INPUT DEVICE
Input Device
✓Input device is a piece of hardware used to enter data, instruction or information to a
computer for processing.
✓In computing, peripheral input devices are used to provide data and control signals to
systems such as computers and other such devices.
✓Input devices convert human-understandable data and programs into a form that the
computer can process.
✓Input devices are used to capture command and information.
✓The input unit is formed by the input devices attached to the computer.
✓The input unit is responsible for taking input and converting it into computer
understandable form.
✓Computer can understand two stages 1 for ON and 0 for OFF.
Input: The information comes from an external source and is fed into computer
software is called input.
✓Whatever is typed, submitted or transmitted is called computer input.
✓Examples of Input devices are Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner, MICR, OCR, BCR, Joystick,
Light pen, Trackball etc.
1. Keyboard: This is the most important device. It is an
improved version of type writer. The keyboard keys are
more easily pressed than those of the typewriter.
Keyboard is a most commonly used text input device that
is used to enter information into the computer.
✓It was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes.
✓Any letter, number or symbol found on the
keyboard that you can type into the computer is
known as character.
✓The QWERTY keyboard generally contains 104 keys.
✓QWERTY keyboard was design originally intended to make typing harder and in
efficient.
✓A keyboard contains 26 Alphabetic keys, 10 Numeric keys and 12 function keys.
✓Keyboard may be serial and parallel
✓The keyboard has a set of central keys to control the movement of the cursor and the
screen.
Types of keyboard:
✓1. Wireless keyboard
✓2. Ergonomic keyboard
✓3. Flexible keyboard
Function Keys: Function keys situated at the top of the keyboard.
Function Key Uses of Function Key
Name
F1 Help
F2 Rename
F3 Search
F4 Repeat Last Action Redo (Ctrl+y)
F5 Refresh or Reload webpage
F6 Used for activate the Menu Bar or to go to Address Bar of any Browser
F7 Spelling and Grammar Checking.
F8 Used to access Windows Safe Mode to start booting.
F9 Refresh document in Microsoft Word. Send and receive e-mail in Microsoft Outlook.
F10 In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application.
F11 Enter and exit full screen mode in all most Internet browsers.
F12 Save as
Navigation Keys: Navigation keys on a computer keyboard that is used to
move the pointer around on the screen.
Navigation keys Uses of keys
Arrow Keys The arrow keys can be used to move the cursor in the text
that has already been entered.
Arrow keys which are used to move cursor Right, Left, Up,
Down.
Home Button Home button moves the cursor beginning of the line.
End Button End button moves the cursor end of the line or bottom of
the page.
Page Up Key The page up key is used to move up the cursor from one
page to another page.
Page Down The page down key is used to move Down the cursor from
one page to another.
Combination Key:
Combination keys are those which work with another key.
Alt, Ctrl and shift are also known as modifier key and combination key.
CTRL, Shift, Alt keys are used for special task.
Toggle Keys:
Caps lock, scroll lock, number lock and insert buttons are known as toggle
1. Caps Lock: Caps lock key used when you want to make all letters capital
without having to use the shift key for each character.
2. Num lock: Num lock is used with numeric button.
Numeric keypad contains delete, enter and number lock keys.
Numeric keypad keys enable the input of numbers quickly.
3. Scroll Lock Button:
Scroll lock key is a toggle key.
Information displayed on the monitor is paused when the scroll lock button is
pressed.
4. Insert Button: The Insert button is used to turn on and off the insert mode
and is used to overwrite the data already stored.
Other Special Key: There are many special keys as like Return/ Enter, End Key,
Ctrl, Shift, Del, Insert, Backspace, Space bar, Tab key, Shift key, Print screen,
Scroll lock, Escape key, pause, page up and page down key.
Other Keys Uses of keys
Pause /Break Key It works as scroll lock button.
Print Screen It is used for screenshot of information which is currently shown on
monitor screen.
Enter/Return Enter button works as OK button.
One puts information into the computer by pressing this key.
The key that must be pressed each time a new command or
information is entered Return/ Enter.
Tab Button The Tab button is used to move the cursor across the screen and
indent a paragraph.
Back Space Key The backspace key is used to delete a character to the left of the
cursor.
If a mistake is made during typing the mistake can be erased by
pressing the backspace key.
Other Keys Uses of keys
Delete Key Delete a character to the right of the cursor.
ESC Key Esc key on a keyboard is used to generate the escape character.
Esc key is not used to run a selected command.
