Name

Manual Input Devices

Keyboard

Numeric
keypad

Image

Use
s
+Keyboards are used
to input data into
applications software.
+They are also used
for typing in
commands to the
computer.

+Numeric keypads
are used in automatic
teller machines
(ATMs), where
customers can key in
their personal
identification number
(PIN), an amount of
money.
+Telephones have
numeric keypads to
allow phone numbers
to be inserted in.
+Electronic point of

Advantages

+Keyboards
enable fast entry of
text into a
document.
+They are a welltried technology
and a well-known
method of entry.
+Most people find
them easy to use.
+It appears on the
screen
simultaneously.
+Numeric keypads
are faster than
standard
keyboards.
+Since many are
small devices, they
are easy to carry
around.

Disadvantages

+Users with limited

arm can find the
keyboard hard to use.
+Entering data using a
keyboard is slow
compared to direct data
entry.
+Keyboards are fairly
large devices that use
up valuable desk space.

+They can be difficult

to use because of the
small keys.
+It is difficult to enter
text.
+Sometimes the order
of the numbers on the
keypad is not intuitive.

Mouse

sale (EPOS)
terminals have
numeric keypads in
the case barcode
reader fails to read
the barcode.
+Chip and PIN
devices have numeric
keypads for entry of
PIN and the amount
of money.
+They are used to
enable fast entry of
numeric data into a
spreadsheet.
+Mice can be used
for closing, opening
and minimizing
software.
+They can be used
for grouping, moving
and deleting files.
+Useful when editing
images.
+Mice are used for
controlling the
position of a pointer
on the screen to allow
selection from a
menu.

+It can be faster to

select an option
using a mouse
rather than
keyboards.
+Enable rapid
navigation through
applications and
the internet.
+Mice are small
and take up little
area.

+People with restricted

hand movement can
find it hard to operate a
mouse.
+Mice are easily
damaged.
+Difficult to use if
there is no flat surface.

Touchpad

Trackerball

+They can be used

for grouping, moving
and deleting files.
+Useful when editing
images.
+Touchpads are used
for controlling the
position of a pointer
on the screen to allow
selection from a
menu.

+It can be faster to

select an option
using a touchpad
rather than a
keyboard.
+Enable rapid
navigation through
applications and
the internet.
+No need a
separate mouse.
+Can be used even
no flat surface.
+They have the same +Do not need a
pointing control
fine control like
capability as a mouse. mouse does.
+They are used when +People with
the user has a
limited hand and
disability.
wrist find it easier
+They are used in a
to use than a
control room
mouse.
environment, where it +The pointer can
is faster than a mouse be positioned more
to navigate through
accurately on the
process screens and it screen than with a
is more robust than a mouse.
mouse.
+They take up less
desk space than
mice.

+It can be more

difficult to control the
pointer compared to a
mouse.
+More difficult to use
when doing certain
operations.

+Trackerballs are not

supplied with the
computer as standard,
so they more
expensive.
+User might need to
train since they are not
standard equipment.

Remote control

Joystick

+Most home
entertainment devices
such as a television,
satellite system, DVD
player, etc. have
remote controls.
+Remote controls are
also used to control
multimedia systems.
+They are used in
industrial
applications to
remotely control
processes, stop and
start machine, etc.
+Video/computer
games are often
controlled by
joysticks.
+They are used in
simulators to mimic
actual controls.

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

+People with limited

hand and wrist find it
hard to use.
+The signal between
the control and the
device can be easily
blocked.

+It is easier to
navigate round a
screen using a
joystick rather than
a keyboard.
+Control is in
three dimensions.

+It is more difficult to

control the on- screen
pointer with a joystick
than with other devices,
such as a mouse.

Touch screen

Magnetic stripe
readers

+Touch screen are

used for self-service
tills, where the user
just touches the
screen to select the
fuel grade and
payment method.
+Personal digital
assistants, mobile
phones and satellite
navigation systems at
airports.
+Interactive white
boards used for
education are large
touch screens.
+Credit and debit
cards have magnetic
stripes that are used
by ATMs terminals.
+Security cards for
entry to buildings,
hotel rooms, etc. use
magnetic stripes.
+Travel systems use
magnetic stripes.

+Faster entry of
options than using
a keyboard or a
mouse.
+It is easy to
choose options.
+No training
needed.

+There is a limited
number of options
available.
+Can lead to health
problems.
+The screen can get
very dirty with constant
touching.

+Data entry is
faster compared
with keying in
using keyboard or
keypad.
+The system is
error free, since no
typing is involved.
+They can prevent
access to restricted
areas.
+Magnetic stripes
are unaffected by
oil, water,
moisture, etc.

+If the magnetic stripe

gets damaged, the data
is lost.
+The card needs to be
in close contact with
the reader, so magnetic
stripe readers dont
work at a distance.
+Its not human
readable, this can be a
disadvantage in some
applications.

