INFS 214:

Introduction to Computing

Session 4 – Input Technology

Lecturer: Dr. Ebenezer Ankrah, Dept. of Information Studies

Contact Information: [email protected]

College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education
2014/2015 – 2016/2017
 Session Overview
• Computer systems use input devices to capture data for
processing. Input technologies consist of devices that
translate data into a form that the computer system can
process.

• This session explains the types and categories of input devices

that are used in the computer environment.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 2

 Session Overview
• At the end of the session, the student will
– Understand and differentiate between the various types of
input devices
– Be able to give examples of input devices
– Understand the various types of input devices for the
physically challenged
– Be able to identify the components of some of the input
devices
– Be able to differentiate between various scanning devices

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 3

 Session Outline
The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:
• Input Devices
• The Keyboard
• Pointing Devices
• Scanning Devices

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 4

 Reading List
• Hutchinson, S. E., & Sawyer, S. C. (2013). Computers: The user
perspective. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. (Chapter 3)

• O’Leary, T. J., & O’Leary, L. I. (2014). Computer Today. Boston:

McGraw Hill. (Chapter 7)

• Williams, B. K., & Sawyer, S. C. (2014). Using Information

Technology: A practical introduction to computers and
communications (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. (Chapter
6)

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 5

 Topic One

INPUT DEVICES

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 6

 Input Devices
• Input (as a noun) is used to describe data and instruction
used by a computer. The process by which data is sent into
the computer system for processing is also termed input (as
a verb).

• Input devices are various devices used to enter data and

instructions into a computer either for processing or
storage. Computer systems use input devices to capture
data for processing.

• Input hardware consist of devices that translate data into a

form the computer system can process.
DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 7
 Input Devices
• Input devices could be classified as follows:
– Keyboards
– Pointing Devices
– Scanning Devices
– Data Collection Devices
– Digitizing Devices
– Audio Input Devices
– Input Devices for the Physically Challenged

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 8

 Questions
• Individual Assignment:
– List some of the pointing input devices

• Forum Question:
– What are the major differences between
pointing and scanning devices?

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 9

 Topic Two

THE KEYBOARD

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 10

 The Keyboard
• One of the primary input devices used with a computer is
the keyboard. The keyboard looks very similar to the
keyboards of electric typewriters, with some additional
keys. Keyboards allow a computer user to input letters,
numbers, and other symbols into a computer system.

• There are four types of keyboards, namely:

– Traditional keyboard
– Ergonomic keyboard
– Flexible keyboard
– Wireless keyboard

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 11

 The Keyboard
• Traditional keyboard

Command key Function keys Status Light

Escape key Command keys

Command
keys

Command keys Numeric pad

Main keys Command keys
Alpha-Numeric keys Navigation keys

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 12

 The Keyboard
• Ergonomic keyboard
– Ergonomic keyboards are designed to minimize strain on
hands and wrists. Ergonomic incorporates comfort,
efficiency and safety into design of items in workplace

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 13

 The Keyboard
• Flexible keyboard
– Flexible (Foldable) keyboards are extremely good for
travelling. Simply roll them up and then unroll them when
you need them again.

• Wireless keyboard – This is a keyboard without a

cable connecting to the system unit.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 14

 Topic Three

POINTING DEVICES

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 15

 Pointing Devices
• A pointing device is a hardware input device that allows the
user to move the mouse pointer to select items on a display
screen.

• The type of pointing device is:

– Based on rolling a ball
– Based on touching a surface
– Based on moving stick

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 16

 Pointing Devices
• The types of pointing devices are:
– Mouse
– Track-ball
– Track point
– Track space
– Joy stick
– Touch Screens
– Light Pen

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 17

 Pointing Devices
• Mouse
– A mouse is a device that is moved by hand over a flat
surface. As the ball on its underside rotates, the movement
of the mouse causes corresponding movement of a pointer
on the computer screen. Pressing buttons on the mouse
enables you invoke commands on the computer system.

– There are three types of mouse, these are:

• Mechanical mouse
• Optical mouse
• Cordless or wireless

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 18

 Pointing Devices
• Track Ball
• The track-ball or roller ball is
like an upside-down mouse
and one can roll the ball
directly with the hand.

