function keys, control keys, arrow keys, Caps Lock key etc.
data can be typed very quickly
disadvantage : easy
to make mistakes
Concept keyboard
Faster but limited
found in shops
and restaurants
symbol/picture
represent a piece of
data
Braille
system of sequences of dots
that can be read by touch
for visually impared people
Allows to enter text in Braille
and also read text
Touch sensitive screen
used in info centers or ATM machines, smartphones
easy to use
more expensive
can be innacurate
Both: Input and Output
Pointing devices
mouse
ball under mouse moves -
cursor moves
Annotations:
Sensors measure the movement of the ball in 2 directions and computer works out the direcion and distance the mouse has travelled
Ball can get dirty and stuck
if not cleaned regularly
used to select and move around items displayed on screen
Easier to select items by slicking icons
Easier to move around than using arrow keys
tracker ball
not very accurate and quick
used by people with unsteady hands
rolls ball to control cursor movement
like an 'upside down' mouse - ball on top
touch pad
used instead of mouse on laptops
movement of fingers on touchpad
mirrored by cursor on screen
hard to use if you are used to a mouse
takes up less space
Joystick
used for games
joystick is fixed to the base
allow movement of an object around
a screen in any direction
have special buttons e.g 'fire' or
'jump'
Scanners
used to transfer 2D images into a file on a computer
picture scanned and converted into digital data
Annotations:
Scanner shines light onto paper document and measures amount of light reflected back.
can save time of retyping large amounts of text
files can be manipulaed and
edited easily and quickly
large files can take up a lot of memory
Flat bed
useful for flat documents e.g page of a book
Hand held
can be moved around oddly
shaped objects or long documents
Digital cameras
DPI (dots per inch) is called resolution
pictures stored on smart cards and can
be transferred directly onto computer
images can be edited on computer, be used for documents/presentations etc.
can be sent as an attachment via email
Advantages: no expensive developing costs,
no film needed
Disadvantages: more expensive than ordinary cameras;
high-resolution images use lots of memory and battery power
Microphones
detects sound and inputs it into computer
converts it into digital format
can add spoken messages or music with presentations or emails
1.Person speaks into microphone.
2.Speech recognition software
converts what is said into text
people with disabilities can benefit from use of microphone
Disadvantages: 1) Should be no background noise
2) sound recorded using microphone is often not very good
Magnetic stripe reader
Dark stripe at the back of a plastic card contains data
e.g Bank card contains sort code and account number
data can be read by ATMs, cash registers and banks
Data is read when card is swiped through a magnetic stripe reader
Annotations:
Sends information to computer bank. Checks if there is sufficient amount available for transaction. If no - card payment is declined. If yes - payment goes through. Money is transferred from customer's bank account onto shop's account.
Advantages: 1) data is not visible to people
2) card cheap to produce 3) quick to read,
coneinient to pay for goods
Disadvantage: 1) magnetic stripe might get damaged
2) card can be stolen
Graphic pads
like a pen and paper
made of a touch-sensitive membrane and a stylus
Translates the movement into digital
signal which is sent to a computer
can be used by
designers or illustrators
to create accurate
detailed drawings
MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Inerface
used to edit and develop music by mixing with other
sounds which are input from microphone
sound can be altered: speed up/ slowed down
Knowledge of software and music required
Variety of musical instruments used: guitar, keyboard, drums etc.
send messages via MIDI and get converted to digital data
can be sent back to instrument to reproduce signal
Barcode reader
Hand held device with a laser beam which can scan a barcode
the reflected light is transferred into digital data that is
interpreted by the computer to identify the product
Product is found in the database and price is displayed
advantage: price changes only need to be
made to a database not every single product