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Input device A hardware device that sends information into the CPU.

Without any input devices a computer would simply be a display device and not allow users to interact with it, much like a TV. Below is a listing of different types of computer input devices.

Digital camera Joystick Keyboard Microphone Mouse Scanner Web Cam

Keyboard One of the main input devices used on a computer, a PC's keyboard looks very similar to the keyboards of electric typewriters, with some additional keys.

Finally, today most users use the QWERTY style keyboards.

KEYBOARD ABCs

The keyboard is the main input peripheral used by all computers. The keyboard allows for user input and action with the computer. Much like many type writers, the keyboard has all the letters of the alphabet, numbers 0 - 9 and additional special operational keys. TYPES OF KEYBOARDS QWERTY Keyboard - Developed by Sholes in 1868 and is now the official standard of computer keyboards [ISO9995]. The layout of the QWERTY keyboard was designed for two finger typing and was designed to help prevent stuck keys. Now with new technology, stuck keys are no longer an issue; and with the position of the keys, the hands are held close together helping to cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Given all the above problems, this is the most widely used keyboard because the lack of options, can be used without training, is used because of the difficulty of having to teach a different keyboard, and is cheap and easy to find. Dvorak Keyboard - Developed by Dr. August Dvorak in 1936 as a solution to the outdated QWERTY keyboard. The layout of the keys on this keyboard make it easier and faster to type on when compared with other keyboards. Chiclet Keyboard - Very small keyboard that was introduced with the PC Jr. with small keys spread out. Microphone Sometimes abbreviated as mic, a microphone is a hardware peripheral that allows computer users to input audio into their computers. MICROPHONE ABCs A microphone, which was originally invented by Emile Berliner in 1877, is a device which allows you to record voices or sounds and place them onto computers, generally as a wav file. Microphones also can be used with other applications such as a voice dictation program or a voice conference program. While not all computers come with microphones, a microphone can be purchased at a local retail store such as radio shack or any other retail store. When purchasing a microphone, it is not always necessary to purchase a microphone capable of recording extended

frequencies as the normal human voice is only capable of going so high or low.

Optical scanner Hardware input device that allows a user to take an image and/or text and convert it into a digital file, allowing the computer to read and/or display the scanned object. A scanner is commonly connected to a computer USB, Firewire, Parallel or SCSI port SCANNER ABCs A scanner is a hardware device used to input text and/or images into the computer. Below is a description and illustration of some of the types of scanners available today. Flatbed Scanner - The Flatbed scanner, as shown in the below illustration, is one of the most commonly used and most recommended scanners. This scanner allows the user to place a full piece of paper, book, magazine, photo or any other object onto the bed of the scanner and have the capability to scan that object.

While the Flatbed scanner is an excellent recommendation, expect more desk space to be used than any other option as well expect to pay more for the scanner. Sheetfed - Another commonly used scanner which allows a user to scan pieces of paper into the computer.

While the sheetfed is a less expensive solution when compared to the flatbed scanner, the sheetfed is limited to 400dpi and the available options which can be scanned. Handheld - Today, not commonly used scanner option and can be difficult to find at stores. The handheld option allows the user to drag over select sections of pages, magazines, books and other objects scanning only sections.

While a very inexpensive solution, it can be tedious to drag the handheld correctly. While scanning, it will be difficult to have a straight scan as well as if it is moved to slow / fast can cause distortion in the image being scanned. Cardscan - Excellent solution for anyone interested in scanning business cards for record purposes.

While sometimes surprising, the cardscanners can sometimes be an expensive solution for only having the capability to scan business cards.

Output device Any peripheral that receives and/or displays output from a computer. Below are some examples of different types of output devices commonly found on a computer.

Monitor Printer

Projector Sound card Speakers Video card

Monitor 1. Also called a video display terminal (VDT) 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.

MONITOR ABCs The monitor is a hardware device which physically connects to your video card. The monitor allows information and current status be visually outputted similar to a TV. Printer An external hardware device responsible for taking computer data and generating a hard copy of that data. Printers are one of the most used peripherals on computers and are commonly used to print text, images, and/or photos. The image to the right is a visual example of the Lexmark Z605 Inkjet printer and is an example of what a printer may look like.

Types of printers:

Dot Matrix printer Inkjet printer Laser printer Thermal printer LED printer

PRINTER ABCs Printers are hardware devices that allow you to create a hard copy of a file. Today a printer is a necessary requirement for any home user and business. Allowing individuals to save their work in the format of paper instead of electronically.

Speaker A term used to describe the user who is giving a software program vocal commands.

1.

A hardware device connected to a computer's sound card that outputs sounds generated by the card. Below is a graphic image example of the Altec Lansing VS2221 speakers with subwoofer; speakers like the ones shown below are an example of what most computer speakers resemble.

2.

SPEAKER ABCs When computers were originally released they had onboard speakers that generated a series of different tones and beeps. As multimedia and games became popular, higher quality computers speakers began to be released for more higher quality sound effects and music. Computer sound cards today are not powerful enough to power a nice set of speakers. Today, good quality speakers are self-powered, relatively small in size to fit on desks or on the side of monitors and contain magnetic shielding. Speakers are generally rated in Frequency response, Total Harmonic Distortion and Watts.

Input/output device

A hardware device that accepts inputted information and also has the capability of outputting that information. Good examples of an input/output devices are a floppy diskette drive and a hard disk drive.

TOUCH SCREENS Can there be a more immediate way to select objects from a computer screen than by touching them with our fingers? From the earliest stages of development, human beings intuitively explore and manipulate objects with their hands, recieving information about size, shape, texture, and mass etc. For this and many other reasons discussed later, touch screens provide us with a powerful tool to enable even the most profoundly impaired child to access a computer. Easy to learn and simple to use, touch screens provide the most direct method of input for any user who is physically capable of reaching out and touching the screen. They are particularly useful for children are developing visual skills and hand-to-eye coordination and what better way to experience cause and effect on a computer than to have the screen come alive with colour and sound as your fingertips make contact with the screen.

Output
Term used to describe information that comes from a computer or computer device after it has been processed. An example of output is the information being displayed on your screen.

Input
Information or data that is entered into a computer or computer

device using an input device.

Mouse
An input device that allows an individual to control a mouse pointer in a graphical user interface (GUI). Utilizing a mouse a user has the ability to perform various functions such as opening a program or file and does not require the user to memorize commands, like those used in a textbased environment such as MS-DOS. To the right is a picture of a Microsoft IntelliMouse and is an example of what a computer mouse may look like.

MOUSE ABCs A mouse is a hardware device which allows the user to control a cursor to manipulate data without complicated commands. The mouse or mice was invented by Douglas Englebart in 1963, who at the time was working at the Stanford Research Institute, which was a think tank sponsored by Stanford University. The Mouse was originally referred to as an X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System. Today, the mouse is now found on every Apple and PC computer and used with various different GUIs.

TYPES OF MICE

Cordless Footmouse Glidepoint IntelliMouse J mouse Joystick

Touchpad Trackball TrackPoint Wheel mouse

Projector
A hardware device that enables an image, such as a computer screen, to be projected onto a flat surface. These devices are commonly used in meetings and presentations as they allow for a large image to be shown so everyone in a room can see. To the right is a ViewSonic projector and an example image of what a projector may look like. As can be seen in this image the projector is a small device often a little bigger than a toaster and typically weigh a few pounds.

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