Input Devices (Keyboard, Scanner, Mouse, Light Pen & More) - Computer System
Category: COMPUTER SCIENCE | 12th March 2024, Tuesday
An Input Device Is Used To Get Data Or Instructions From The User. This Data Is Then Passed On To CPU For Processing So As To Produce The Desired Result. Although Keyboard And Mouse Are The Two Common Input Devices, Other Devices Such As Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR), And Mark Sense Reader, Etc., Are Also Used As Per Our Requirement.
Keyboard
Keyboards Are Input Devices Used To Enter Data, Commands, And Text Into A Computer System. They Are One Of The Primary Means Of Interaction Between Users And Computers. Keyboards Typically Consist Of A Set Of Keys Arranged In A Specific Layout, Including Letters, Numbers, Symbols, And Function Keys. Here Are Some Key Features And Components Of Keyboards:
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Keys: Keys Are The Individual Buttons On The Keyboard That Users Press To Input Characters Or Commands. Each Key Corresponds To A Specific Character, Symbol, Or Function.
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Layout: Keyboards Come In Various Layouts, With The Most Common Being The QWERTY Layout. This Layout Is Named After The First Six Letters On The Top Row Of Keys. Other Layouts, Such As AZERTY And Dvorak, Are Also Used In Different Regions Or For Specific Purposes.
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Alphanumeric Keys: Alphanumeric Keys Include Letters (A-Z) And Numbers (0-9) Arranged In A Grid Pattern. These Keys Are Used For Typing Text And Numerical Input.
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Modifier Keys: Modifier Keys, Such As Shift, Control (Ctrl), Alt (Option On Mac), And The Windows Key (Command On Mac), Modify The Input Of Other Keys. They Allow Users To Access Additional Characters, Perform Shortcuts, And Execute Commands.
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Function Keys: Function Keys (F1-F12) Are Special Keys That Perform Predefined Functions Within Software Applications Or The Operating System. They Are Commonly Used For Tasks Such As Opening Help Menus, Adjusting Volume, And Controlling Media Playback.
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Special Keys: Special Keys Include Keys For Navigation (Arrow Keys), Editing (Delete, Backspace), And System Functions (Escape, Enter, Tab). These Keys Enhance User Interaction And Facilitate Efficient Input And Navigation.
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Numeric Keypad: Many Keyboards Feature A Numeric Keypad On The Right Side, Separate From The Main Alphanumeric Keys. The Numeric Keypad Is Used For Numerical Input, Calculations, And Data Entry, Providing A Faster Method For Entering Numbers.
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Wireless Connectivity: Some Keyboards Use Wireless Technology, Such As Bluetooth Or RF (Radio Frequency), To Connect To The Computer Wirelessly. Wireless Keyboards Offer Flexibility And Freedom Of Movement, Making Them Suitable For Use With Laptops, Tablets, And Smart TVs.
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Multimedia Keys: Multimedia Keyboards Feature Additional Keys For Controlling Media Playback, Adjusting Volume, Launching Applications, And Accessing Internet Functions. These Keys Provide Convenient Shortcuts For Multimedia Tasks.
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Ergonomic Design: Ergonomic Keyboards Are Designed To Reduce Strain And Discomfort During Prolonged Typing Sessions. They Feature A Curved Or Split Layout, Wrist Rests, And Adjustable Angles To Promote A More Natural And Comfortable Typing Posture.
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Backlighting: Backlit Keyboards Have Illuminated Keys That Enhance Visibility In Low-light Environments. They Are Commonly Used In Gaming Laptops And Desktops To Improve Visibility And Aesthetics.
Overall, Keyboards Are Essential Input Devices That Enable Users To Interact With Computers Efficiently And Effectively. They Come In Various Designs And Configurations To Suit Different Preferences, Requirements, And Use Cases.
Mouse
The Mouse Is A Vital Input Device In A Computer System, Facilitating User Interaction Through Precise Cursor Movement And Selection. Consisting Of A Handheld Device With Buttons And Sometimes A Scroll Wheel, The Mouse Typically Connects To The Computer Via A USB Or Wireless Connection.
Its Primary Function Is To Control The On-screen Cursor, Allowing Users To Navigate Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), Manipulate Objects, And Interact With Software Applications. By Moving The Mouse Across A Flat Surface, Such As A Desk Or Mouse Pad, Users Can Control The Cursor's Position And Direction On The Screen.
