Computer Architecture

The Physical Construction of a Computer

By: Sakshyam Chapagain To: Seraj Ahmed

[email protected] [email protected]
 Simple Computer Architecture
INPUT
Input is the data, information or command
provided to the computer.

OUTPUT STORAGE
Output is the result of processing of the
input data.
CA Storage is the place where all the
data as well as files and folders
are stored. This is an optional
process. Processing of data can be
done without storage.

PROCESSING
Processing is the operation performed on a
data.
 Computer architecture is a science or a set of rules
stating how computer software and hardware are
joined together and interact to make a computer
work. It not only determines how the computer
works but also of which technologies the computer
is capable. Computers continue to be a major part of
our lives, and computer architects continue to
develop new and better programs and technologies.

Computer Architecture Diagram

 What is Computer Architecture?
Computer architecture is a specification describing how hardware and software technologies interact to create a
computer platform or system. When we think of the word architecture, we think of building a house or a building.
Keeping that same principle in mind, computer architecture involves building a computer and all that goes into a
computer system. Computer architecture consists of three main categories.

 System design – This includes all the hardware parts, such as CPU, data processors, multiprocessors,
memory controllers and direct memory access. This part is the actual computer system.

 Instruction set architecture – The includes the CPU’s functions and capabilities, the CPU’s programming
language, data formats, processor register types and instructions used by computer programmers. This part
is the software that makes it run, such as Windows or Photoshop or similar programs.

 Microarchitecture – This defines the data processing and storage element or data paths and how they
should be implemented into the instruction set architecture. These might include DVD storage devices or
similar devices.

Computer architecture primarily consists of four components: Input Devices, Output Devices, Processing
Devices(Processors) and Storage Devices.
 INPUT DEVICES
Any data or instruction that is used by a computer is called input. This data or instruction can come directly from
end user or from other devices. For example, while you prepare word documents or spread sheets, you use the
keyboard to enter text & numbers and use command keys to save / print documents. You can also perform
operations on computer using voice commands. These are all different methods of providing an input to a
computer.

Input device translates words, sounds images, and actions that people understand into symbols that the system
unit can process. An input device is a hardware device that is used to provide input (data / instructions) to a
computer so that it can be processed.

Besides the widely used input devices like keyboard & Mice there are other different input devices that perform
various input operations like a scanner scan images / documents. Webcams capture videos & images.
 KEYBOARD
It is an input device in which data is entered to a computer. When a key is pressed, an electronic signal
is produced which is detected by an electronic circuit called a keyboard encoder. The keyboard encoder
then place the code into the keyboard buffer to indicate which key is pressed.

Uses of Keyboard
 Users can type the letters and numbers using the keyboard. Also, some special commands can be
done using the keyboard. Only with the keyboard, we can input data.
 Most of the functions can be performed by a keyboard without the help of the mouse. Function
keys and control keys are used for special functions done by mouse.
 Shortcut keys are used to access any files from the system so that mouse use can be avoided.
 Control key and escape key can be used in most of the functions for various purposes.

There are many types of keyboard and many ways of classifying a keyboard. Keyboard can be classified
on the basis of number of keys, type, of material, type of connector etc .
TYPES OF KEYBOARD BASED ON NUMBER OF KEYS
XT(Extended Technology) Keyboard
It is a 83-key keyboard introduced with the IBM PC in 1981 and the PC XT in 1983. The
keyboard introduced the dual-function keypad that switches between numeric entry and cursor
movement, which became standard on all the full-size keyboards that followed.

XT KEYBOARD

AT(Advanced Technology) Keyboard

It is a 83-key keyboard introduced with the IBM PC in 1981 and the PC XT in 1983. The
keyboard introduced the dual-function keypad that switches between numeric entry and cursor
movement, which became standard on all the full-size keyboards that followed.
 AT KEYBOARD

Enhanced Keyboard
It is a 83-key keyboard introduced with the IBM PC in 1981 and the PC XT in 1983. The keyboard
introduced the dual-function keypad that switches between numeric entry and cursor
movement, which became standard on all the full-size keyboards that followed.

