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What Is An Input Device

This document discusses what input devices are and provides examples of common input devices like keyboards, mice, touchscreens, microphones, and cameras. It explains that input devices allow users to interact with and control computers by sending data to them. The document also notes less common input devices and what specifically input devices send to computers.

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Chalee Yana
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110 views3 pages

What Is An Input Device

This document discusses what input devices are and provides examples of common input devices like keyboards, mice, touchscreens, microphones, and cameras. It explains that input devices allow users to interact with and control computers by sending data to them. The document also notes less common input devices and what specifically input devices send to computers.

Uploaded by

Chalee Yana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1/2/2021 What is an Input Device?

Input device
Updated: 11/13/2018 by Computer Hope

An input device is any hardware device that sends data


to a computer, allowing you to interact with and control
it. The picture shows a Logitech trackball mouse, which
is an example of an input device.

The most commonly used or primary input devices on a


computer are the keyboard and mouse. However, there are
other devices that input data into a computer.

Types of input devices


Audio conversion device

Barcode reader

Biometrics (e.g., fingerprint scanner).

Business card reader

Digital camera and digital camcorder.

EEG (electroencephalography)

Finger (with touch screen or Windows Touch).

Gamepad, joystick, paddle, steering wheel, and Microsoft Kinect.

Gesture recognition

Graphics tablet

Keyboard

Light gun

Light pen

Magnetic ink (like the ink found on checks).

Magnetic stripe reader

Medical imaging devices (e.g., X-ray, CAT scan, and ultrasound images).

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1/2/2021 What is an Input Device?

Microphone (using voice speech recognition or biometric verification).

MIDI keyboard

MICR

Mouse, touchpad, or other pointing devices.

OMR (optical mark reader)

Paddle

Pen or stylus

Punch card reader

Remote

Scanner

Sensors (e.g., heat and orientation sensors).

Sonar imaging devices

Stylus (with touch screen).

Touch screen

Voice (using voice speech recognition or biometric verification).

Video capture device

VR helmet and gloves

Webcam

Yoke

Tip: Although OMR cards and punch cards contain data, they are not considered input devices by
themselves. It is the readers that interpret the cards that are considered an input device.

Tip: Drives such as a CD-ROM, DVD, floppy diskette drive, and USB flash drive are also considered
storage devices.

What are the input devices of my computer?

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1/2/2021 What is an Input Device?

Every computer comes with a keyboard and a mouse (touchpad with laptop), which are considered input
devices. As far as other input devices, it depends on what was included with your computer and what's
connected to the computer. The best method of determining all of the input devices your computer has is
to go through the list above.

What does an input device send to a computer?


What an input device sends (inputs) to a computer depends on the device. Additionally, all input devices
send data from the device over a cable or wireless transmission to the computer. For example, as you
move a computer mouse, the data sent to the computer is the X-Y axis movements used to display the
mouse cursor on the screen. You can see a live example of this on our x-axis definition.

Why does a computer need an input device?


Today, input devices are important because they are what allows you to interact with and add new
information to a computer. For example, if a computer had no input devices, it could run by itself but
there would be no way to change its settings, fix errors, or other various user interactions. Also, if you
wanted to add new information to the computer (e.g., text, command, document, picture, etc.), you
wouldn't be able to do so without an input device.

© 2021 Computer Hope

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