Input devices A piece of equipment that allows the user to give instructions and input data to the computer.

keyboard A computer keyboard is an input device that enables the user to enter characters (letters, numbers and symbols) into a computer. The keyboard consists of rows of keys with each key representing a different character. There are different types of keyboards available, for example, QWERTY keyboards, ergonomic keyboards, braille keyboards.

Create similar slides for all the input devices in the list: List of input devices Create similar slides for all the input devices in the list: Keyboard Mouse Touch screen Webcam Microphone Joystick Graphics tablet Scanner Touch sensitive jog dial

Mouse A mouse is a hand held pointing device that is classed as a manual input device. A mouse usually has between 1 to 3 buttons which users 'click' in order to point and select objects on the screen. The data from the mouse is transmitted to the computer. You can have wireless and wired mouse which both transmit information to the computer.

Touch screen A touch screen is the only device which can be classed as both an input and an output device. It consists of a display monitor that is able to sense the location of a finger touching the screen. The location information is sent to the software currently running so that it can react to the event. For example, the screen may be showing a graphic image of a shopping cart. Touching the cart image with your finger may cause the software to open up a payment page.

webcam Short for Web Camera. This is a small video camera, about the size of a golf ball, that can send video pictures when attached to a computer with the right software. Web Cams are used a lot for video conferencing or to monitor something from across the Internet. For example, it is possible to connect through the internet to a web cam that has been set up near the north pole. Web Cams are used a lot with Instant Messaging applications such as MSN Web cams can be built in or not built in.

Microphone An input device. A microphone converts sound into an electrical signal. There are many types of microphone but they all work on the same principle. Sound is basically rapidly changing air pressure and so a microphone contains a 'diaphragm' that moves back and forth as the sound waves hit it. This movement is detected by some electronics which produces an electrical signal. This signal is then fed into a sound card or audio amplifier.

Joystick A joystick is an input device which is mostly used for playing computer games such as flight simulators. It has a moveable control lever which can be tilted in various directions to control what is happening on the screen.

Graphics tablet This is an input device which is often used by graphics designers and illustrators to work with images or hand drawn designs. A graphics tablet has two parts. The first part is a slender slab that lies flat on the table. The second part is a special pen. The tablet can sense how the pen is moving around on its flat surface. By moving the pen around you are able to draw lines and pictures. The computer must be running an application that can deal with the graphics tablet. For example Photoshop or CAD (Computer Aided Design) software.

Scanner This is an input device which is often used by graphics designers and illustrators to work with images or hand drawn designs. A graphics tablet has two parts. The first part is a slender slab that lies flat on the table. The second part is a special pen. The tablet can sense how the pen is moving around on its flat surface. By moving the pen around you are able to draw lines and pictures. The computer must be running an application that can deal with the graphics tablet. For example Photoshop or CAD (Computer Aided Design) software.

Touch sensitive jog dial A jog dial, jog wheel, shuttle dial, or shuttle wheel is a type of knob, ring, wheel, or dial which allows the user to shuttle or jog through audio or video media. It is commonly found on models of CD players which are made for disc jockeys, and on professional video equipment such as video tape recorders. More recently, they are found on handheld PDAs, and as the scroll wheel on computer mice. "Jog" refers to going at a very slow speed, whereas "shuttle" refers to a very fast speed. There are two basic types of wheels. One type has no stops and can be spun the entire way around. This type depends on tracking the actual motion of the dial: the faster it spins forward or back, the faster it fast-forwards or rewinds. Once the dial stops moving, the media continues playing or remains paused at that point. Another type has stops on either side, and often has three or so speeds which depend on how far it is turned. Once the wheel is released, it springs back to the middle position and the media pauses or begins playing again. If the device is set or designed to pause after the wheel is used, the audio is often stuttered, repeating a small section over and over again. This is usually done on DJ CD players, for the purpose of beatmatching.

Exam question Jo has a new games console. State two input devices that she might use with it. 1. 2.