EXTENDED
KEYBOARD
TYPES OF KEYBOARD BASED ON CONNECTOR / PORT
PS/2 Keyboard
The PS/2 (Personal System/2) port, also referred to as the keyboard port, was developed
by IBM. It is used to connect a computer keyboard to an IBM compatible computer. The
PS/2 port is a mini DIN plug that contains six pins and is still sometimes found on all IBM
compatible computers. PS/2 was an IBM computer introduced in 1987. It featured
improved graphics, a 3.5-inch diskette drive, a proprietary bus to help prevent clone
makers competition, and a bidirectional 8-bit port. It can send simultaneous input from
any number of keys on your keyboard at once in a PS /2 keyboard. Is does not support
plug and play.

PS/2 CONNECTOR AND KEYBOARD

USB Keyboard
The ‘U’ stands for universal which means this port can be used to plug in an entire universe of
peripherals including an USB keyboard. USB stands for “Universal Serial Bus”. Like other USB
devices, a USB keyboard attaches directly to the computer like a USB flash drive. A USB
keyboard connects to your computer via a cable that goes into your computer’s USB port. USB
keyboards are plain and simple plug-and-play devices and they are extremely reliable. Virtually
all keyboards now on the market use a USB port instead of the conventional PS/2 keyboard
port. Most of the modern systems today are legacy-free systems with no PS/2 ports and they
use only USB ports for interfacing keyboards.

USB CONNECTOR AND KEYBOARD

Wireless Keyboard
A wireless keyboard is a computer keyboard that allows the user to communicate with computers,
tablets, or laptops with the help of radio frequency (RF), such as  WiFi and Bluetooth or
with infrared (IR) technology. It is common for wireless keyboards available these days to be
accompanied by a wireless mouse. Wireless keyboards based on infrared technology use light waves
to transmit signals to other infrared-enabled devices. But, in case of radio frequency technology, a
wireless keyboard communicates using signals which range from 27 MHz to up to 2.4 GHz. Most
wireless keyboards today work on 2.4 GHz radio frequency. Bluetooth is another technology that is
being widely used by wireless keyboards. These devices connect and communicate to their parent
device via the Bluetooth protocol.

WIRELESS KEYBOARD WITHOUT CONNECTOR

TYPES OF KEYBOARD BASED ON USAGE

QWERTY Keyboard
The earlier typewriters had keys in the range QWERTY due to the arrangement of strings. Early
computer keyboards were also built in the same manner for the ease of use for typewriter users.
This keyboard is the most common one used by most of us.

Multimedia Keyboard
A multimedia keyboard is designed to make it simple for the user to access often-used programs.
There are special keys used to access the Internet, music, and other frequently used programs such
as email. A typical example contains buttons that control various computer processes, such as
turning on the computer's power, putting the CPU to sleep, and waking it up again. Multimedia
keyboards come in various connection formats, including PS/2, USB, and wireless, and their price
often depends on their complexity and the manufacturer
 MULTIMEDIA KEYBOARD

Gaming Keyboard
Gaming keyboards are overhauled, customized versions of the factory standard keyboards that can be
found at businesses or in many households. Gaming keyboard manufacturers take the design of a
regular keyboard and then determine what changes could be made to make controlling video games
easier and more convenient. Many gaming keyboards are equipped with reprogrammable keys that
serve whatever function you assign to them. This allows the user to create a one-of-a-kind setup that is
specifically tailored to his liking. Additionally, gaming keyboards often offer a built-in joystick. Even
gaming keyboard come in various forms and types to accommodate the type of games the user is going
to play, their comfort and various other factors.
GAMING KEYBOARD
Chiclet Keyboard
A chiclet keyboard or island-style keyboard is a computer keyboard with keys that form an array
of small, flat rectangular or lozenge-shaped rubber or plastic keys that look like erasers or
"Chiclets", a brand of chewing gum manufactured in the shape of small squares with rounded
corners. It is an evolution of the membrane keyboard, using the same principle of a single rubber
sheet with individual electrical switches underneath each key, but with the addition of an
additional upper layer which provides superior tactile feedback through a buckling mechanism.

CHICLET KEYBOARD
MEMBRANE KEYBOARDS
A membrane keyboard is a computer keyboard whose "keys" are not separate, moving parts, as
with the majority of other keyboards, but rather are pressure pads that have only outlines
and symbols printed on a flat, flexible surface. Very little, if any, tactile feedback is felt when using
such a keyboard. Membrane keyboards work by electrical contact between the keyboard surface
and the underlying circuits when keytop areas are pressed. These models were used with some
early 1980s home computers.

