2.1.

INPUT DEVICES
Input devices are hardware devices that allow data to be input into a computer.

1. KEYBOARD
Keyboards are used to input data into application software. E.g. word processed documents,
text into online forms and typing commands to the computer (Ctrl+P).

Two types of keyboard layouts

 QWERTY- layout
 Ergonomic- reduces health related problems

Advantages
 Enables fast entry of new text into a document.
 Well tried technology and well known method of entry.
 Most people find them easy to use.
 Easy to do verification check as data is entered, as it appears on the screen
simultaneously.

Disadvantages
 Users with limited arm/wrist use can find keyboards hard to use.
 Entering data is slow when compared to direct data entry (e.g. Optical mark
recognition).
 They use up desk space as they are quite large.

Concept keyboard
Uses icons or phrases instead of standard letters.
A single key represents an item on the keyboard.

Uses
Used in: Fast food restaurants, offices and shops

Advantages
 Enables fast data entry (there is no need to type in whole commands)
 Waterproof, useful in a restaurant environment
 They are tamperproof, preventing people from keying in information (which could
corrupt the system) .

2. NUMERIC KEYPADS
A numeric keypad is used to enter numbers only.
Although some have function key to allow input of alphabetical characters .

Uses
 Used in Automatic teller machines (ATMs), where customers can key in their
personal identification number (PIN), or an amount of money
 Used to key in phone numbers into telephones

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  Electronic point of sale (EPOS) terminals have numeric keypads in case the barcode
reader fails
 Used in Chip and PIN devices to key in PIN, or amount of money
 Used to enable fast entry of numeric data into a spread sheet

Advantages
 Numeric keypads are faster than standard keyboards for entry of numeric data .
 Since many are small devices (e.g. mobile phones), they are easy to carry around.

Disadvantages
 Can be difficult to use due to the very small keys.
 Difficult to use for entering text.
 Sometimes the order of the numbers isn’t very intuitive.

3. POINTING DEVICE
Pointing devices are needed to make selections from a graphical user interface.

a. Mouse –the cursor moves in response to the movement of the mouse. The left mouse
button is used to make selections while the right button is used to display a drop-down
menu. A scroll button is used to help move quickly through a long document.

Uses
 Used for opening, closing and minimizing software
 Used for grouping, moving and deleting files
 Useful when editing images (e.g. controlling the size and position of the image)
 Used for controlling the position of a pointer on the screen to allow:
o Selection from a menu
o Selecting an icon
o Scrolling up/down and right/left

Advantages

 Faster to select an option by a mouse than a keyboard

 Enables rapid navigation through applications and the internet
 Mice are small and don’t take much area

Disadvantages
 People with restricted hand/wrist movement can find it hard to operate a mouse
 Easily damaged and can easily be clogged up with dirt
 They are hard to use if there is no flat surface available

b. Touchpad
Touchpads are used in many laptop computers as a pointing device.
The pointer is controlled by the user moving their finger on the touchpad.

Uses

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  Used for opening, closing and minimising software
 Used for grouping, moving and deleting files
 Useful when editing images (e.g. controlling the size and position of the image)
 Used for controlling the position of a pointer on the screen to allow:
o Selection from a menu
o Selecting an icon

Advantages
 Faster to select an option by a touchpad than a keyboard.
 Enables rapid navigation through applications and the internet.
 Since the touchpad is integrated into the laptop computer, there is no separate mouse,
aiding portability.
 They can be used when no flat surfaces are available.

Disadvantage
 People with limited hand/wrist movement can find touchpads hard to use.
 It can be more difficult to control the pointer when compared to a mouse.
 They are more difficult when doing operations such as ‘drag and drop’.

c. Trackerball
Tracker balls are similar to a mouse except that it has a ball on the top of the device.
Users control the pointer on the screen by rotating the ball

Uses
 Have the same pointing/cursor control capability as a mouse.
 Used in applications where the user has a disability (RSI).
 Used in a control room environment, where it is faster than a mouse to navigate
through process screens and more robust than a mouse.

Advantages
 They allow faster navigation compared to a mouse.
 People with limited hand/wrist movement find easier to use than a mouse.
 The pointer can be positioned more accurately on the screen than with a mouse.
 They take less desk space than mice since they are stationary.

Disadvantages
 Tracker balls are not supplied with the computer as standard, so they are more
expensive.
 User may need training since they are not standard equipment.

4. REMOTE CONTROLS
A remote control is used to control the operation of other devices remotely by using infra-red
signals.

