Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Input Devices
- Keyboard: most common
and widely used.
- Keys: Alphabet keys,
Function/ F keys (F3),
Numeric keys, Arrow keys
and Command keys
(insert,delete)
- 'QWERTY'
- Using for too long can lead
to health problems -
repetitive strain injury (RSI)
- Ergonomic keyboard has
been created - hands in
more natural position
- A piece of hardware used to
enter data into a computer
- Manual input
devices
- Automatic input
devices
- Mouse: 'pointing device' enables you to
control what happens (pointing, clicking,
selecting items).
- Two buttons and central wheel (scroll).
- Left button: choose
menu item
- Right button: brings up
list of relevant menu items
- Advantages:
- Ideal for use with
desktop computers
- Supplied as part of new
computer system
- Most familiar with
them - little training
- Works well in conjunction
with keyboard for data entry
- Disadvantages:
- Need flat space close
to computer
- Rollers can become
clogged with grease
- Overuse can lead to RSI
- Touchpad: input device usually found on a
laptop. Used in place of a mouse.
- Advantages:
- Useful for laptops when using
a mouse isn't practical
- Pads position
is fixed
- Very short finger movements
needed to move cursor
- Disadvantages:
- Takes practice and skill to
control position of cursor
- Gloves cannot
be worn
- Moist and sweaty fingers
can disrupt signals picked
up the the sensors
- Joystick: originally used by pilots -> computer
games (more realistic). Move in many directions.
Controls machines such as cranes, trucks
- Advantages:
- Better gaming experience
- Disadvantages:
- Some people may find them
more difficult to control
- Not particularly robust,
can break easily
- Concept keyboard: contains grid of buttons that
can be programmed to do whatever you want (can
use symbols). Usually for when fast input is
needed i.e. Fast food restaurant.
- Advantages:
- Much faster for making
non-text selections (menu)
- Waterproof - useful when
risk of dirt and splashes
- Disadvantages:
- Poor for text/numeric input. (some do have
numeric keypad to show amount sold)
- Limited to options
shown on keyboard
- Touchscreen: only device that works as both an
input and output device. View options on screen
(output) then use your finger to touch option (input).
- Advantages:
- Easy to use, not
much training
- No extra peripherals i.e
mouse are needed
- Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for inputting
large amount of data
- Not robust, can soon
become faulty
- Scanner: convert images/ text on paper into digital format. Shines
beam of light then sensor detects colour that is reflected back and
builds up image this way. (Flatbed and Handheld)
- Advantages:
- Accurate and
reasonably high
quality
- Images can be enhanced
once digitalised
- Disadvantages:
- Take up a lot of
memory space
- Lose some quality
- Graphics tablet: Designer can produce more
accurate drawings than they would with a mouse.
Sensitive tip to have heavier or lighter lines
- Disadvantages:
- More expensive
than mouse
- Not suitable for general
selection work
- Advantages:
- Natural to draw with
pen than mouse
- Great level of accuracy
can be achieved
- Magnetic Ink Character Recognition: Banks process
cheques 300 per minute, 100% accuracy this way.
- Advantages:
- Quick and very accurate
- Disadvantages:
- Reader and Ink are very expensive
- Optical Mark Reader: detect pencil by reflecting light
(less light where the mark is). Sends results to
computer (storage, analysis and reporting).
- Advantages:
- Fast for inputting large
amounts of data
- Much more accurate
than humans
- Disadvantages:
- May not be read
correctly
- Not suitable for text
- Optical Character Recognition: normal scanner and
specialist software changes the letters into a form that
can be edited/ processed by a word processor
- Advantages:
- Cheaper than paying
someone manually
- Much faster
- Disadvantages:
- Not 100% accurate
- Documents need to
be checked over
- Magnetic strip reader: back of credit cards, loyalty cards..
It can hold personal details (60 characters). Swiped through
magnetic strip reader machine - info fed top computer
- Advantages:
- Simple to use
- Cheap to produce
- Disadvantages:
- Limited storage capacity
- Data destroyed by strong magnetic fields
- Barcode Reader: series of vertical
bars - give information on country of
manufacture, name of manufacturer,
product code. Automatic input device
- Advantage:
- Any price change only needs to be made to
the database and not the packaging
- Biometric Devices: Fingerprint and retinal
identification, facial recognition. UK passport -
microchip. But also ATMs, registration.