MEMBRANE KEYBOARD
Virtual Keyboard
A virtual keyboard is a software component that allows the input of characters without the need for
physical keys. The interaction with the virtual keyboard happens mostly via a touchscreen interface,
but can also take place in a different form in virtual or augmented reality. Virtual keyboards are mostly
used in mobile devices. On a desktop or a laptop a virtual keyboard might be used in case the physical
keyboard is damaged.

VIRTUAL KEYBOARD ON COMPUTER AND MOBILE PHONE

 TYPES OF KEYBOARD BASED ON SIZE
Thumb Keyboard
A thumb keyboard, or a thumb board, is a type of keyboard commonly found on PDAs, mobile phones,
and PDA phones which has a familiar layout to an ordinary keyboard, such as QWERTY. The inputting
surface is usually relatively small, and is intended for typing using the available thumbs, while holding
the device.

THUMB KEYBOARD
Laptop Sized Keyboard
The keys are reduced and the space between keys are less in this type of keyboard. These are
specially designed for laptops. Most keyboards do not have numeric keypads and some functions
are incorporated with other keys on the keyboard.

LAPTOP-SIZED KEYBOARD

Desktop Keyboard
They are very similar to laptop-sized keyboards. Compared to laptop keyboard, the main
differences are that in a desktop computer, the keys are arranged differently, the keys are bigger,
and it contains a numeric keypad. Most of the above mentioned keyboards are desktop
keyboards.
REMAINING TYPES OF KEYBOARD
1. Backlit Keyboard
The keys have lights which help the users to type even in the dark. These keyboards are
available in gaming and traditional keyboards.

2. Magic Keyboards
These keyboards are manufactured by Mac and are supported by the battery. The design is
good and makes everyone have the feel of the keyboard.

3. Bluetooth Keyboard
The keyboard is connected with the system using Bluetooth and hence the USB port can be
used for other purposes. This keyboard provides flexibility to the wired keyboard.

4. Chorded Keyboard
A limited number of keys help the user to port the keyboard anywhere. A combination of some
keys helps to produce the desired characteristics. The keyboard is small in size and is not
commercially successful as other keyboards.
 MOUSE
Mouse for a computer can be explained as one of the many peripheral devices available as a hand-held
indicating instrument, for locating and identifying a particular spot on the computer display surface.
With the help of this device, the movements performed on the system display can be naturally
decoded from the shifts and clicks into the meaningful actions and operations suitable for the display
plane. It is mainly seen as a means to work on specifically required items on the system and to control
and manage various functional operations on the computer system, especially for the visible
computer’s graphical user interface.

The various parts of the Mouse device can be explained in accordance with the several mechanisms,
based on which the device was designed, over the years. Apart from that, the basic parts that qualify a
peripheral device for a computer system to be considered as the mouse device are below:

 The left & right Buttons

 The Scroll wheel
 The Motion Detection
 The Connection point
1. Mouse Buttons
The Mouse device is typically designed in such a way that it is showing on the top of the device,
making it easy for the user to access. The device itself is structured in a way to fit in the palm of the
hand of the user.

2. Scroll Wheel
Scroll Wheels in the mouse devices are used for moving the control on the display from top to
bottom or from bottom to top, as and when required by the user.

3. Motion Detection
Motion detection parts recognize whether a mouse has been moved or not and in response decided
where to move the mouse pointer.

4. Connection Points
Connection parts are the place where the mouse is connected to the computer. Some mouse may
even be connected through wireless means.
Uses of Mouse

To navigate the cursor on the system for a specific item in the display, by clicking the left button.

To select an item or to access additionally available options, by Double-clicking the left button or
clicking the right button.

To move the page up and down or vice –versa, by rolling the scroll wheel.

To drag and drop, by clicking on an item, holding the click while moving the same to the desired
location and release the click after reaching the destination point .
TYPES OF MOUSE BASED ON BUILD
Mechanical Mouse
A mechanical mouse is a computer mouse that contains a metal or rubber ball on its under side.
When the ball is rolled in any direction, sensors inside the mouse detect the motion and move the
on-screen mouse pointer accordingly. This type of mouse requires a flat surface or a mouse pad to
work efficiently. One of the drawbacks of the device is that it is more prone to attracting dust. The
picture is an example of the bottom of a mechanical mouse with the ball removed. Today, this mouse
has been replaced by the optical mouse.