Uses

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 In home entertainment devices such as Televisions, DVD player/recorder and satellite
system
 Used to control multimedia systems.
 Used in industrial applications to remotely control processes, stop and start
machinery.

Advantages
 Enable devices to be operated from any distance, which is useful for people with
disabilities
 Some chemical processes are hazardous, so it is safer to operate equipment from a
distance.

Disadvantages
 People with limited hand/wrist movement can find them hard to use.
 The signal between the control and the device can be easily blocked.
 Needs batteries to operate and they need regular replacement.

5. JOYSTICK
Buttons are used to make selections.
Uses
 Video/computer games are often controlled by joysticks
 They are used in simulators to mimic actual controls

Advantages
 Easier to navigate round a screen compared to a keyboard
 They can be used by disabled people because they can be operated by foot,mouth,etc.

Disadvantages
 More difficult to control the on-screen pointer with a joystick than with other devices
such as mice
 You have to purchase them separately from a computer system.

6. TOUCHSCREENS
Touch screens are displays that can detect the presence and location of a touch to the screen.
User can choose an option by simply touching a button/icon on the screen .
he selection is automatically made without the need for any pointing device.

Use
 Used for service tills e.g. petrol stations
 Used where selections are made on a screen e.g. ATMs, public information systems,
airports and railway stations
 Used in PDA’s
 Used in Interactive white boards
 Used in computer based training (CBT)

Advantages

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  Enable faster entry of options than a keyboard or a mouse
 Very easy to choose options
 User friendly method for inputting data
 They are tamperproof, preventing people from keying in information (which could
corrupt the system)
 They are ideal where space is limited such as on a smartphone

Disadvantages
 There is a limited number of options available.
 Using touch screens often can lead to health problems e.g. (straining of arm muscles
and RSI).
 The screen can get very dirty with constant touching.
 They cost more than input devices such as keyboard.

7. SCANNERS
Scanners can be used to enter information on hardcopy.

Uses
 Used to scan in documents and convert them into a format for use in various software
packages
 Old and valuable documents and books can be scanned, protecting the original copies
from damage
 Non-digital photographs can be scanned for storing on a computer

Advantages
 Images can be stored for editing at a later date
 Scanners are much faster and more accurate than typing in documents again
 It is possible to recover damaged documents and photographs by scanning them and
then using appropriate software to produce an acceptable copy

Disadvantages
 The quality can be limited depending on how good the scanner resolution is
 They take up a lot of space
 It can take long time to digitize all the pages in a long document

8. DIGITAL CAMERAS
Digital cameras store the digital photographs on an internal memory card and display the
picture on a screen.
Pixels- dots making up a digital image.
Resolution-number of pixels used on an image.

Uses
 Digital cameras can produce photographs for direct transfer to a computer or to print
out
 Digital cameras allow short video clips to be produced
 Photographs can be uploaded directly into application software such as word
processor

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Advantages
 Easier to produce better quality photographs than with a tradition camera
 Easier and faster to upload photographs to a computer
 There is no need to develop film and print out photographs (saves paper and no longer
needs the chemicals to produce photographs from films)
 Easy to delete an image from the memory if it’s not satisfactory
 the memory card can store several hundred photographs
 Can use software to improve photos.

Disadvantages
 The camera user needs to be computer literate to use the camera properly
 There is some artistry lost since clever software corrects errors in the photographs
 The resolution is not yet as good as traditional cameras
 Images often need to be compressed to reduce the amount of memory used
 It is possible to fill up computer memory very quickly with several photos of the same
subject(in order to find the perfect snap shot)

9. MICROPHONES
Are input devices that allow sound signals to be converted into data, so that it can be stored
and processed by the computer.

Uses
 Microphones are used to input speech/sounds to be used in various applications
 They are used in voice recognition software- for conversion of speech into text, and
recognition of commands

Advantages
 They are relatively inexpensive.
 Faster to read in text than to type it using a keyboard
 Possible to manipulate sound in real time using special software
 Can improve safety for car phones

Disadvantage
 Sound files can use up a lot of computer memory
 Voice recognition software isn’t as accurate as typing in manually
 Background noises can cause problems with voice recognition systems.

10. SENSORS
A sensor is a device that converts a real-world property (e.g. temperature) into data that a
computer can process. Sensors are devices that measure physical quantities.

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Examples of sensors and the properties they detect are...

