurant.

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.

2 buttons at the top, the left button will often allow a user to click on an item, and the right one will
normally open a menu.

The scroll wheel in the centre of the 2 buttons can be used to scroll through documents and
webpages.

Older style of a mouses have a ball in the underside of it. A newer style uses an optical laser that
tracks the movement across a surface to move the pointer in the direction indeed.

There are two alternative pointing devices: a trackball and a foot mouse.

Trackball is useful when desk space is limited, the user just has to rotate the ball, it has buttons like
a standard. It allows users to move and select items on the screen and is often used in computer-
aided design especially for 3D design because it is very precise.
Trackballs have been adapted for those who have limited hand movement in the form of foot mouse.

Advantages Disadvantages
Simple to use. The user needs a flat surface next to the
computer to move the surface around in. if it is
limited it can restrict the use of a mouse.
Let the user efficiently navigate around the If the roller ball gets clogged with dirt, or the laser
screen. covered by it, this can stop a mouse working
properly.

SCANNERS

2D SCANNERS

They can be used to scan physical documents (a printed image / text document) from a flat surface.
2D scanners convert documents into a digital format that can be used on the computer.
It works by shining light into the surface of the document, it moves across the document and the
reflected light is captured onto a light-sensitive device using mirrors and lenses.
Most documents are stored as image but it can also be manipulated and stored in different formats.
A text to be edited must be converted into a text file using optical character recognition (OCR)
software. This can be not very reliable and can be prone to errors. (Often full of mistakes)

It can also be used with optical mark recognition (OMR), it notes where marks have been made on
a page. The computer records the marks’ positions and inputs. This method is widely used to
automatically mark multiple-choice question paper.
optical character recognition (OCR) = a process where text on a scanned document is recognised
and converted to digital text.

optical mark recognition (OMR) = a process where scanned marks on a page are automatically
converted to inputs.

2 types of 2D scanner: flatbed scanner and a handheld scanner.

Flatbed scanner is the most popular, the one used at school. The image is placed on the scanner
bed.

Handheld scanner the light and sensor must be manually pushed along the image to scan it. Used
with smaller images.

Advantages Disadvantages
Flatbed scanners can produce digital copies of Scanned documents can use a lot of memory
documents that are quite high in quality. space. Especially when they are photos.
Digital copies can be edited with software such The scanned digital copy is not likely to be as
as graphics creator, photograph editors and high quality as the original.
word process.
A digital copy of a scanned document could If the quality of the original document is not
be attached to an email or included in very good then the quality of the scanned
another digital document image is likely to be even worse
3D SCANNERS

A three-dimensional scanner is used to produce a 3-D model rather than a 2-D email. It scans a 3D
object using a laser or a light source. It will measure and input the geometry of the object into a
computer system and create a model of it.

They are now used as a security measure in airports where bodies are scanned to understand if
people are carrying any hidden goods or weapons.

Biometric devices also make use of scanners. They are devices that recognise that human physical
characteristics. For example, the retina the fingerprint or the face. Biometric data can be used to
allow users to enter a country (fingerprint is in the passport).

BARCODES

Barcodes are represented by black vertical bars with the spaces, to read barcodes, is used a barcode
reader which is an input device with software that converts data that is pre-coded into a barcode.
They provide a fast and reliable method of entering data.
When a barcode is scanned, it is illuminated with a red light called illuminator, a sensor inside the
reading device detects the light reflected from the barcode. The signal received is an analogue signal
and the sensor converts it into a digital signal which it is then decoded by a decoder.

Barcodes are used in supermarkets.

Advantages Disadvantages
Very efficient method of entering a product’s If the barcode is damaged it may not scan
details to find out its price. properly

Used to help keep a record of stock levels for a If the barcode the data has not been recorded in
product. the computer system, the barcode scanner will
not be able to find it.

QR CODES

Quick response code.

QR codes are made up of lots of black and white squares which are called modules. It is larger
squares in the three of its corners to tell where the edges are.

Where the coats are two dimensional and the store data both horizontally and vertically. A barcode
can store normally up to 30 numbers while a QR codes normally store about 7000.

To read a QR code we need a QR code reader, which can be a simple imaging device. We are going
to be directed to our website or a message could be displayed.

QR codes are very clear as they have an error connection method build into them.

They can be placed in an advert, in business cards or in museums, wildlife and nature trails.

Advantages Disadvantages
Very efficient method of storing information and Not yet very common, people might not know
linking to it- what they are for.
 Can be store a variety of information. People need the ability to read them. A
smartphone

Even if some areas are missing or covered the

DIGITAL CAMERA

Digital camera encodes digital images and videos and stores them for viewing and later use.

The images are stored in a built-in memory or on an SD card and can be displayed on a screen.
Many mobile phones now have a digital camera built into them.

Digital cameras capture an image by recording the image via a sensor called a charge-coupled
device (CCD). The recorded image is then stored on the memory available and can be viewed on a
screen. This file can be uploaded to a computer.

The large the number of pixels, the higher is the quality of the image. Pixels = picture elements.

Advantages Disadvantages
Images of can be immediately seen on a If a digital camera has a very small number of
screen. pixels, the quality may be low.

A backup copy can be made on any digital Are user may accidentally share images that
images taken. they didn’t want to share.
Images can easily be shared as they are If a user has a lot of images, they may require
electronic copy. additional storage space

Any images can be easily edited as it is an

TOUCH SCREEN

Attached screen is an interactive device that combines a liquid crystal display with a touch of
sensitivity sensor.
The screen determines which part of the screen has been touched and translates the input into an
action. More complex touch screens can recognise gestures such as a swipes or pivots.
A capacitive touch screen uses the natural electric signals that we have in our bodies to detect when
we are touching the screen. It will not be able to detect signals through a glove.

A resistive touch screen has multiple layers with space in between. When slightly pressure is applied
to the screen the layers touch and the device recognises that we are touching the screen.

Touch screens can be quite imprecise. I finger touches the screen over a large area making it very
difficult to pinpoint a particular spot on the screen.

Advantages Disadvantages
Very simple to use Can be quite imprecise.

Save space as they combine a screen and an Inputs might not be possible when the screen
input device in one. is damaged.
INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD

It acts as a virtual whiteboard and works in a similar manner to a touch screen.

The computer’s visual display is projected onto the board. the user touches the board with a special
pen or the finger. A sensor determines which part of the board has been touched and translate the
touch into an action.

Software allows handwriting recognition, PC control and the text input.

Interactive whiteboards can be used in education, sport, or business.

Advantages Disadvantages
Quite versatile. Must be a correctly calibrated before you use
it, otherwise a user may touch the board in one
place and the touch isn’t registered
Offer a larger screen. Can be quite imprecise.

MICROPHONES
Microphone is an analogue input device that records sounds. The analogue sound wave must be
converted into a digital format before the computer can process it.

The operation is performed using an analogue to digital converter (ADC).

The computer can save the sound in a file for later use, but it can also be transmitted to another
computer.
The input from a microphone can be used for voice recognition:

Speech-to-text software allows the user to speak words which the computer records her and
converts it to text her in a document.

In-game speech allows players to communicate with each other.

Speech inputs are used to control video games or consoles and smart televisions.

Advantages Disadvantages
Microphones allowed the use of speech Sound might not be accurately recorded
recognition systems

Disabled users with hand and finger Speech recognition systems have to be trained
impairment can use a microphone to input the before they can be used properly.
commands to a computer