The Mouse Typically Has Two Buttons, Referred To As The Left And Right Buttons, Which Perform Various Actions Depending On The Software Context. Additionally, Many Mice Feature A Scroll Wheel Between The Buttons, Enabling Users To Scroll Through Documents, Web Pages, And Other Content Vertically.
Advanced Mice May Include Additional Buttons For Customizable Functions, Ergonomic Designs For Comfort During Extended Use, And High-resolution Sensors For Precise Tracking. In Gaming, Specialized Gaming Mice Offer Programmable Buttons, Adjustable DPI (dots Per Inch) Sensitivity, And Customizable Lighting Effects To Enhance Gameplay Performance And Aesthetics.
Overall, The Mouse Plays A Crucial Role In Computer Systems By Providing Intuitive And Efficient Control For Users To Interact With Digital Interfaces And Navigate The Vast Array Of Software Applications Available.
Scanner
Scanner Is An Input Device That Can Read Text Or An Illustration Printed On Paper And Translates The Information Into A Form That The Computer Can Use. A Scanner Works By Digitizing An Image - Dividing It Into A Grid Of Boxes And Representing Each Box With Either A Zero Or A One, Depending On Whether The Box Is Filled In.
The Resulting Matrix Of Bits, Called A Bit Map, Can Then Be Stored In A File, Displayed On A Screen And Manipulated By Programs. Optical Scanners Do Not Distinguish Text From Illustrations; They Represent All Images As Bit Maps. Therefore, You Cannot Directly Edit Text That Has Been Scanned. To Edit Text Read By An Optical Scanner, You Need An Optical Character Recognition (OCR) System To Translate The Image Into ASCII Characters.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
An Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Is A Device That Is Used For Reading Text From Paper And Translating The Images Into A Form That The Computer Can Understand. An OCR Is Used To Convert Books, Magazines And Other Such Printed Information Into Digital Form.
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
An MICR Can Identify Characters Printed With A Special Magnetic Ink. This Device Particularly Finds Applications In Banking Industry. The Cheques Used For Transactions Have A Unique MICR Code That Can Be Scanned By An MICR Device.
Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)
Optical Mark Recognition, Also Called Mark Sense Reader, Is A Technology Where An OMR Device Senses The Presence Or Absence Of A Mark, Such As Pencil Mark. OMR Is Widely Used For Assessing The Objective Examinations Involving Multiple Choice Questions.
Bar Code Reader
A Bar Code Reader Is An Input Device That Is Generally Seen In Super Markets, Bookshops, Libraries Etc., A Bar-code Reader Is A Photoelectric Scanner That Reads The Bar Codes (vertical Striped Black And White Marks), Printed On Product Containers. The Bar Code Reader Scans The Bar Code Of The Product And Checks The Description And The Latest Price Of The Product.
Digitizing Tablet
This Is An Input Device That Enables You To Enter Drawings And Sketches Into A Computer. A Digitizing Tablet Consists Of An Electronic Tablet And A Cursor Or Pen. A Cursor (also Called A Puck) Is Similar To A Mouse, Except That It Has A Window With Cross Hairs For Pinpoint Placement, And It Can Have As Many As 16 Buttons. A Pen (also Called A Stylus) Looks Like A Simple Ballpoint Pen But Uses An Electronic Head Instead Of Ink.
The Tablet Contains Electronic Field That Enables It To Detect Movement Of The Cursor Or Pen And Translate The Movements Into Digital Signals That It Sends To The Computer. Digitizing Tablets Are Also Called Digitizers, Graphic Tablets, Touch Tablets Or Simply Tablets. Now-a-days Most Tablets Allow You To Simply Use Your Finger To Choose Items Or Open Or Select Apps By Simply Tapping Them.
Light Pen
A Light Pen Is An Input Device That Utilizes A Light-sensitive Detector To Select Objects On A Display Screen.
Speech Input Devices
Speech Or Voice Input Devices Convert A Person’s Speech Into Digital Form. These Input Devices, When Combined With Appropriate Software, Form Voice Recognition Systems. These Systems Enable Users To Operate Microcomputers Using Voice Commands.
Tags:
Input Devices, Keyboard, Scanner, Light Pen, Mouse
