INPUT DEVICES

THEY ARE DEVICES THAT FEED THE COMPUTER WITH DATA.

KEYBOARD

• A computer keyboard is an input device used to enter

characters and functions into a computer system by
pressing keys, acting as the primary tool for text input
Types of Keyboards:

QWERTY: The most common layout, designed to reduce jamming on early typewriters.

AZERTY: Similar to QWERTY, but used in French-speaking regions with some key differences.

Dvorak: An alternative layout designed for efficiency, with vowels and frequently used letters in the home
row.

QWERTZ: A German keyboard layout, similar to QWERTY but with some key differences.

Multimedia Keyboards: Include additional keys for controlling audio playback, starting applications, and
other functions.
Magic Keyboard: Apple’s special branded hardware, Magic Keyboards, work best with Mac computers.
Types of Keys:
Typing Keys: These include letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols, similar to a typewriter.
Control Keys: These keys, like Shift, Ctrl, and Alt, modify the function of other keys.
Function Keys: F1 through F12, are used for specific functions defined by the operating system or
application.
Navigation Keys: Arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, and Insert, are used for cursor movement
and document navigation.
Numeric Keypad: A separate set of keys for entering numbers and performing calculations.
Special Keys: Enter, Spacebar, Backspace, Delete, Tab, Caps Lock, Esc, Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and
Pause Break.
MOUSE

• A computer mouse is a pointing device used to interact with

a computer’s graphical user interface (GUI), with various
types and functions catering to different needs, including
gaming, ergonomics, and portability.
Types of Mice:

Wired Mouse:Connects to the computer via a cable, offering reliable and fast response times.

Wireless Mouse: Connects to the computer wirelessly, typically via Bluetooth or a USB receiver, providing more freedom
of movement.

Optical Mouse:Uses a light-emitting diode (LED) or laser to track movement, replacing the traditional mechanical ball.

Laser Mouse:Employs a laser diode to illuminate the surface, allowing for higher sensitivity and smoother tracking.

Gaming Mouse:Designed for gamers, often featuring extra buttons, higher DPI (dots per inch) sensitivity, and ergonomic
designs.

Ergonomic Mouse:Designed to promote comfort and reduce strain during long periods of use, often with unique shapes
and button placements.

Trackball Mouse:Features a ball on top of the mouse that the user rotates to move the cursor, keeping the mouse
stationary.

Functions of mouse
Cursor Control: Moves the cursor/pointer on the screen, allowing users to navigate and select items.

Clicking: Clicking buttons (left, right, middle) performs actions like selecting, opening, and dragging items.

Scrolling: Using the scroll wheel to navigate through documents, web pages, and other content.

Dragging and Dropping: Holding down a mouse button while moving the cursor to move items from one location to
another.

Context Menu: Right-clicking to access context-specific menus.

TOUCHSCREEN

• Touchscreens are interactive displays that allow users to

control devices by touching the screen, and they come in
various types like resistive, capacitive (including projected
capacitive), and infrared, each with different functionalities
and advantages.
Types of Touchscreens:
Resistive Touchscreens:: These screens consist of multiple electrically resistive layers with
patterned electrodes, and when pressure is applied, the layers make contact, which is detected
as a touch Relatively cheap to produce and cost-efficient. Lack of input precision on larger
screens and overall screen clarity. Examples Often used in older ATMs, point-of-sale systems, and
some industrial applications.
Capacitive Touchscreens:These screens use the electrical properties of the human body to detect
touch input, with a layer that holds electrical charges. When the screen is touched, a small
charge is diverted to the contact point, which sensors detect.
Types:
Surface Capacitive: A protective barrier defends the screen from scratches and weakening,
maintaining functionality in demanding environments.
Projected Capacitive (PCAP): Known for high accuracy, sensitivity, and durability, supporting
multi-touch gestures.
Advantages: High sensitivity, clarity, and multi-touch capability.
Disadvantages: Can be more expensive than resistive touchscreens.
Examples: Smartphones, tablets, and many modern touch-enabled devices.
WEBCAM

• A webcam is a digital camera connected to a computer that

captures video and audio, enabling real-time video
transmission over the internet for purposes like video
conferencing, streaming, and online meetings.
Types of webcam

Built-in Webcams:Integrated into devices like laptops and monitors.

External Webcams:Connected via USB or other interfaces, offering more flexibility and potentially higher
quality.

PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) Webcams:Allow remote control of camera movement and zoom, useful for larger groups
or dynamic scenes.

AI-powered Webcams:Feature advanced AI capabilities like auto-framing and tracking for smoother video
conferencing and streaming.

Streaming-focused Webcams:Designed for high-quality video and audio, with features like 1080p resolution,
smooth frame rates, and low-light performance.

ConferenceCam:A portable video conferencing solution that combines a camera, speakerphone, and
microphone

Functions of Webcams:

Video Conferencing: Enables real-time video communication for meetings, calls, and collaborations.

Live Streaming: Allows users to broadcast live video content to online platforms.

Online Meetings: Facilitates virtual interactions and presentations.

Recording Videos: Captures and saves video footage for various purposes.

Security: Can be used for surveillance and monitoring.

Social Media: Enables users to share videos and photos on social platforms.
OUTPUT DEVICES
MONITOR
• A computer monitor is an output device that displays
information from a computer in a visual format, such as
text, images, and videos. It’s a crucial component for
interacting with and viewing the output of a computer.
Types of Monitors and Their Functions:

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Monitors: These older monitors use a cathode ray tube to create
images on a fluorescent screen by firing electrons at the screen’s phosphors.

Functions: Primarily used in early TVs and computer monitors, they are now largely obsolete
due to their bulkiness, energy consumption, and the availability of more advanced
technologies.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Monitors: LCD monitors use liquid crystals that change shape
when an electric current passes through them, allowing for the display of images.

Functions: LCDs are widely used for their energy efficiency, portability, and relatively low cost.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) Monitors: LED monitors are a form of LCD technology, but use LEDs
for backlighting, providing brighter and more energy-efficient displays.

Functions: LEDs offer improved image quality and energy efficiency compared to older LCD
monitors with fluorescent backlights.

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) Monitors: Each pixel in an OLED monitor emits its own
light, resulting in true black levels and excellent contrast ratios.

Functions: OLED monitors excel in applications demanding exceptional image quality, such as
professional photo and video editing, and high-end gaming.
SPEAKER

• A computer speaker is an output gear that connects to a

computer to produce sound resultant. We can listen to the
sound as an outcome and more.
Types of Speakers:
Woofers: Designed for low-frequency sounds (bass).

Tweeters: Designed for high-frequency sounds (treble).

Midrange Devices: Designed to reproduce sounds in the 300 Hz to 50000 Hz frequency range.

Subwoofers: Specialized woofers designed to reproduce deep bass frequencies.

Bookshelf Speakers: Compact speakers designed to sit on shelves, desks, or stands, ideal for smaller spaces.

Ceiling Speakers: Designed for mounting in ceilings, providing discreet and even sound distribution.

Soundbars: Slim, wide speaker units designed for improved audio for TVs.

Outdoor Speakers: Weatherproof speakers designed for use in outdoor environments.

Satellite Speakers: Small speakers, often used in surround sound systems, typically paired with a subwoofer.

Powered Speakers: Speakers with built-in amplifiers.

Electrostatic Speakers: Use a thin membrane suspended in an electrostatic field to produce sound.

Column Speakers: Consist of multiple speaker units arranged vertically in a column-like enclosure, often used for
commercial installations.

Smart Speakers: Wireless audio playback devices with additional features like voice control and smart home integration.

Portable Bluetooth Speakers: Compact, wireless speakers for on-the-go music playback.
Bass Speakers: Optimized to enhance low-frequency sounds, delivering deeper and more powerful bass.
PRINTER

• Printers are devices that output text and images onto

physical media.
Types of printers
Impact printer: An impact printer is a printing device that creates an image by physically striking
a ribbon against the paper, like a typewriter, whereas non-impact printers use methods like laser
or ink to create an image without physical contact.
How they work:
• Impact printers use a mechanism that physically presses a printing element (like a print
hammer, wheel, or chain) against an inked ribbon, which then transfers the ink to the paper.
Examples are: Dot matrix printers, drum printers, etc
• Non-impact printers: Non-impact printers create images without physically striking the paper,
using methods like lasers, ink jets, or heat, and include examples like laser, inkjet, and thermal
printers.
• How they work:
Instead of using a print head or print hammer to strike against a print medium, non-impact
printers use techniques like heat, laser beams, pressure, or electric charges to create prinwor
• 3D printers: 3D printers use CAD to create 3D objects from a variety of materials, like molten
plastic or powders.