Esc key is used to cancel program.
Space Bar It moves the cursor one space to the right or puts spaces in between
words.
Spacebar is the longest key on the keyboard.
Insert Keys Used to insert a character between any words.
Shift Key It is used to type capital letters.
2. Mouse:
• A mouse is a pointing device with a roller at its base,
used for moving a pointer on a computer monitor.
• A mouse is often used to select or highlight.
• Mouse was invented in 1963-64 by Douglas C. Engel Bart.
• Cursor: The blinking symbol on the screen is called cursor.
• The mouse cursor is moved on a
computer monitor with the help of a mouse.
• The mouse pointer usually appears in the shape of
shape an arrow.
• Mouse is a point and draw device.
• Note: Gyroscope principle is used in
computer mouse smart phone and car racing
Works of Mouse
1. Pointing: When you move the mouse here and there and
bring it to an icon or folder on your desktop, then it is called
pointing.
2. Clicking: Moving the mouse pointer over an icon or program
and releasing the left or right mouse button is called a click.
3. Drag and Drop: It is used to describe using the mouse to
move an item on the screen to a new location. Dragging is
holding the mouse button down while moving an object or text.
4. Scrolling: Scroll button is used for page scrolling, situated
between 2 standards button
Note: The Clicklock property of the mouse allows dragging
without holding mouse button.
Types of Click:
1. Left Click: Left click is used to select any file folder.
2. Right Click: Right Click is used to see the properties of any file and folder
or a special menu.
3. Double Click: To open any file or folder and run any application we use
double click. By clicking mouse twice information goes to CPU.
Types of Mouse Use of Mouse
Mechanical Mouse A mechanical mouse is a computer hardware input device
comprised of a metal or rubber ball in its underside and a bit out of
mouse shell.
When we move the mouse on the surface, the sensors inside it send
signals to the computer.
The speed, distance, direction of balls included in signal.
Optical Mouse It is known as non-mechanical mouse.
An optical mouse uses light emitting diodes.
It uses technology camera and processing to compare and track
mouse position.
In optical mouse, the cursor works on the basis of laser light.
Cordless Mouse It has transmitter and receiver. This provides the information of click
and speed of the mouse in the form of electron magnetic signals.
A wireless mouse is a device that uses infrared light waves to
communicate with the system unit.
3. Trackball: Trackball falls into the Input device
category.
A moving ball mounted on a stationary device that
can be turned manually using a finger.
It is same as mouse and has a ball on the top.
It is used in the field of medicine and CAD.
It is used to enter motion data in computers or
Other electronic devices.
4. Touchpad: Touchpad is a good
Alternative to the mouse; it is an example of
pointing device.
Touch pad is found on laptops. It is used with the
help of user's finger movements.
5. Joystick:
A joystick is a computer input device consisting
of a base and a movable stick that allows users
to control objects or a cursor on a screen by
tilting the stick in different directions. It provides
directional input for tasks such as gaming,
operating machinery, and controlling virtual
objects, making it a versatile tool for interacting
with computer systems.
6. Light pen: A light pen is a pointing device that can be used to select anything on the
computer screen by simply pointing at it or for drawing figures directly on the screen.
Light pen is an input device that utilizes a light sensitive detector
to select and draw an object on a display screen
A light pen consists of a photocell and an optical system
housed in a small tube.
7. Stylus Pen: Stylus is a pointing and drawing device with a pen-like shape.
It is used on touch screen or digitizers.
Through this the screen of the mobile is controlled.
Note: Joystick, Trackball, Mouse, light pen are the example of pointing device.
8. QR-Code: QR Code stands for Quick Response.
The length of QR Code is 15 bit.
There are 3 position detection patterns in the QR code.
9. VOICE or SPEECH RECOGNITION:
System Speech recognition software could assist someone
who cannot use their hands for computer input.
[Link]: Scanner is an optical input device allows computers to use
light as a source of input.
A scanner is a light sensitive device used to read handwritten or printed
text, image, drawing and document and converted into digital form.
It looks like a photocopier machine when the any information is available
on the paper, then it is used.
It is necessary to replace it with the hard disk of the computer for more
use or processing.
The scanner performs scanning by shining a light beam on the images and
documents on the paper.
Fluorescent bulb is used in the scanner for document, image scanning.
The device that copies or duplicates text and images is called an optical
scanner.
