Input Devices

Is concerned with recording and

entering data into computer
system and issuing instruction
to the computer .

A device that, together with

appropriate software, transforms
information from the user into data
that a computer application can
process.
Key Aims of Input Devices

Help users to carry out their

work safely, effectively,
efficiently and, if possible, to
also make it enjoyable.

Should contribute as positively as

possible to the usability of the
system.
Key Aims of Input Devices

Matches the physiology and

psychological characteristics of
users, their training and their
expertise.

For example, older adults may be

hampered by conditions such as
arthritis and may be unable to
type; inexperienced users may be
unfamiliar with keyboard layout.
Key Aims of Input Devices

Is appropriate for the tasks that

are to be performed.

For example, a drawing task from

a list requires an input device that
allows continuous movement;
selecting an option from a list
Requires an input device that
permits discrete movement.
Key Aims of Input Devices

Is suitable for the intended work

and environment.

For example, speech input is useful

where there is no surface on which
to put a keyboard but is unsuitable in
noisy condition; automatic scanning
is suitable if there is a large amount
of data to be generated.
Different Devices
Text Entry
2D Pointing
Output/Display
VR Systems/3D Displays
Sensors
Paper Input and Output
Memory
 Text Entry Devices

Alphabetic (QWERTY) Keyboard Dvorak Keyboard

- Layout is arranged in the basis of frequency of usage

- One of the most obvious layouts to be produced of letters and the frequency of letter pattern and
is the alphabetic keyboard, in which the letters sequences in the English language. This keyboard has
are arranged alphabetically across the keyboard all vowels and punctuation marks on the left side and
consonants on the right side

Keyboard. The most common method of entering information into the

computer is through a keyboard.
Text Entry Devices

Chord Keyboards

- In chord keyboards several keys must be pressed at

once in order to enter a single character. This is a bit
like playing a flute, where several keys must be
pressed to produced with a small number of keys, few
keys are required, so chord keyboards can be very
small, and many can be operated with just one hand.

Phone Pads

- With mobile phones being used for SMS text messaging

and WAP, the phone keypad has become an important
form of text input. Unfortunately a phone only has digits
0-9, not a full alphanumeric keyboard.
Text Entry Devices

Handwriting Recognition Speech Recognition

- Is a promising area of text entry, but it has been

- Is a common and familiar activity, and is promising for a number of years and is still only used in
therefore attractive as a method of text entry. very limited situations. However, speech input suggests
a number of advantages over other input methods.
Speech Recognition
1. Since speech is a natural form of communication, training new users is much
easier than with other input devices.
2. Since speech input does not require the use of hands or other limbs; it
enables operators to carry out other actions and to move around more freely.
3. Speech input offers disabled people such as the blind and those with severs
motor impairment the opportunities to use new technology. However, speech
input suffers from a number of problems:
4. Speech input has been applied only in very specialized and highly
constrained tasks.
5. Speech recognizers have severe limitations whereas a human would have a
little problem distinguishing between similar sounding words or phrases;
speech recognition systems are likely to make mistakes.
6. Speech recognizers are also subject to interference from background noise,
although the use of a telephone-style handset or a headset may overcome
this.
7. Even if the speech can be recognized, the natural form of language used by
people is very difficult for a computer to interpret.
 2D Pointing Devices

Mouse Foot Mouse

- As the name implies, it is foot-operated device, although

- The mouse has become a major component of the more akin to an isometric joysticks than a mouse. The
majority of desktop computer systems sold today, cursor is moved by foot pressure on one side or the other
and is the little box with the tail connecting it to the of pad. This allows one to dedicate hands to the
machine in our basic computer system picture. keyboard. A rare device, the foot mouse has not found
common acceptance.
 2D Pointing Devices

Touchpads Trackball

- Touchpads are touch-sensitive tablets usually around - Trackball is really just an upside-down mouse. A
2-3 inches square. They were first used extensively in weighted ball faces upwards and is rotated inside a
Apple Powerbook portable computers but are now used static housing, the motion being detected in the
in many other notebook computers and can be obtained same way as for a mechanical mouse, and the
separately to replace the mouse on the desktop. relative motion of the ball moves the cursor.
 2D Pointing Devices

Joystick and Track-point Touchscreens

- The joystick is an indirect input device, taking up very
- Touch displays allow the user to input
little space. Consisting of a small palm- sized box with a
stick or shaped grip sticking up form it, the joystick is a information into the computer simply by
simple device with which movements of the stick cause touching an appropriate part of the screen
a corresponding movement of the screen cursor. or a touch-sensitive pad near to the screen
2D Pointing Devices

Stylus and Light Pen

Eyegaze
Cursor Keys
- For more accurate positioning, systems
with touch-sensitive surface often - Eyegaze systems allow you to control
- Cursor keys are available on
employ a stylus. Instead of pointing at the computer by simply looking at it.
the screen directly, small pen-like plastic
most keyboards. Four keys on the
Some systems require you to wear
stick is used to point and draw on the keyboard are used to control the
special glasses or a small head-mounted
screen. This is particularly popular in cursor, one each for up, down, left
box, others are built into the screen or sit
PDAs, but they are also being used in and right.
as a small box below the screen.
some laptop computers.
VR Systems, 3D Displays Devices

Cockpit Data
Controls Glove
VR Systems, 3D Displays Devices

Whole Body
VR Helmets
Tracking
Sensors Devices

Environment and Biosensing

- Although we are not always conscious of them, there are many sensors in our environment—
controlling automatic doors, energy saving lights, etc. and devices monitoring our behavior such as
security tags in shops. The vision of ubiquitous computing suggests that our world will be filled with
such devices.
Paper Input and Output Devices

Printers & Scanners

Memory Devices

RAM and Short-term Storage

Long-term Storage
- Documents currently being edited are in RAM.
Windowed systems swap out programs that are not
current and reload them when needed.
- magnetic and optical disks