Chip and PIN

+Chip and PIN

readers are used
where payments are
made using cards.

+There are no
moving parts, so
they are robust.
+Provide a more
secure payment
system than
requiring a
signature or using
a magnetic stripe,
since the PIN
typed in must
match up with PIN
stored on chip.
+Provide a more
robust system than
magnetic stripe
readers.

+Since customer typed

in the PIN, they need to
be careful that it is not
read by somebody else,
that is like giving an
opportunity for them to
steal.

Scanners

Digital Camera

+Scanners are 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
originals from
damage through
handling and also
producing records in
case the paper copies
are lost or destroyed.
+Non-digital
photographs need to
be scanned if they are
to be stored on
computer.
+Digital cameras
produce photographs
for transfer to a
computer directly or
to print out by
connecting directly to
a printer.
+Many digital
cameras also allow
short video clips to be

+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 use
appropriate
software to
produce a copy.

+The quality can be

limited, depending on
how good the scanner
resolution is.

+It is easier to
produce better
quality
photographs than
with a traditional
camera.
+It is easier and
faster to upload a
photograph.
+It is easy just to

+The camera user

needs to be computer
literate to use the
cameras properly.
+There is some artistry
lost since clever
software now corrects
errors in the
photographs.
+Images often need to

Microphones

produced.
+Photographs can be
uploaded directly into
applications software
such as word
processors, desktop
publishers, etc.
+Microphones are
used to input
speech/sounds to be
used in various
applications.
+They are used in
voice recognition
software, which can
have a number of
purposes.

delete an image
from memory if it
is not satisfactory
and take the
photograph again.

be compressed to
reduce the amount of
memory used.

+It is faster to read

in text than to type
it in using
keyboards.
+If used in a voice
activation system,
this has the
advantage of
improving safety.

+Sound files can use up

a lot of memory.
+Voice recognition
software is not as
accurate as typing
manually.

Automatic Input Devices

Temperature
sensor

+Sensors are used

in monitoring and
control
applications.
+Automatic
washing machines,
central heating
systems, automatic
greenhouses,
ovens

Pressure sensor

+Burglar alarm
systems, washing
machines, robotics
and environmental
monitoring.

+More accurate
+Readings are
continuous, so there
is no break in the
monitoring.
+The system can be
automatic, removing
the need for human
intervention.

+Faulty sensors can

give spurious results.

Light sensor

+Automatic
greenhouses,
automatic doors,
burglar alarm
systems and street
lighting control.

Graphics tablet

+Graphic tablets
are used to produce
drawings, computer
graphics, etc.
+They are used in
computer aided
design (CAD)
work

+It is possible to
modify drawings
before they are input.
+They offer a very
accurate method of
drawing, which is
better than using a
mouse or trackerball.

+They are more

expensive than the
other pointing devices,
such as a mouse.

Optical mark
reader

+Optical mark
reader are used to
read questionnaires,
multiple-choice
examination
papers.

+It is a fast way of

inputting results of a
survey.
+It is more accurate
than keying in the
data because there is
no typing.

+The forms need to be

Optical
character
reader

+One of the most

recent uses is in the
processing of
passports and
identity cards.
+Used when
scanning in
documents so that
they can be
modified using a
word processor.

+It is a much faster

data entry than
typing.
+The number of
errors is reduced
since no data entry.

+The system still has

difficulty for reading
handwriting.
+It is still not a very
accurate technique.

carefully designed to
make sure that the
marks are correctly
positioned.
+Sometimes they have
to be manually checked
before being read by
the optical mark reader
device. Both time
consuming and
expensive.

Bar code reader

+Used in
supermarkets and
shops where goods
are marked with a
barcode.
+They are also
used in libraries, to
scan both users
library cards and
barcodes on the
books.

+Scanning barcodes
is much faster than
keying in data
manually and fewer
mistakes are made.
+Enable automatic
stock control.
+Barcode scanning
is a tried and trusted
technology.

+Expensive to buy and

maintain.
+The system is not
foolproof- barcodes can
be swapped around on
items!

Web cam

+While chatting
online, many
people use
webcams as a more
personal way of
having a
conversation.
+They are used to
enable video
conferencing to
take place.

+Webcams can be
left constantly, only
being activated as
required.
+Allow people to
keep in contact with
each other without
the need to travel
and meet each other.

+Have limited features

and the picture is often
in poor quality.
+They need to be
connected to the
computer, although this
is less of an issue with
laptop when the
webcam is built into
monitor lid.

Light pen

+Light pens are

used for selecting
objects on CRT
screens.
+Also used for
drawing on screen.

+More accurate than

touch screens.
+They are small, so
can be used where
space is an issue.
+Easy to use

+There are problems

with lag when drawing.
+They only work with
CRT monitors.
+Not very accurate
when drawing.