COMPUTER HARDWARE: External hardware devices:
Any hardware attached to the system unit is called a peripheral device or simply a peripheral.
They are mainly input or output devices. We want to look at the various peripherals and their
functions.
Input Devices
An input device is a peripheral device that converts symbols that people understand into bits
that computers can process. An input device includes a keyboard, a terminal, a touch screen,
a mouse, a scanner, etc.
Keyboard Entry
In keyboard entry, a user types characters, numerics and special symbols using a keyboard.
The input usually appears on a monitor. A keyboard entry might be the most common way
to input data.
Keyboards
A keyboard is a device used to encode data by key depression, which enters information into
a system. The keyboard converts alphabets and numbers, and other special symbols into
electrical signals that processor can understand and process. These signals are sent to the
computer's CPU. There are three different layouts.
o QWERTY: This is a standard keyboard layout. QWERTY indicates
the arrangement of the upper left corner six letters in the first row of
the alphabetic keys.
o AZERTY: This is a keyboard layout that is similar to the QWERTY
layout and some European countries use this keyboard. This layout is
slightly modified from the QWERTY keyboard.
o Dvorak: This is another keyboard layout modified greatly from a
standard layout. The keyboard is devised to increase typing speed by
placing frequently used keys more naturally. In the past, mechanical
jams were a problem in typing. Thus, the standard keyboard layout
was designed to limit typing speed. Interesting, huh?
Terminals
A terminal is an input/output device that usually includes a keyboard for input, a video
display for output, and a communications link to send and receive information. There are
three different types:
o Dumb Terminal: This is an input/output terminal that does not have
a capability of processing. It only enters and receives data without
processing.
o Smart Terminal: This terminal has some processing capability. It
has a small memory. It performs some editing of data before sending
them to a main computer.
http:ecampus.maseno.ac.ke
Any hardware attached to the system unit is called a peripheral device or simply a peripheral.
They are mainly input or output devices. We want to look at the various peripherals and their
functions.
Input Devices
An input device is a peripheral device that converts symbols that people understand into bits
that computers can process. An input device includes a keyboard, a terminal, a touch screen,
a mouse, a scanner, etc.
Keyboard Entry
In keyboard entry, a user types characters, numerics and special symbols using a keyboard.
The input usually appears on a monitor. A keyboard entry might be the most common way
to input data.
Keyboards
A keyboard is a device used to encode data by key depression, which enters information into
a system. The keyboard converts alphabets and numbers, and other special symbols into
electrical signals that processor can understand and process. These signals are sent to the
computer's CPU. There are three different layouts.
o QWERTY: This is a standard keyboard layout. QWERTY indicates
the arrangement of the upper left corner six letters in the first row of
the alphabetic keys.
o AZERTY: This is a keyboard layout that is similar to the QWERTY
layout and some European countries use this keyboard. This layout is
slightly modified from the QWERTY keyboard.
o Dvorak: This is another keyboard layout modified greatly from a
standard layout. The keyboard is devised to increase typing speed by
placing frequently used keys more naturally. In the past, mechanical
jams were a problem in typing. Thus, the standard keyboard layout
was designed to limit typing speed. Interesting, huh?
Terminals
A terminal is an input/output device that usually includes a keyboard for input, a video
display for output, and a communications link to send and receive information. There are
three different types:
o Dumb Terminal: This is an input/output terminal that does not have
a capability of processing. It only enters and receives data without
processing.
o Smart Terminal: This terminal has some processing capability. It
has a small memory. It performs some editing of data before sending
them to a main computer.
http:ecampus.maseno.ac.ke
