INPUT DEVICES

KEYBOARD: An alpha-numeric keyboard on a graphics system is used primarily as a device for entering text strings It is an efficient device for inputting non- graphic data such as pictures labels Keyboards can also provide with features to facilitate entry of screen co-ordinates, menu selections or graphics functions Cursor- control keys & function keys are common features on general purpose keyboards MOUSE : A mouse is small hand- held box used to position the screen cursor. Wheels or rollers on the bottom of the mouse can be used to record the amnt. & direction of movement One, two , three buttons are usually included on the top of the mouse for signaling the execution of some operation such as invoking a function TRACKBALL : A trackball is a ball that can be rotated with the fingers or palm of the hand to produce screen-cursor movement Potentiometers, attached to the ball measure the amnt. & direction of rotation Trackballs are often mounted on the keyboard or other devices such as Z mouse

SPACEBALL : A space ball provides 6-degrees of freedom A space ball does not actually move Strain gauges measure the amnt. Of pressure applied space ball to provide input for spatial positioning & orientation

Space balls are used for 3-D positioning & selection operations in virtual- reality systems, modeling, animation , CAD etc.

JOYSTICK : A joystick consists of a small , vertical lever mounted on a base that is used to steer the screen cursor around Potentiometers, mounted at the base of the joystick measure the amount of movement, & springs return the stick to the centre position when it is released. Some joysticks are mounted on a keyboard, others function as stand- alone units.

DATA GLOVES : It can be used to grasp a virtual object. The glove is constructed with a series of sensors that detect hand & fingers motion. Input from glove can be used to position or manipulate objects in a virtual scene.

DIGITIZERS : It is a common device for drawing, painting, or interactively selecting co- ordinates positions of an object. These devices can be used to input co- ordinate values in either 2-D or 3-D spaces.

IMAGE SCANNERS : Drawings, graphs, color & black & white photos, or text, can be stored for computer processing with an image scanner by passing an optical scanning mechanism over the information to be stored. Once we have the internal representation of a picture, we can apply transformations to rotate, scale or crop the picture to a particular screen area. TOUCH PANELS : It allows displayed objects or screen positions to be selected with the touch of a finger. A typical application of touch panels is for the selection of processing options that are represented with graphical icons.

Systems can be adapted for touch input by fitting a transparent device with a touchsensing mechanism over the video monitor screen.

LIGHT PENS : It is used to select screen positions by detecting the light coming from points on the CRT screen. They are sensitive to the short burst of light emitted from the phosphor- coating at the instant the electron beam strikes a particular point. An activated light pen, pointed at a spot on the screen as the electron beam lights up that spot , generates an electrical pulse that causes the co- ordinate position of the electron beam to be recorded. DISADVATAGES : When a light pen is pointed at the screen, part of screen image is obscured by hand & pen Prolonged use of light pen can cause arm fatigue Light pens require special implementations for some applications because they cannot detect positions within black areas. Light pens give false readings due to background lighting in a room.

VOICE SYSTEMS : Speech recognizers are used as input devices to accepted voice commands. The voice- system input can be used to initiate graphics operations or enter data. These systems operate by matching an input against a predefined dictionary of words & phrases. The advantage of voice systems over other input devices is that the attention of the operator does not have to be switched from one device to another to enter a command. HARD COPY DEVICES : These devices are used to obtain hard- copy output for our images in several formats.

PRINTERS : Non- impact printer & plotter use laser techniques , ink jet sprays, xerographic processes, electrostatic methods & electro thermal methods to get images. PLOTTERS : Drafting layouts & other drawings are generated with pen plotters. A pen plotter has one or more pens mounted on a carriage, or crossbar that spans a sheet of paper Pens with varying colors & widths are used to produce a variety of shadings & line styles Wet- ink , ball point & felt tip pens are all possible choices for used with a pen plotter Printers produce output by either impact or non- impact methods. Impact printer press formed faces against an inked ribbon onto the paper such as line printer.

Example- A table top flatbed pen plotter, a rollfeed pen plotter