Input devices

An input device is a peripheral

device that accepts data and
converts it into a form the
computer can understand.
Input device
Input devices include keyboards,
microphones, scanners. pointing
devices such as mouse, touch
pad, light pen, and touch screen;
and mark reader such as bar
code, OMR, OCR AND MICR.
Examples of input devices
Keyboard, microphones,
scanners, mouse, touch pad, light
pen, touch screen etc.
Key boards
There are three basic types of
keyboards. These are Qwerty keyboard,
Ergonomic keyboard, and Cordless
keyboard.
Some pictures of the basic
types of keyboard.
Qwerty keyboard ergonomic keyboard





Cordless keyboard
Disadvantages of keyboard
Inputting large amounts of data using the
keyboard can be slow.
It is easy to make mistakes using the
keyboard.
Training is needed to be able to type
quickly and accurately.
Mouse
A mouse is an input device that
translates its movement into digital
information; this is fed to the
computer which in turn causes the
cursor to the move on the screen.
Advantages of mouse
It is easy and convenient to use.
It is quicker to make selection than with
the keyboard.
Disadvantages of mouse.
The mouse works only with specific
software.
The mouse cannot be used to input text. It
must be used with a keyboard.
Touch pads
Touch pads, also known as track pads,
are commonly found on notebook
computers. They are small, flat,
rectangular pointing devices that are
sensitive to pressure and motion.
Joystick
The joystick enables the user to
control movement on the screen by
moving a small lever. A joystick is
similar to a trackball and a mouse in
that screen cursor moves according
to the movements of the stick.
The joystick is useful for moving and
making selections quickly and is used in
games and to produce graphics. It is
also used in hospitals with scanners.


Picture of joystick
scanners
Scanners copies a document or a
picture and stores it in a computer.
When you scan a document, the data is
saved as an image, so you cannot edit
scanned test.


Picture of scanner
Pictures of input devices


Output devices
An output device is a peripheral or
hardware component that conveys
information to the user. Output devices
accept data from the user can
understand. Output may be text,
graphics, audio, or video.
Output devices
Output devices include monitors,
printers, speakers and headsets,
plotters, microfilm, data projectors, and
fax machines.
Monitor
Monitors or VDUs are ideal for showing
the result from an inquiry where no
printout is needed. This is soft copy. For
instance, if you go into a travel agency
and ask if a particular holiday is
available on a certain date. Types of
monitor: CRT monitor, LCD screen,
Advantages of LCD over CRT
monitors.
LCDs use less space
LCDs consume less than one- third the
electricity of CRTs.
LCDs generate less heat.
LCDs are lighter and more portable
LCDs produce better quality images.
Printer
Printers are used to produce permanent
hard copies of output on a physical
medium such as paper or transparency
film. Printers may be impact or no-
impact.
Types of printers
Laser printers
Laser printers offer higher speed and
excellent print quality for text and
graphics, and they normally use
individual sheets of paper. They print at
a very high resolution, ranging from 600
to 1200 dots per inch and up to 40
pages per minute. This is an example of a laser
printer

Ink-jet printer
Ink-jet printers are also called bubble-jet
printers. They form an impression on
paper by spraying quick drying ink
directly onto paper.
This is an example if ink-jet printer
Thermal printers
The basic thermal printer uses pins like
the dot matrix. The pins are heated
electrically and pressed against heat
sensitive paper to leave and impression
of the appropriate character.


This is an example of a thermal printer
Pictures of output devices

Devices that work as input and
output devices.
Devices that are both input and output
devices are also called I/O devices.
These are hardware device that has the
ability to accept inputted, outputted or
other processed data. It also can
acquire respective media data as input
sent to a computer or send computer
data to storage media as storage output.
Some examples of devices that
work as both input and output.
Modems, Network cards, touch screen
facsimile(fax) audio cards/ soundcards.

Modem network cards