Hardware

 Know that there are lots of different input devices  Understand why each type of input device is suitable for a different purpose  Be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of different input devices

There are a huge range of input devices on the market. These fall into two main groups: Manual Input include devices such as the keyboard and mouse, where the user has to put the data in by hand. Manual Input and Automatic Data Capture.

Automatic Data Capture devices collect the data automatically and feed it straight into a computer. Some of them are operated by people, like bar-code scanners, but some devices just collect data, such as web cams and data loggers. Automatic data capture tends to cut down on errors compared to manual data entry. It is usually quicker too – imagine how long the supermarket queue would be if every number on the bar-code had to be typed by hand. However, they tend to be more expensive, and so are usually used when there is a lot of data to capture.

Input DevicePlace UsedPurpose OMRNewsagentLottery ticket Touch screenBus stopPlan your journey KeyboardATM outside bankWithdraw money OCRPost OfficeSorting letters Concept keyboardBurger barPrice-up orders MICRBankProcessing cheques Bar-code readerSupermarketFinding cost of items CCTVStreetSecurity in street SwitchPelican crossingChange traffic lights

Input devices fall into two main categories: manual devices and automatic data capture devices. Data can be input by touch, sound, light, control, magnetism and electronic means. Input devices are being used all around us in daily life.

 For each one of the following input devices: 1. Describe it 2. Say where it would be used 3. Give one advantage 4. Give one disadvantage

 keyboards,  numeric keypads,  pointing devices (including mouse, touch pad and tracker ball),  remote controls,  joysticks,  touch screens,

 graphics tablet,  magnetic stripe readers,  chip readers,  PIN pads,  digital cameras,  video cameras,

 web cams,  scanners,  microphones,  sensors,

 MICR,  OMR,  OCR,  barcode readers,  light pens.