Sensor What it Detects Applications

Temperature To monitor temperature Automatic washing machines,
central heating systems,
automatic green houses, ovens
Light Used to measure light intensity Automatic doors, street
lighting control , Burglar alarm
systems, automatic
greenhouses
Pressure Pressure (e.g. someone standing on Burglar alarm systems ,
it) robotics, environmental
monitoring , Automatic
washing machines

Humidity/Moistur Used to measure the amount of Automatic greenhouses,

e moisture in the air or soil. environmental monitoring,
factories where moisture levels
are crucial
Water-Level Used in washing machine to washing machine
measure water level
Proximity Used when parking cars to judge Cars
distance.
Movement Detects movement which could alarms
trigger an alarm

Advantages
 Readings by sensors are more accurate than taken by humans
 Readings are continuous, there is no break in monitoring
 Because it is a continuous process any necessary action or warning will be initiated
immediately
 The system can be automatic, removing the need for human intervention, this is
particularly important if the process is hazardous

Disadvantages
 Purchase cost.
 Faulty sensors can give spurious results.
 Dirt and grease may affect performance.

11. GRAPHICS TABLET

A graphic tablet is used with a stylus to produce freehand drawings
Uses
 Graphics tablets are used to produce drawings, computer graphics
 In countries where characters are complex e.g. japan they are used as a form of input
 They are used in computer aided design (CAD) work

Advantages
 It is possible to modify drawings before they are input
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  They offer an accurate method of drawing

Disadvantages
 They are more expensive than other pointing devices
 Requires more desk space

12. VIDEO CAMERA

Used to record video footage.
Advantages
 Can capture both still and moving images
 Easy to transfer video to the computer
 Can store many images/videos for editing later

Disadvantages
 Can erode privacy as CCTV cameras are present in many public places.
 It is very difficult to produce a good video without training.
 Can be expensive to buy.
 The picture quality is determined by the number of pixels used and this may be low.

13. WEB CAM

Are digital cameras that can take both still and video images which can be then transferred to
other computers.

Uses
 While chatting online webcams can be used to have conversations
 Used to enable video conferencing to take place
 Allow people to view the traffic in local road systems

Advantages
 Can be left on constantly and activated when required
 Allow people to keep in contact with each other without the need to travel,
particularly useful for disabled or elderly people

Disadvantages
 Webcams have limited features and the picture is often of poor quality
 They need to be connected to a computer

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 m2.2. DIRECT DATA ENTRY DEVICES

Direct data entry devices are devices that read data from a source that’s provided and
transferred it directly to the computer system.

1. MAGNETIC STRIPE READER

Are used to read data found on magnetic stripes found on the back of cards.

The stripe on the cards holds information such as ; Bank account number, name of the card
holder,expiry date of membership.

Data contained on the card’s stripe is read by pulling the card through the magnetic stripe
reader.This is known as swiping.

USE

Bank Cards: Contains Account details

Security/Hotel Rooms: Allows entry to specific room.

Gift Cards (Vouchers) – amount of vouchers

Advantages

• Fast data entry compared to keyboard.You just swipe the card through the machine.
• No possibly of data entry errors as there is no typing involved.
• The stripes are not affected by water and robust if dropped.
• Data held on the card cannot be read by eye so bank details.

Disadvantages

• Stripe could become unreadable – scratched and then the data is lost.
• The cards need to be in contact with the reader in order to be used.Does not work at a
distance.
• The magnetic stripe on cards can only hold a small amount of data.
• Magnetic stripes on cards are easily duplicated/copied.

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.2.CHIP AND PIN READER

These allow people to pay for goods and services electronically at electronic funds transfer
point of sale(EFTPOS) terminals.

The chip and pin reader works by inserting a credit/debit card into a slot and then entering a
PIN(personal identification number).

USES

Used to make secure payments for goods and services at superrmarkets,restaurants,cafes and
buying petrol.

Advantages

• More secure than magnetic stripe readers as the user needs to know the correct PIN.
• Information contained on the chip is harder to copy than it is to copy magnetic
stripes.
• Chip and pin readers are portable so they can be brought to you.For example waiter in
a restaurant.
• Chip is less likely to be damaged compared to a magnetic swipe.
• Larger amount of information can be stored on the chip.
• Not affected by magnetic fields.

Disadvantages

• It is possible to forget your PIN which means you cannot make payments with your
card.
• People can look over your shoulder as you enter your pin.This makes it possible to
access your money if they stole your card.
• Hidden cameras sometimes are used to see which keys are pressed for the PIN.

3. RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION(RFID) READER

RFID reads information stored on tags (small silicon chip that can be placed on a sticker)
using radio waves.

RFID tags can be attached to objects or animals/people.

