By Mulco Dan Theoretical Lyceum « Orizont » Durlesti February 2014

What is an input device? A device that can be used to insert data into a computer or the computational device

Basic input devices Keyboards allow a computer user to input letters, numbers, and other symbols into a computer and is what allows you to write and is what you used to visit this web page. Below is an example of a Saitek keyboard with indicators pointing to each of the major sections of the keyboard.

Pointing device A pointing device is a hardware input device that allows the user to move the mouse pointer. Good examples of pointing devices are a computer mouse, trackball, light pens, touchpad, and even the keyboard. In the picture to the right, is a Microsoft mouse and an example of a pointing device.

Pointing device. Trackball An input device that looks like an upside- down mouse. The onscreen pointer is moved by the trackball with a thumb or finger. A trackball requires less arm and wrist motion that a regular mouse takes and therefore is often less stressful for the user to use

Pointing device. Light pen A light pen is a light- sensitive pointing device commonly used to select or otherwise modify text or data on a screen.

Pointing device. Touchpad A touchpad is an input device found on the majority of portable computers, and now also available with some external keyboards, that allow you to move the mouse cursor without the need of an external mouse.

Remote A hardware device that allows a user to control a device or object in another location. In the picture to the right, is an example of a remote, the Harmony One Universal Remote from Logitech.

Joystick A joystick allows an individual to move an object in a game such as navigating a plane in a flight simulator.

Touch screen A monitor or other flat surface with a sensitive panel directly on the screen that registers the touch of a finger as input. A touch screen allows a user to interact with a device without a mouse or keyboard for input

Scanner A 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.

Portable scanner

Graphics tablet A graphics tablet is a highly accurate hardware input device that enables an artist to draw or sketch easier than they would be able to do with a standard computer mouse.

Microphone Sometimes abbreviated as mic, a microphone is a hardware peripheral that allows computer users to input audio into their computers. Most microphones connect to the computer using the "mic" port on the computer sound card.

Barcode reader A barcode reader is a hardware device capable of reading a barcode and printing out the details of the product or logging that product into a database.

Business card reader A business card reader allows a user to scan business cards into their computer for digital storage. Computer scanners are capable of scanning and converting text documents to typed text

Light gun A light gun is a pointing input device that detects light using a photodiode in the gun barrel.

Magnetic card reader A magnetic card reader is a device that can retrieve stored information from a magnetic card either by holding the card next to the device or swiping the card through a slot in the device.

Virtual Reality Virtual Reality is a computer-generated artificial environment that allows a user to view, explore, and manipulate the environment

Output Devices An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) which converts the electronically generated information into human- readable form

Monitor A monitor is a video display screen and the hard shell that holds it. In its most common usage, monitor refers only to devices that contain no electronic equipment other than what is essentially needed to display and adjust the characteristics of an image.

Printer An external hardware device responsible for taking computer data and generating a hard copy of that data.

3D Printer Created by Charles W. Hull in 1984, the 3D printer is a sophisticated printing device that uses a design from a digital image to produce an identical physical object using material such as metal alloys, polymers, or plastics.

GPS GPS is a network of satellites that helps users determine a location on Earth. The thought of GPS was conceived after the launch of Sputnik in 1957.

Headphones Headphones are a hardware device that either plugs into your computer or your speakers and allow you to privately listen to audio without disturbing anyone else.

Projector An output device that can take the display of a computer screen and project a large version of it onto a flat surface.

Plotter A plotter is a computer hardware device similar to a printer that uses a pen, pencil, marker or other writing tool to make a design.

Speakers A hardware device connected to a computer's sound card that outputs sounds generated by the computer.

TV A TV is an electronics device that receives a visual and audible signal and plays it to the viewer.

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