MECHANICAL MOUSE
Opto-Mechanical Mouse
Alternatively referred to as the ball mouse, the optical-mechanical or opto-mechanical
mouse consists of a ball that rolls one of two wheels inside the mouse. Each wheel contains a circle
of holes or notches, allowing an LED light to shine through and be detected by a sensor. As the wheel
spins these lights represent an x-axis or y-axis for the mouse pointer on your screen. This mouse is
more accurate than a mechanical mouse that uses only wheels and rollers, however, is not as good
as an optical mouse.

OPTO-MECHANICAL MOUSE
Optical Mouse
An optical mouse is a computer mouse which uses a light source, typically a light-emitting
diode (LED), and a light detector, such as an array of photodiodes, to detect movement relative to a
surface. Variations of the optical mouse have largely replaced the older mechanical mouse design,
which uses moving parts to sense motion. The earliest optical mice detected movement on pre-
printed mouse pad surfaces. Modern optical mice work on most opaque diffusely reflective surfaces
like paper, but most of them do not work properly on specularly reflective surfaces like polished
stone or transparent surfaces like glass. Optical mice that use dark field illumination can function
reliably even on such surfaces.

OPTICAL MOUSE
Laser Mouse
A laser mouse is a type of optical mouse that uses laser light to detect mouse movement. Like
all optical mice, it has no moving parts inside. The laser mouse is more accurate than the
standard LED optical mouse, although the latter has gotten much closer over the years. However,
the improved sensitivity and precision are useful for gaming and graphical or engineering design
applications where pinpoint accuracy is important.

LASER MOUSE
Gaming Mouse
These mouse are specifically designed for use in computer games. They typically employ a wider
array of controls and buttons and have designs that differ radically from traditional mice. They may
also have decorative monochrome or programmable RGB LED lighting. The additional buttons can
often be used for changing the sensitivity of the mouse or they can be assigned to macros (i.e., for
opening a program or for use instead of a key combination) It is also common for game mouse, to be
specifically designed to play a specific type of game. Some advanced mice from gaming
manufacturers also allow users to adjust the weight of the mouse by adding or subtracting weights
to allow for easier control.

LASER MOUSE
TYPES OF MOUSE BASED ON CONNECTION
PS/2 Mouse
The PS/2 (Personal System/2) port, also referred to as the mouse port, was developed by IBM.
It is used to connect a computer mouse to an IBM compatible computer. The PS/2 port is a
mini DIN plug that contains six pins and is still sometimes found on all IBM compatible
computers. PS/2 was an IBM computer introduced in 1987. It featured improved graphics,
a 3.5-inch diskette drive, a proprietary bus to help prevent clone makers competition, and
a bidirectional 8-bit port. It can send simultaneous input from any number of keys on your
keyboard at once in a PS /2 keyboard. Is does not support plug and play

PS/2 MOUSE
USB Mouse
The ‘U’ stands for universal which means this port can be used to plug in an entire universe of
peripherals including an USB mouse. USB stands for “Universal Serial Bus”. Like other USB
devices, a USB mouse attaches directly to the computer like a USB flash drive. A USB
keyboard connects to your computer via a cable that goes into your computer’s USB port. USB
mouse are plain and simple plug-and-play devices and they are extremely reliable. Virtually all
mouse now on the market use a USB port instead of the conventional PS/2 mouse port. Most of
the modern systems today are legacy-free systems with no PS/2 ports and they use only USB
ports for interfacing mouse.

USB MOUSE

Wireless Mouse
A wireless mouse is just any type of mouse without any physical connection to the computer.
TRACK BALL
A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball held by a socket containing sensors to detect a
rotation of the ball about two axes—like an upside-down mouse with an exposed protruding ball. It
was invented by Tom Craston in 1952 AD. It has a moveable ball on the top of a stationary device that
is rotated with finger or palm. The trackball is usually located in front of the keyboard toward the user.
Essentially, the trackball is an upside-down mouse that rotates in place within a socket. The user rolls
the ball to direct the cursor to the desired place on the screen and can click one of two buttons
(identical to mouse buttons) near the trackball to select desktop objects or position the cursor
for text entry. Track balls come in two types of interface:
• Serial Interface: It transfers one data at a time.
• PS/2 interface: It has parallel data transfer.
The sensor inside the trackball detects the direction in which the ball is moving. It is more accurate
and fast compared to the mouse. However, it is difficult to learn to us. So, it is used less commonly
compared tot the mouse.
Serial Interface
Serial interface, use the serial data flow model because in this model
transmit all data in serial format like as one by one, when one data is
processed then permission allows to other data for entry in processing
room. Some serial interface examples are RS232, RS422, RS485, and
other universal serial bus (USB).

