Input and output

devices
Types and uses of input devices
Definition
An input device is any piece of hardware that takes data from
the outside world and puts it into a computer.
New input devices are being invented all the time.
There is a misconception that other devices, such as floppy
disks (storage device) and modems (communication devices)
are input devices, as they are used to put data onto the
computer.
However, these handle data that is already in computer format
so cannot be classed as input devices.
Keyboards and keypads
The standard QWERTY
keyboard is the most common
input device for PCs.
Keypads are a variation on the
keyboard, but are used for
specific devices, such as PDAs,
calculators and cash machines.
Concept keyboards are touch
sensitive and display icons
which the user presses. They
are typically used in fast food
restaurants where each icon
represents a product.
Mouse
Along with the keyboard, this is the most common device for the PC
and is very important within a GUI environment.
There are many variations, such as:
standard two button
three button (middle button accesses menus) and scrolling wheel
infra red so no cable is needed
mice that use light to record movement rather than a ball.
In addition, laptops have variations on the mouse:
tracker ball
mouse pad
mouse nipple.
Scanners
Scanners take hard copy
images and turn them into
digital format to be used by the
computer.
Flat-bed scanners are attached
to PCs and used to scan in
images and text up to A4 size.
Hand-held scanners are smaller
and are physically moved
across a document.
Scanning technology is also
used for:
bar code scanning
biometric scanning
OMR, OCR and MICR.
Bar code scanner
Bar code scanners are mainly used for inputting product details
at checkouts.
Shops often have a scanner built into the checkout and the
products are passed over it.
Larger items are scanned using a hand-held scanner.
The patterns of black and white lines store product details.
There are different bar code systems, but the most common in
the UK is the European Article Number (EAN), which is standard
for food products and the bar codes on books that store the
ISBN.
Biometric scanner
Biometrics are physical
characteristics that identify each
individual.
A biometric scanner scans part
of the body, such as the retina
or fingerprint.
The scanned image is
compared to a database to
confirm identity.
Its use is becoming more
common and it is linked with the
proposed National Identity Card.
Optical mark reader (OMR)
OMR scans and records marks
made on a page.
It is commonly used to input marks
from tests the student shades in a
box on a multi-choice answer and
the paper is read by the OMR.
It is also used:
to input your numbers on the
national lottery
by meter readers, to input gas
and electricity meter readings
by teachers, when they record
coursework marks and send
them off to the exam board.
Optical character recognition (OCR)
OCR scans written or printed text and converts it into digital form
for further processing.
OCR software can be used with a flat-bed scanner to turn
printed documents into word-processed format.
Another form of OCR uses a light pen to write on a screen the
traces are recognised and converted using software.
This is a common feature of PDAs.
Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)
The same technology as OMR and OCR is used, but it is used
specifically to read characters printed with magnetic ink.
The most common application is to read the characters printed
at the bottom of a bank cheque.
Multiple cheques can be handled at high speeds by passing the
cheque through an MICR reader.
Microphone
Microphones are used for voice input the voice can be
sampled and converted into digital form.
Voice-activated software is still a rarity due to the complexities
of recognising different voices.
Specific applications include:
specialised software for disabled users
voice-controlled telephone systems where the voice
activates the options.
Touch screen
Normally an output device, the touch screen also allows input
and output.
It is useful where a very simple user interface is required, such
as in:
tourist information offices, to display local information
estate agents, to show details and images of houses
some cash point machines.
Magnetic stripe reader
Magnetic stripes are found on
the back of plastic cards, such
as credit cards.
They are also used on tickets as
a means of entry/exit (e.g. train
tickets, car parking tickets).
The stripe contains data which
is read by the reader when the
card is swiped.
There are some concerns over
the security of the data, so
many magnetic stripe cards are
being replaced by smart cards.
Smart card reader
Smart cards look like normal credit cards but contain a
microchip that stores the data.
They are more secure than the magnetic stripe and they can
contain much more information on the card holder.
Banks have been keen to introduce them.
Some countries use smart cards as driving licences.
The proposed national identify card would use a smart card
which would store biometric data in addition to text data.
Sensors
Sensors are devices that read in physical data.
Computer-controlled environments make extensive use of sensors to
record physical variables, for example:
infra-red sensors in burglar alarms
temperature sensors in central heating systems.
A number of physical factors can be input using sensors, for example:
temperature
light
movement
pressure
acidity
moisture
strain
voltage
wind speed
radiation.