Keyboards, Mice and Other Input Devices

COMP1260 > Hardware

Introduction An Input device is a hardware device that sends entered data (text, images, and sounds) and instructions (user responses and commands) into the computer. The most common input devices are the keyboard and mouse. There are many different classifications of input devices.

...by students What input devices are used?

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Keyboards

A keyboard is used to type documents, take keystroke shortcuts, and perform a variety of other functions. Most keyboards include typing, numeric, function, and control keys.

Typing keys include the letters of the alphabet laid out in some pattern. QWERTY is the most layout. It gets its name from the first six letters of the top-left row of the typing keys. This layout was originally designed for typewriters to slow typists and prevent the type-writer keys from jamming.

The numeric keypad allows you to enter numbers quickly.

Function keys, also referred to as the “F” keys, act as shortcut keys to perform special functions. For example, the F1 key is usually universal for help in application software.

The control key is used in combination with other keys to perform shortcuts and special tasks. For example, holding down the Ctrl-key while pressing the S-key saves a document.

Pointing Devices

Pointing Devices are input interfaces that allow a user to input spatial data into a computer. This could be by rolling a ball, touching a surface, or moving a stick. The most popular example is the mouse.

A mouse is a small device that is held by the user to control the movement of the cursor on the display screen. Its name is derived from its shape and connecting wire, which looks like a mouse. Most mice have a minimum of two buttons and a scroll wheel for scrolling through long documents or web pages. There are many types of mice, the two most popular are mechanical and optical mice.

A mechanical mouse is a type of computer mouse that contains a metal or rubber ball on its under side. When the ball is rolled in any direction, sensors inside the mouse detect this motion and move the on-screen mouse pointer in the same direction.

An optical mouse uses a small light-emitting diode (LED) that bounces light off any surface onto a sensor. This type of mouse has several benefits over the ordinary mechanical mouse. It has no moving parts, increased tracking resolution, and dirt cannot get inside.

Mice can connect to the computer through USB, PS/2 or serial port. Wireless mice use infrared or radio frequency (Bluetooth) to connect with the computer.

• A touchpad is a small, flat surface that you slide your finger over using the same movements as a mouse. A tap on the pad's surface is equivalent to a click of the mouse.

• A pointing stick is a device that looks like a pencil eraser between the G, H and B keys, that is to be moved with the forefinger. This is popular on IBM laptops.

• A touchscreen is a display that detects the presence and location of a touch by finger or a stylus within the display area.

Imaging and Video Input Devices

Imaging and video input devices are input devices used to digitize images or video from the outside world into the computer. The information can be stored in a multitude of formats depending on the user's requirement.

• A scanner is a device that scans images and documents into digital or online format to be viewed on a computer. They may then be edited using applicable software.

• A web cam is a video capturing device that works by taking series of digital images. Today, web cams usually come built-in on laptops.

• A fingerprint scanner compares stored fingerprint pictures to the one presently being scanned. If it matches, it lets the user in. These distinctive prints are being used instead of, or in addition, to a password.

• A graphics tablet is a flat surface on which the user may draw images or write text with the provided stylus. All input is displayed on the monitor. This device is common for capturing handwritten signatures.

Audio Input Devices

Audio input devices are to capture sound and digitalize it so it may be stored on the computer.

• A microphone is a device that records voice and sounds and places them on the computer in some digital format, like a wav file. All web cams have built-in microphones.

Composite devices

Composite devices have a combination of buttons and pointing devices on a single device. Many gaming devices like gaming controllers, joysticks, and steering wheels are classified as composite devices.