SERIAL INTERFACE TRACKBALL

Parallel Interface
Parallel interface trackball opposite to serial interface, because in this
model use parallel transmission model such have permission to
execution multiple bit data at once without any waiting pool of
pending bit. These types of trackballs have more speed compare to
serial interface trackballs model. 

PARALLEL INTERFACE TRACKBALL

 TOUCH SCREEN
A touchscreen, or touch screen, is both an input and output device and normally layered on the
top of an electronic visual display of an information processing system. The display is often
an LCD or OLED display while the system is usually a laptop, tablet, or Smartphone. A user can
give input or control the information processing system through simple or multi-touch gestures
by touching the screen with a special stylus or one or more fingers.
The touchscreen enables the user to interact directly with what is displayed, rather than using
a mouse, touchpad, or other such devices (other than a stylus, which is optional for most modern
touchscreens).
Touchscreens are common in devices such as game consoles, personal computers, electronic
voting machines, ATMs etc. They can also be attached to computers or, as terminals, to networks.
Touchscreens come in many different types and are used for many different purposes.
TYPES OF TOUCH SCREEN
RESISTIVE TOUCH SCREEN
Resistive Touch is the most widely touch technology in use today. A resistive touch screen monitor is
composed of a glass panel and a film screen, each covered with a thin metallic layer, separated by a
narrow gap. When a user touches the screen, the two metallic layers make contact, resulting in
electrical flow. The point of contact is detected by this change in voltage.

Advantages:
•Can activate with any object (finger, stylus, gloved hand, pen, etc.)
•Has tactile feel
•Lowest cost touch technology
•Low power consumption
•Resistant to surface contaminants and liquids (dust, oil, grease, moisture)

Disadvantages:
•Lower image clarity compared to other touch technologies
•Outer polyester film is vulnerable to damage from scratching, poking and sharp object
RESISTIVE TOUCH SCREEN
WITH EXAMPLE
Surface Capacitive Touch Screen
Surface Capacitive touch screen is the second most popular type of touch screens on the market. In
a surface capacitive touch screen monitor, a transparent electrode layer is placed on top of a glass
panel. This is then covered by a protective cover. When an exposed finger touches the monitor
screen, it reacts to the static electrical capacity of the human body. Some of the electrical charge
transfers from the screen to the user. This decrease in capacitance is detected by sensors located at
the four corners of the screen, allowing the controller to determine the touch point. Surface
capacitive touch screens can only be activated by the touch of human skin or a stylus holding an
electrical charge.

Advantages:
•Better image clarity than Resistive Touch
•Durable screen
•Excellent resistance to surface contaminants and liquids (dust, oil, grease, water droplets)
•High scratch resistance

Disadvantages:
•Requires bare finger or capacitive stylus for activation
•Sensitivity to EMI/RFI
 CAPACATIVE TOUCH
SCREEN WITH EXAMPLE
Surface Acoustic Wave Touch
SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) touch screen monitors utilize a series of piezoelectric transducers
and receivers. These are positioned along the sides of the monitor’s glass plate to create an
invisible grid of ultrasonic waves on the surface. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave
is absorbed. This allows the receiving transducer to locate the touch point and send this data to
the computer. SAW monitors can be activated by a finger, gloved hand, or soft-tip stylus. SAW
monitors offer easy use and high visibility.

Advantages:
•Excellent image clarity
•Even better scratch resistance than surface or projected capacitive
•High “touch-life

Disadvantages:
•Will not activate with hard items (pen, credit card, or fingernail)
•Water droplets remaining on the surface of the screen can cause false triggering
•Solid contaminants on the screen can create non-touch areas until they are removed
SAW TOUCH SCREEN
Surface Acoustic Wave Touch
IR (Infrared) type touch screen monitors do not overlay the display with an additional screen or
screen sandwich. Instead, infrared monitors use IR emitters and receivers to create an invisible
grid of light beams across the screen. This ensures the best possible image quality. When an
object interrupts the invisible infrared light beam, the sensors are able to locate the touch point.
The X and Y coordinates are then sent to the controller.

