Input Devices
Input device enables the user to send data, information, or control signals to a computer. The
Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer receives the input and processes it to produce the
output.
Some of the popular input devices are:
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Scanner
4. Joystick
5. Light Pen
6. Digitizer
7. Microphone
8. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
9. Optical Character Reader (OCR)
10. Digital Camera
11. Paddle
12. Steering Wheel
13. Gesture recognition devices
14. Light Gun
15. Touch Pad
16. Remote
17. Touch screen
18. VR
19. Webcam
20. Biometric Devices
1) Keyboard
The keyboard is a basic input device that is used to enter data into a computer or any other
electronic device by pressing keys. It has different sets of keys for letters, numbers, characters, and
functions. Keyboards are connected to a computer through USB or a Bluetooth device for wireless
communication.
Types of keyboards: There can be different types of keyboards based on the region and
i) QWERTY Keyboard:
,It is the most commonly used keyboard with computers in modern times. It is named after the first
six letters of the top row of buttons and is even popular in countries that do not use Latin-based
alphabet. It is so popular that some people think that it is the only type of keyboard to use with
computers as an input device.
ii) AZERTY Keyboard:
It is considered the standard French keyboard. It is developed in France as an alternative layout to
the QWERTY layout and is mainly used in France and other European countries. Some countries
have manufactured their own versions of AZERTY.
Its name is derived from the first six letters that appear on the top left row of the keyboard. The Q
and W keys in AZERTY keyboard are interchanged with A and Z keys in QWERTY keyboard.
Furthermore, in AZERTY keyboard M key is located to the left of the L key.
AZERTY keyboard differs from QWERTY keyboard not only in the placement of letters but also in
many other ways, e.g., it gives emphasis on accents, which is required for writing European
languages like French.
iii) DVORAK Keyboard:
This type of keyboard layout was developed to increase the typing speed by reducing the finger
movement while typing. The most frequently used letters are kept in a home row to improve typing.
, 2) Mouse
The mouse is a hand-held input device which is used to move cursor or pointer across the screen. It
is designed to be used on a flat surface and generally has left and right button and a scroll wheel
between them. Laptop computers come with a touchpad that works as a mouse. It lets you control
the movement of cursor or pointer by moving your finger over the touchpad. Some mouse comes
with integrated features such as extra buttons to perform different buttons.
The mouse was invented by Douglas C. Engelbart in 1963. Early mouse had a roller ball integrated
as a movement sensor underneath the device. Modern mouse devices come with optical technology
that controls cursor movements by a visible or invisible light beam. A mouse is connected to a
computer through different ports depending on the type of computer and type of a mouse.
Common types of the mouse:
i) Trackball Mouse:
It is a stationary input device that has ball mechanism to move the pointer or cursor on the screen.
The ball is half inserted in the device and can be easily rolled with finger, thumb or the palm to
move the pointer on the screen. The device has sensor to detect the rotation of ball. It remains
stationary; you don't need to move it on the operating surface. So, it is an ideal device if you have
limited desk space as you don't need to move it like a mouse.
ii) Mechanical Mouse:
Input device enables the user to send data, information, or control signals to a computer. The
Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer receives the input and processes it to produce the
output.
Some of the popular input devices are:
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Scanner
4. Joystick
5. Light Pen
6. Digitizer
7. Microphone
8. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
9. Optical Character Reader (OCR)
10. Digital Camera
11. Paddle
12. Steering Wheel
13. Gesture recognition devices
14. Light Gun
15. Touch Pad
16. Remote
17. Touch screen
18. VR
19. Webcam
20. Biometric Devices
1) Keyboard
The keyboard is a basic input device that is used to enter data into a computer or any other
electronic device by pressing keys. It has different sets of keys for letters, numbers, characters, and
functions. Keyboards are connected to a computer through USB or a Bluetooth device for wireless
communication.
Types of keyboards: There can be different types of keyboards based on the region and
i) QWERTY Keyboard:
,It is the most commonly used keyboard with computers in modern times. It is named after the first
six letters of the top row of buttons and is even popular in countries that do not use Latin-based
alphabet. It is so popular that some people think that it is the only type of keyboard to use with
computers as an input device.
ii) AZERTY Keyboard:
It is considered the standard French keyboard. It is developed in France as an alternative layout to
the QWERTY layout and is mainly used in France and other European countries. Some countries
have manufactured their own versions of AZERTY.
Its name is derived from the first six letters that appear on the top left row of the keyboard. The Q
and W keys in AZERTY keyboard are interchanged with A and Z keys in QWERTY keyboard.
Furthermore, in AZERTY keyboard M key is located to the left of the L key.
AZERTY keyboard differs from QWERTY keyboard not only in the placement of letters but also in
many other ways, e.g., it gives emphasis on accents, which is required for writing European
languages like French.
iii) DVORAK Keyboard:
This type of keyboard layout was developed to increase the typing speed by reducing the finger
movement while typing. The most frequently used letters are kept in a home row to improve typing.
, 2) Mouse
The mouse is a hand-held input device which is used to move cursor or pointer across the screen. It
is designed to be used on a flat surface and generally has left and right button and a scroll wheel
between them. Laptop computers come with a touchpad that works as a mouse. It lets you control
the movement of cursor or pointer by moving your finger over the touchpad. Some mouse comes
with integrated features such as extra buttons to perform different buttons.
The mouse was invented by Douglas C. Engelbart in 1963. Early mouse had a roller ball integrated
as a movement sensor underneath the device. Modern mouse devices come with optical technology
that controls cursor movements by a visible or invisible light beam. A mouse is connected to a
computer through different ports depending on the type of computer and type of a mouse.
Common types of the mouse:
i) Trackball Mouse:
It is a stationary input device that has ball mechanism to move the pointer or cursor on the screen.
The ball is half inserted in the device and can be easily rolled with finger, thumb or the palm to
move the pointer on the screen. The device has sensor to detect the rotation of ball. It remains
stationary; you don't need to move it on the operating surface. So, it is an ideal device if you have
limited desk space as you don't need to move it like a mouse.
ii) Mechanical Mouse:
