Topic 2

Input devices
 Topic 2

Input devices
• Are used to get raw data into the
computer so that it can be processed
• Include common input devices such as
keyboard, mouse, joystick, etc.
• Include specialist input devices such as bar
code reader, magnetic stripe reader, etc.
 Topic 2

Input devices: Keyboards

• Most popular method for
entering text
• Slow
• Prone to human error
• Need typing skills
• Can lead to repetitive
strain injury (RSI)
• Can be specialist
(e.g., Braille keyboard)
 Topic 2

Input devices: Numeric keypad

• Used to enter just
numeric data
• Used in ATMs to enter
PINs and amounts
• Used in chip and PIN
machines
 Topic 2

Pointing devices
Pointing devices include:
• Mouse
• Touchpad
• Trackerball
 Topic 2

Joysticks
• Used mainly for
computer games
• Stick moves on-screen
like a mouse
• Buttons are used to
make selections
 Topic 2

Microphones
• Used to enter
voice, sounds,
live music,
etc.
 Topic 2

Remote controls
• Issue instructions to enable
devices to be controlled
• Sometimes allow
characters to be typed
 Topic 2

Web cams
• Digital cameras that can
take both still and video
images
• Used for simple
videoconferencing
• Picture quality can be
poor
 Topic 2

Touch screens
• User touches buttons and
icons on the screen to
make selections
• Used in many mobile
devices such as phones,
MP3 players, tablet
computers
 Topic 2

Digital cameras
• Many can take both still
and video images
• Storage is a memory card
• Many mobile phones and
computers can take
video and still images
 Topic 2

Scanners
• Used to scan in old
photographs
• Can digitize hard copy
• Can use with optical
character recognition
software to input text
 Topic 2

More specialized input devices

• Bar code readers – used for
recording goods in supermarkets,
tracking library books, luggage
handling in airports, etc.
• Chip and pin readers – used in
stores and restaurants, etc., to
read information off credit/debit
cards
• Magnetic stripe readers – used to
read credit card details (where
there is no chip and PIN), loyalty
card details, etc.
 Topic 2

Bar code readers

• A code is stored as a series of
light and dark bars
• Uses a scanner to read the bars
• Used on items in stores, parcels,
luggage handling at airports, etc.
• Fast to read
• Accurate
• Can be read at a distance
 Topic 2

Magnetic stripe reader

• Read data stored on magnetic
stripes by swiping
• Used for reading credit card
data where a chip and PIN
reader is not available
• Used for pre-payment cards
 Topic 2

Chip and PIN

• Used to capture
credit/debit card details
• Details are encrypted on
a chip
• User has to enter a PIN
that only they know
• The PIN is checked and
proves the user is
authentic
 Topic 2

Optical character reader

• Able to read typed or
handwritten text
• Image of text is scanned
or input by writing on a
tablet computer
• Special recognition
software recognizes
individual characters
• Text can then be used
with other software
 Topic 2

Optical mark recognition (OMR)

• Automatically reads marks
made on a form
• Forms are read/scanned at
high speed
• Readers are relatively cheap
• Can be high reject rate owing
to people not filling in the
form correctly
• If forms are folded they
cannot be read
 Topic 2

Graphics tablets
• Are flat boards or
tablets
• Draw or write on
them using a stylus
• Ideal for inputting
hand-drawn
drawings
• Used in CAD
 Topic 2

Sensors
• Measure physical quantities
(e.g. temperature, pressure,
humidity, etc.)
• Send signals to be processed
by the computer
• Data can then be used to
control devices