Advantages:
•Highest image clarity and light transmission of all touch technologies
•Unlimited “touch-life”
•Impervious to surface scratches
•Multi-touch (two or more touch points)
•Palm Rejection Capability

Disadvantages:
•Accidental activation may occur because the infrared beams are actually above the glass surface
•Dust, oil, or grease buildup on screen or frame could impede light beam causing malfunction
•Buildup of snow and pooling of water (such as rain) can cause false triggering
•May be sensitive to direct high ambient light interference
•Higher cost
IR TOUCH SCREEN WITH
EXAMPLE
 LIGHT PEN
A light pen is a computer input device in the form of a light-sensitive wand used in conjunction with a
computer's cathode-ray tube (CRT) display.
It allows the user to point to displayed objects or draw on the screen in a similar way to a touch
screen but with greater positional accuracy. A light pen can work with any CRT-based display. It was
invented by IBM in 1955. A light-sensitive stylus wired to a video terminal used to draw pictures or
select menu options. The user brings the pen to the desired point on screen and presses the pen button
to make contact. Contrary to what it looks like, the pen does not shine light onto the screen; rather, the
screen beams into the pen. Screen pixels are constantly being refreshed. When the user presses the
button, the pen senses light, and the pixel being illuminated at that instant identifies the screen
location. Light pens provide a very precise pointing capability directly on the screen.
Light pens are mostly used in CRT based monitors. Nowadays, the use of light pens has decrease due to
the invention of touch screens.
TYPES OF LIGHT PEN
Corded Light Pen
The light pens which are connected elsewhere with a wire are known as corded light
pens.
CORDED LIGHT PEN

Battery Light Pen

These types of light pens are powered by a battery and don’t need to be connected via
a wire.
BATTERY LIGHT PEN
JOYSTICK
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or
direction to the device it is controlling. A joystick, also known as the control column, is the
principal control device in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick
or side-stick. It was invented by George Sick in 1909 AD. It often has supplementary switches to
control various aspects of the aircraft's flight.
Joysticks are often used to control video games, and usually have one or more push-buttons whose
state can also be read by the computer. A popular variation of the joystick used on modern video
game consoles is the analog stick. Joysticks are also used for controlling machines such as cranes,
trucks, underwater unmanned vehicles, wheelchairs, surveillance cameras, and zero turning
radius lawn mowers. Miniature finger-operated joysticks have been adopted as input devices for
smaller electronic equipment such as mobile phones.
Unlike a mouse where the cursor stops moving once the mouse stops moving, the cursor keeps
moving in the direction where the joystick is pointed until the joystick in returned to its original
upright position.
TYPES OF JOYSTICK
Digital Joystick
The most common joystick type in home computers have been Atari-style digital joysticks. Those
joysticks are called after Atari, because this joystick type was first introduced in Atari 2600
videogame and then adopted to the home computers. The joystick itself consisted of five  which
are arranged to that four of them told about the joystick direction (UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT) and
one was for fire button.

DIGITAL JOYSTICK
Paddle controller
Paddle controller or paddle joystick is a simple controller which consists of one knob which is used
to control the game. Paddle controllers were used in video games since the first TV-games to control
the racket on the screen.
Paddle controllers use analogue principle for control, and they simply consist of one potentiometer
and button in one controller. The analogue information from potentiometer has to be converted to
digital  in order the computer to use that information.

PADDLE CONTROLLER
Analogue joysticks
Analogue joysticks were like a combination of ideas of both joystick and paddle. The idea was that
potentiometers were used to measure the movement of tick (instead of switches like in digital
joystick). Digital joystick made is possible to have more accurate control, which was needed in
flight simulator programs.
Analogue joysticks have been used in Apple, Amiga and IBM PC, which only had analogue joystick
inputs. Analogue joysticks are not so standardized as digital ones. Each manufacturer had its own
specifications of the stick and their own connector model.

ANALOGUE JOYSTICK
PC analogue
Nowadays the most common analogue joystick type is PC analogue joystick. This joystick model was
presented by IBM together with their first IBM PC computer. The joystick is just a basic analogue
joystick with two buttons.
Later time some manufacturers put two connectors to their interface card and some card
manufacturers implemented only one joystick input. The joystick interface card was designed to be
as simple and cheap as possible.
Nowadays there are so called PC digital joysticks. Those sticks have implemented some other way
than through PC joystick card interface to avoid some of the common PC joystick problems and
providing faster access for joystick for game programs. The way how those digital PC joysticks
communicate with PC is not standardized and possible methods are keyboard connector, serial port
or proprietary serial protocol through old joystick interface.

PC ANALOGUE