Input devices

What is an input device?

 Input devices are hardware components that allow users to interact with a computer system

 They enable the user to input data or commands into the system, which the computer then
processes to produce an output

Types of input devices

Input device Use Advantages Disadvantages

 Repetitive strain
 Easy method of entering injury
Keyboard Entering data into a computer data
 Slow to enter data
 Very common compared to direc
data entry

 RSI (strain on wrist

 Intuitive and precise  Requires flat
control surface
Mouse To select on screen objects
 Fast to make on-screen  People with
choices disabilities can find
them difficult to us

 Enhances
gameplay/simulation  Expensive
experience  Limited use outsid
Joystick Moves sprites/characters around a game
 Improve realism of gaming and
simulators
 Accurate

 Precise  Cost

Graphics tablet Use a stylus to draw or write  Natural feel  Learning curve

 Ergonomic  Battery life

 Accurate reproduction
 Quality depends on
 Easy to share and store resolution
Scanner Convert paper documents to electronic
 Combined with  High quality means
barcodes becomes a can be slow
DDE

Digital camera Taking photos/videos  Vast amounts can be  Storage

compression can
 lead to a loss in
captured quality
 No developing  Need to be tech-
 Easy to share savvy to use
effectively

 Real-time
communication  Image quality
Webcam Streaming images/video
 Cheap  Privacy concerns
 Multipurpose

 Variable quality
 Hands-free input
 Verbal inputs can
 Can be used for voice be inaccurate
Microphone Input speech, sensor to pick up sounds
recognition
 Need to remembe
 Fast key words and/or
phrases

Resistive Pressure causes layers to 'touch'  Screens can get

 Intuitive
touchscreen Durable dirty
 No need for a separate
Conduct electricity  Easily scratched
pointing device
Capacitive
Finger causes a change in electrical  Less precise than a
touchscreen  Easy to keep clean
charge and can be measured precisely mouse

 Limited to specific
forms
OMR  Cannot read
 Fast processing
Optical Mark Read marks on exam paper in pen/pencil handwriting
 Reduced human error
Recognition  Form must be
completed
accurately

 Can struggle with

complex layouts
OCR  Fast data entry
 Font dependent
Optical Character Text to digital data  Accurate and less error
 Not always 100%
Recognition prone
accurate

 Expensive
  Requires line-of-
 Fast and accurate sight
 Low cost  Barcodes are easily
Barcode scanner Reads barcode labels  Allows for automatic damaged
stock control  Barcodes can be
 Tried & trusted swapped/altered b
consumers

 Easier than passwords

 Privacy concerns
Biometric scanner Fingerprint/facial/voice/iris recognition  More secure
 Expensive
 Speed

 Magnetic stripes
 Fast can get damaged
Magnetic stripe and become
Debit/credit cards  Simple to use unreadable
reader
 Secure (unreadable)  Reader must be in
close contact

 Requires PIN input

 Potential for
Chip and PIN  Secure skimming
Retail card payments
reader  Reduced fraud risk  High payment limit
an issue for stolen
cards

 Fast transaction (no pin)

 Data wirelessly  Transaction limit is

transferred securely smaller
RFID reader Contactless payments
 Retailers don't have to  RFID signals can be
access customer read/intercepted
credit/debit information

Analogue sensors Measure environmental data e.g.  Generally accurate  May require
temperature, light, sound, humidity etc. calibration
 Provides real-time
information  Data must be
converted to digita
 Automatic
data (ADC)
 Can collect data from
 Data may need to
places where they may
be checked for
 be threat to human life accuracy

Output devices

What is an output device?

 Output devices are hardware components that receive information from a computer
system and present it to the user in a comprehensible form

 They enable the computer to communicate the results of processed data or commands

Types of output devices

Output
Use/features Advantages Disadvantages
device

 Run hot
 Large viewing  Heavy
angles
CRT monitor  Consume more
 Can be used with power (than
light pens other monitor
Display output from a
types)
computer

Screen size is measured  Low power  Motion

diagonally in inches blur/ghosting
 Lightweight
LCD monitor Resolution is the number  Colour &
 No flickering
of pixels measured contrast variable
horizontally across the  No image burn- from different
screen in viewing angles

 No motion  More expensive

blur/ghosting (than LCD)
LED monitor
 Low power  Contrast can be
 Long life poor

 Fast
High volume printing  Expensive initial
 High-quality cost
Laser Electronically
prints
printer charged toner  Limited to flat
 Lower cost per surfaces
Dry ink
page

Inkjet Home printing &  Lower initial cost  Slower

printer photographs
 High-quality  Higher cost per
Uses wet ink separated
 into black, cyan,
prints
magenta & yellow page
 Ink can be
Tiny dots sprayed onto  Ink may smudge
refilled
paper

Useful when  Low cost

printing multiple copies  Noisy
 Can print multi-
Dot matrix
Paper part forms  Low print quality
printer
is impacted through  Very good for  Slow
a ribbon of ink long print runs

 Customisable  Limited materials

designs  Slow process
Create real-life versions
3D printer  Rapid  Counterfeit items
of digital models
prototyping easier to produce
 Medical benefits  Very expensive

 High accuracy
 Slow
 Can print on
Create drawings &
Plotters various materials  Expensive to buy
blueprints
 Inexpensive to  Large size
run

 Requires
darkened room
 Large display
 Expensive bulbs
Multimedia Output computer usually  Good for
projector to much larger display presentations  Need separate
audio
 Space saving
 Quality is
variable

 Range of sizes
and power  Expensive for
outputs higher quality
Speakers Output audio output
 Immersive audio
 Varying sound
 Helps people quality
with disabilities

Actuators Control motors, pumps,  Precise  Requires power

 movement

 Programmable  Potential
switches etc. mechanical wear
 Allow automatic
control of many  Requires DAC
devices interface

WORKED EXAMPLE

List two peripheral devices that could be used to input text by people who are unable to use a mouse
and keyboard

[2]

Answer

Any two from:

 Microphone

 Touchscreen

 Trackpad

 (Graphics) tablet

 Camera / Eye tracker / Gesture sensor/reader