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Input Devices and Their Uses

The document discusses various types of computer input devices including keyboards, mice, touchpads, trackballs, joysticks, touch screens, scanners and more. It provides details on the uses, advantages and disadvantages of each type of input device.

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waddah.adil
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23 views7 pages

Input Devices and Their Uses

The document discusses various types of computer input devices including keyboards, mice, touchpads, trackballs, joysticks, touch screens, scanners and more. It provides details on the uses, advantages and disadvantages of each type of input device.

Uploaded by

waddah.adil
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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Input Devices

(a) Keyboards:-
It has many main three types:-

(1) QWERTY Keyboard:- The traditional keyboard which used commonly


in all types of computer which has letters, numbers, symbols and
different keys

Uses:-

 Input text and numerical data using application softwares.


 Typing in commands like CTRL+F4, CTRL+C,

Advantages:-

 Faster in entering text into document.


 Easy to be used by most of people.
 Verification checks are so easy through it.

Disadvantages:-

 Overusing it may cause RSI(Repetitive Strain Injury) and Carpal

tunnel syndrome.

RSI can be avoided by using


Ergonomic Keyboard

 It takes considerable amount of space.

(2) Concept Keyboard: -

It has phrase or icon on it instead of letters and numbers

Uses:-

 Fast-food restaurants.

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 Airport Information Kiosks.

Advantages:-

 Waterproof.
 Fast in entering with no need for command to be typed in.
 Tamper-resistant (No one can change the system information).

(3) Numeric Keypad:-

Used for entering numbers only.

Uses:-

 ATM (Automatic Teller Machines).


 POS (Point Of Sale).
 Chip and PIN devices.

Advantages:-

 Faster than standard keyboard.


 Easy to be carried around.

Disadvantages:-

 Small keys which makes input process difficult.


 Order of numbers isn’t that strategic.

(b) Pointing Devices:-


(1) Mouse:-

Has three buttons:-

(I) Left Button: for double clicking on icon and selecting items.

(II) Right Button: for dropping-down menu.

(III) Scroll Down: for moving left, right, up and down in the document
or picture.

Uses:-

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 Opening, minimizing, maximizing or closing windows.
 Grouping, moving and deleting files.
 Drag and drop icons.

Advantages:-

 Faster in choosing options.


 Doesn’t take much desk space.

Disadvantages:-

 Difficult to be used by restricted hand/wrist movement people.


 Easy gets dirty and clogged up with dust.
 Needs a flat surface(e.g. Mouse pad).

(2) Touch pad:-

Found in laptop instead of mouse.

Advantages: -

 Faster than keyboard in choosing options.


 As it’s integrated in laptop no need for corded mouse.

Disadvantages:-

 Difficulty in controlling pointer unlike mouse.


 Difficulty in carrying out some functions like drag and drop.
 People with restricted hand/wrist movement will struggle to deal
with it.

(3) Tracker ball:-

An input device looks typically like mouse except it has big ball on top
or at the side of it.

User controls the pointer by rotating the ball.

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Uses: -

 Control room environment


 Some luxury cars to navigate through different functions Radio,

Satnav, music and telephone.

Advantages:-

 Easier to be used by people with RSI or having restricted

wrist/hand movement.

 More accurate in positioning than mouse.


 More robust than mouse.

Disadvantages:-

 It’s not standard so costly.


 User may need training to use it.

(c) Remote Control :-


An input device used to control devices from distance using IR
(Infrared) signals.

Uses:-

 TVs, Satellite systems, DVD players and Hi-Fi systems


 Industrial applications to start, process and stop
machinery.

Advantages:-

 Can operate device from signals no need for corded wires.


 Better used in hazardous chemical processes so no human will get
hurt.

Disadvantages:-

 Difficult to be used by people having restricted hand/wrist


movement.

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 The signal can be blocked if faced thick barrier (e.g. wall).

(d) Joystick: -
It controls the pointer by gripping the stick and
it has buttons for selection and gaming.

Uses: -

 Video/computer games.
 Simulator like flight simulator to mimic the actual control.

Advantages:-

 Better than keyboard in navigating screen.


 More realistic in controlling than mouse.

Disadvantages:-

 Difficulty in moving pointer on the screen compared to mouse.

(e) Driving (Steering) wheel:-

An input device connects to the


computer or game machine
through USB (Universal Serial Bus) port.

It comes with associated tools like buttons, pedals and stick used for
accelerate or brake, and it has sensor for turning left or right

Uses:-

 Video/Computer game.
 Simulator like car simulator to mimic the vehicle movement.

Advantages: -

 Faster than keyboard and Joystick in driving.

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 Driving experience is near reality.

Disadvantages:-

 Very expensive
 Too sensitive sensors specially in turning left or right unlike real
life.

(f) Touch Screen:-


An input device used to enter information by touching with fingers on
the icons on the screen

Uses:-

 Self-service tills like petrol stations where you enter fuel grades

and the amount of money should be paid.

 ATM.
 POS.
 Public information services like airport, railways
 PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), mobile phones and satellite

system.

 CBT (Computer Based Training) like having test on the computer.


 Interactive white board in teaching.

Advantages:-

 User friendly.
 Faster entry than mouse and keyboard.

Disadvantages:-

 Overusing it may cause RSI and muscle injuries.


 Gets dirty from the finger touches which will effect on it’s

responsiveness.

 Limited number of options.

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(g) Scanner:-
An input device used to enter the information
from the hard copy (text or image) into
computer.

The common type of it the Flatbed scanner.

Uses:-

 Scan in document into computer to be used with software

package.

 Scan in photographs to be edited by computer image processing

software.

 Scan in old books/photographs/documents to protect the original.


 Scan in barcodes at POS.

Advantages: -

 Faster than typing and more accurate.


 Images can be edited to be used later.
 Protecting documents and images and recovers them from

damage.

Disadvantages: -

 Quality of scanning limited to the resolution of the scanner.


 Slow and takes time specially with documents and pictures having

high resolution.

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