USE

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 • Track movement of animals (livestock) or people
• Stock Control: Scan stock items for quantity
• Airports:- Track Luggage to make sure nothing is lost
o -Read information from the chip in an electronic passport
• Contactless cards to make a payment

Advantages

• Can read objects from a distance.Tags can be read even without a direct line of sight.
This makes them easier to use.
• Information stored on RFID tags can be read much faster than barcodes.
• RFID tags allows read/write operations to take place.This means that one can add to
or alter information already on the tag.
• Can read biometric readings.The RFID tags can be placed within objects rather than
on their surface.

Disadvantages

• Radio symbols can be jammed or hacked.

• RFID tags and readers are more expensive than a barcode readers.
• Tags could interfere with each other.

4. MAGNETIC INK CHARACTER READER(MICR)

MICR is used to read characters printed on the cheques in a special ink .

Use

Used to process cheques in banking operations – cheque is read using a batch processing
method

ITEMS OF INFORMATION THAT ARE PRE-PRINTED ON THE CHEQUE IN

MAGNETIC INK

• Account number
• Bank/branch sort code
• Cheque number

HOW MICR IS USED TO READ THESE DETAILS FROM THE CHEQUE

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 • Magnetic Ink Character reader is used to scan details on the scan.
• The magnetic ink on the cheque passes over a magnet in the reader which
charges/magnetises the ink .
• The MICR reader then reads the magnetic signal given out by the magnetic ink
characters on the cheque.
• Each character produces a unique signal which is read and translated by the MICR
reader.

Advantages

• MICR offers great security than OCR since the oriented characters cannot be altered.
• There is no manual input, thus errors are reduced.
• If somebody writes over the magnetic ink characters it can still be read.
• Cheques can be processed quickly.

Disadvantages

• Only certain characters can be read and the number of different characters is very
limited.
• It is a more expensive method than other methods used for direct data entry.

5. OPTICAL CHARACTER READER(OCR)

OCR scans text from hardcopies and converts it into an editable form which can be used and
edited in a range of software including word processors.

USE

• Used in Self-Immigration System at Airports.

• Read text from Identity Cards
• Students scanning text from books which can be edited.

Advantages

• Much faster data entry system than manually keying in data.

• Since there is no manual data entry, the number of errors is reduced.

Disadvantages

• The system has difficulty reading handwriting.

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 • It is still not a very accurate technique.

6. OPTICAL MARK READER(OMR)

Optical mark recognition is used to read marks written in pen or pencil.

Uses

OMR devices are used to read

• Questionnaires
• Multiple choice examinations papers
• Lottery tickets
and other types of forms in the form of lines or shaded areas.
Advantages

• Extremely fast way of inputting information into a computer(around 4000 forms can
be read per hour).
• Since there is no typing, it is more accurate than keying in data.
• OMR is more accurate than OCR.

Disadvantages

• Can only read shaded areas.

• If forms have been incorrectly filled in they cannot be read properly.
• Forms can jam in the machine as they are fed through.

7.BARCODE READER

Used to read information in the form of a barcode.

Barcode hold information such as :

• Product ID number
• Manufacturer
• Country of origin
The barcode scanner reads the information stored on the barcode using a visible red light
which is reflected and translated into digital information.
USES

• Used in supermarkets and other shops where the goods are marked with a barcode

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 • Used in libraries to scan users library card and barcodes on books (in order to keep
track of books on loan).
• Used as a safety function in many companies to ensure that electrical equipment is
checked on a regular basis.

Advantages

• Faster than keying in codes, and fewer mistakes are made.

• Barcodes enable automatic stock control.
• When an item price is changed, only the central database needs to be updated, there is
no need to change the prices individually on each item.

Disadvantages

• Barcode could be swapped around on items.

• Barcode could be unreadable or missing.
• Barcode scanning is an expensive system to administer since every item in the shops
needs a barcode and every barcode needs to be entered on the system. Also there is a
need to invest in the computer technology together with staff training, which can all
be expensive

8. CONTACTLESS CARDS READERS

Contactless Cards Readers are used by customers to pay for products at thePOS without the
need to enter a PIN Number using RFID technology.

How it works
The payment terminal picks up a signal from the chip to process and complete the transaction
when the card is within a few centimetres distance.
Advantages
• Quicker Transaction meaning less time spent at POS.
• Don’t have to use PIN
• Transaction data (account details) is encrypted.
Disadvantages
• Less secure than chip and pin method.
• Anyone could use card if lost.
• It is easer for thieves to copy details of the card.

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• Only small payments can be made.

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