• The trackball does not require

a clear surface to roll on, and it
can be attached firmly to the
keyboard or computer case (it
is often built in on portable
computers).

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 19

 Pointing Devices
• Track Point/Track Space
• This is represented as a rubber stick protruding from the
keyboard with silicon rubber. This is also called pointing
stick. Its alternative is the track space (also known as
touch space) where a blank space with silicon rubber is
also created at the bottom of the laptop keyboard.

• In both cases, they grippe the thumb and as you move

the thumb, the pointer makes corresponding movement
on the monitor. A mouse can still, be connected to a
computer with a track point / track space to allow a dual-
pointer use. Also in use on laptops are mini-trackballs.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 20

 Pointing Devices
• Joy Stick
– The best known of this category of input device is the joystick
that appeared with the first computer games.

– Joysticks have evolved into many styles of input devices,

• including hand grips,
• steering wheels, and even
• combination of mouse-joysticks.

– The joystick for games was the first popular input device used
for graphics. Today there are even 3-D devices that let you
control more than a single dimension of space.
•

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 21

 Pointing Devices
• Touch screens
– Touch screens accept input data by letting you point at the
screen to make your choice. Sensors on the edges of the
screen pinpoint the touched location and cause a
corresponding action on the screen.

• Light pen
– A light pen is a light-sensitive pen-like device. The light pen
is placed against the monitor to close photo-electric circuit
and identify the spot for entering or modifying data. For
example, light pens are used to edit digital images.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 22

 Topic Four

SCANNING DEVICES

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 23

 Scanning Devices
• Scanning devices are input devices used for direct data entry in
to a computer system.

• The following are scanning devices:

– Optical Scanners
– Bar Code Readers
– Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition
– Optical Character Recognition
– Optical Mark Recognition

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 24

 Scanning Devices
• Optical Scanners
• An optical scanner is a hardware input device that allows
a user to take an image or text and convert it into a
digital file, allowing the computer to read or display the
scanned object.

• There are four types of optical scanners. These are:

– Flatbed
– Handheld /Pen
– Sheet-fed
– Drum

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 25

 Scanning Devices
• Bar Code Readers
– It is a device that is used to read stripped lines (bar code)
by means of reflected light. Bar code readers can read bar
codes patterns of printed bars.

– Lines of different widths and sizes representing data that,

when read, will determine what the scanned object is. Bar
codes are often used to help organize and be able to index
information or prices about an object.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 26

 Scanning Devices
– A barcode reader consists of a scanner, a decoder, and
cable used to connect the reader with a computer.

– Data coded in the form of small line are known as bar

code. It directs a beam of light across the bar code and
measures the amount of light that is reflected back.

– The scanner converts the light energy into electrical

energy, which is then converted into data by decoder and
forwarded to a computer.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 27

 Scanning Devices
• Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition
– Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is a method of
machine-reading characters made of magnetized particles.

– The most common example of magnetic characters is the array

of futuristic-looking numbers on the bottom of your personal
cheque.

– The MICR process is, in fact, used mainly by banks for processing
cheques. MICR is used in banking industry for faster processing
of a large number of cheques daily. MICR characters are printed
in special typefaces with a magnetic ink or toner.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 28

 Scanning Devices
• Optical Character Recognition
– Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is meant to identify
characters exactly as they look. When images are scanned,
they are made as pictures. OCR identifies scan images as
characters and not as images.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 29

 Scanning Devices
• Optical Mark Recognition
• Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) is sometimes called mark
sensing, because a machine senses marks on a piece of paper.

• As a student, you may immediately recognize this approach as

the technique used to score certain tests. Using a pencil, you
make a mark in a specified box or space that corresponds to
what you think is the answer.

• The answer sheet is then graded by a device that uses a light-

beam to recognize the marks and convert them to electrical
signals, which are sent to the computer for processing.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 30

 References
• Hutchinson, S. E., & Sawyer, S. C. (2013). Computers: The
user perspective. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill.

• O’Leary, T. J., & O’Leary, L. I. (2014). Computer Today.

Boston: McGraw Hill.

• Williams, B. K., & Sawyer, S. C. (2014). Using Information

Technology: A practical introduction to computers and
communications (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

DR.EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 31