Info - Sheet 2.2-1

INFORMATION SHEET 2.
2-1
Input Data into Computer
Learning Objective:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to know

the different computer input devices.
COMPUTER INPUT DEVICES
Following are some of the important input devices which are used in a
computer −
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Joy Stick
 Light pen
 Track Ball
 Scanner
 Graphic Tablet
 Microphone
 Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR)
 Optical Character Reader(OCR)
 Bar Code Reader
 Optical Mark Reader(OMR)
Keyboard
Keyboard is the most common

and very popular input device
which helps to input data to
the computer. The layout of
the keyboard is like that of
traditional typewriter,
although there are some additional keys provided for performing additional
functions.
Keyboards are of two sizes 84 keys or 101/102 keys, but now keyboards with
104 keys or 108 keys are also available for Windows and Internet.
The keys on the keyboard are as follows −
S.No Keys & Description
Typing Keys
1
These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (09) which
generally give the same layout as that of typewriters.
Numeric Keypad
It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement.

2
Generally, it consists of a set of 17 keys that are laid out in the
same configuration used by most adding machines and
calculators.
Function Keys
3 The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which are
arranged in a row at the top of the keyboard. Each function key
has a unique meaning and is used for some specific purpose.
Control keys
These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four

4
directional arrow keys. Control keys also include Home, End,
Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl), Alternate(Alt),
Escape(Esc).
5 Special Purpose Keys

Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as Enter,
Shift, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.
Mouse
Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control
device having a small palm size box with a round ball at its base, which
senses the movement of the mouse and sends corresponding signals to the
CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.
Generally, it has two buttons called the left and the right button and a wheel
is present between the buttons. A mouse can be used to control the position of
the cursor on the screen, but it cannot be used to enter text into the
computer.
Advantages
 Easy to use
 Not very expensive
 Moves the cursor faster
than the arrow keys of
the keyboard.
Joystick
Joystick is also a pointing device, which is
used to move the cursor position on a
monitor screen. It is a stick having a
spherical ball at its both lower and upper
ends. The lower spherical ball moves in a
socket. The joystick can be moved in all four
directions.
The function of the joystick is similar to that of a mouse. It is mainly used in
Computer Aided Designing (CAD) and playing computer games.
Light Pen
Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It
is used to select a displayed menu item or draw
pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of a
photocell and an optical system placed in a small
tube.
When the tip of a light pen is moved over the monitor screen and the pen
button is pressed, its photocell sensing element detects the screen location
and sends the corresponding signal to the CPU.
Track Ball
Track ball is an input device that is mostly
used in notebook or laptop computer, instead
of a mouse. This is a ball which is half inserted
and by moving fingers on the ball, the pointer
can be moved.
Since the whole device is not moved, a track ball requires less space than a
mouse. A track ball comes in various shapes like a ball, a button, or a square.
Scanner
Scanner is an input device, which works more like a photocopy machine. It is
used when some information is available on paper and it is to be transferred
to the hard disk of the computer for further
manipulation.
Scanner captures images from the source

which are then converted into a digital form
that can be stored on the disk. These images
can be edited before they are printed.
Microphone
Microphone is an input device
to input sound that is then
stored in a digital form.
The microphone is used for

various applications such as
adding sound to a multimedia
presentation or for mixing
music.
Bar Code Readers

Bar Code Reader is a device
used for reading bar coded
data (data in the form of light
and dark lines). Bar coded data
is generally used in labeling
goods, numbering the books,
etc. It may be a handheld
scanner or may be embedded
in a stationary scanner.
Bar Code Reader scans a bar code image, converts it into an alphanumeric
value, which is then fed to the computer that the bar code reader is connected
to.

Info - Sheet 2.2-1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Info - Sheet 2.2-1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Info - Sheet 2.2-1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INFORMATION SHEET 2.

After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to know

COMPUTER INPUT DEVICES

Keyboard is the most common

The keys on the keyboard are as follows −

S.No Keys & Description

It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement.

These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four

5 Special Purpose Keys

Scanner captures images from the source

The microphone is used for

Bar Code Readers

You might also like