Types of Scanner:
I. Flatbed: It is also known as desktop scanner. It looks similar
to a photocopier machine and it consists of a box containing a
glass plate on its top and a lid that covers the glass plate.
II. Sheet bed: it is known as rold over scanner. It is looks like
as a fax [Link] referred to as an automatic
document scanner or ADF scanner) is a digital imaging
system specifically designed for scanning loose sheets
of paper
III. Handheld: It is used to scan any object and convert it into
digital format.
[Link]:
OMR stands for optical mark reader.
OMR Scanning is a technology that reads the check boxes
contained inside a predefined space.
Optical mark recognition scanner reads characters, marks and
codes with the help of a light source and they are used for
objective type answer papers in competitive examinations.
[Link]: OCR stands for Optical Character Reader.
Optical character recognition reads characters with the help of a
light.
OCR input device is used converts printed data or handwritten
data into ASCII code.
OCR is invented by E.G BURG.
Optical character reader can translate text into editable text
without scanning.
OCR scans images of text documents and converts it into
editable form.
[Link] Code Reader: It is used inside the retailer, super market,
ware houses and shopping malls to scan bar code so that they
are automatically entered in the bill and you paid the price.
Optical method is used to read the bar code printed on product.
The pattern of printed lines on most products is called bar
codes.
14. Magnetic Ink Character Reader:
Magnetic ink character reader is an input device used to
verify the legitimacy or originality of paper documents,
especially cheques in the bank.
In MICR, the first 3 digits represent the city, the next 3
digits represent the bank, and the last 3 digits represent
the bank branch.
MICR is a technology used by the banking or other
financial industry for the processing of cheques.
[Link] Card Reader (SCR):
It is a special purpose card used for scanning & online
payment.
All types of smart cards are read by it as like debit card,
credit card, company worker card, identity card of
student.
16. Electronic Card Reader: In this the data is stored in the magnetic
stripe. Electronic cards are used with ATMs in banks.
[Link] TAG READER: It's a punched card that comes with
clothes in stores. When someone buys clothes, that card is sent for
processing.
18. Bio metric sensor: Biometric sensor is used to scan human
characteristics, such as eyes and fingerprints etc.
19. Microphone: It is an input device takes sound as input.
Used to ease a voice (sound waves) or convert it to digital audio form.
Microphone device converts human speech into electric signals.
20. Touch screen: Touch screen is an input device.
Touch screens are mostly found in the systems where the user needs
to choose options from a list. This facility is usually found in ATM and
mobile phone.
21. Digitizer: A digitizer is a machine that converts analogue
information to digital form and can be used for doing fine works of
drawing and image manipulation.
Digitizer converts handwritten print into coded characters for
computer input.
22 .Graphics Tablet: Graphics tablet is an input device consist of
an electronic writing area and a special pen that works with it.
Graphics tablet is used to enter handwritten signatures.
23. Digital Camera:
A digital camera is a peripheral device used to capture still
images in a digital format that can be easily transferred into a
computer and manipulated using graphics software.
24. Digital Camcorder:
A digital camcorder is a portable device that records
video and audio in a digital format onto media like
flash memory cards, hard drives, or DVD discs.
Digital Camcorder could be digital input devices for
computers.
[Link] Camera:
Webcam is a digital video camera that captures real-
time video and audio, sending it over the internet
for applications like video conferencing, live
streaming, and online [Link] is used in video
chatting, video conferencing, office, departmental stores.
With its help we can see live pictures.
Note: Modem is used to send or receive signal on
telephone.
24. Digital Camcorder:
A digital camcorder is a portable device that records
video and audio in a digital format onto media like
flash memory cards, hard drives, or DVD discs.
Digital Camcorder could be digital input devices for
computers.
[Link] Camera:
Webcam is a digital video camera that captures real-
time video and audio, sending it over the internet
for applications like video conferencing, live
streaming, and online [Link] is used in video
chatting, video conferencing, office, departmental stores.
With its help we can see live pictures.
Note: Modem is used to send or receive signal on
telephone.
24. Digital Camcorder:
A digital camcorder is a portable device that records
video and audio in a digital format onto media like
flash memory cards, hard drives, or DVD discs.
Digital Camcorder could be digital input devices for
computers.
[Link] Camera:
Webcam is a digital video camera that captures real-
time video and audio, sending it over the internet
for applications like video conferencing, live
streaming, and online [Link] is used in video
chatting, video conferencing, office, departmental stores.
With its help we can see live pictures.
Note: Modem is used to send or receive signal on
telephone.