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Table of Content

Sr. Page
Content
No No

01 Introduction 03

02 What is Computer 03

03 Importance of Computer 05

04 Input Devices 06

05 Keyboard 07

06 Special Feature of Keyboard 09

07 Main Types of Keyboard 10

08 Mouse 10

09 Types of Pointing Devices 12

10 Scanner 14

11 Types of Scanner 15

12 Microphone 18

13 Joystick 21

14 Digital Camera 22

15 Drawing Tablet 23

16 Bibliography 24
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Introduction

A computer is not just a keyboard, a screen and a square grey box that has
a slot in the front where you place your disks. These are only parts of a
computer or computer system.
A typical computer system contains:

• A processor which is able to manipulate data very quickly

• Devices used for getting information into and out of the system
• Some means of storing instructions and the information which has been
processed.

There are various devices attached to the main processing unit these
devices are called peripheral devices. The bits and pieces of electronic
circuitry are referred to as hardware.

The hardware on its own can do nothing. In order to make a computer

carry out useful tasks, we must give it instructions. These instructions take
the form of computer programs, also called software.

What is Computer

When the first, primitive computer was charged up, the men and women
involved in the early years of computing likely had no concept about
where the computer would take society. Indeed, those of us who log on to
computers daily cannot really envision where this technology will take us
into the future. Along with not being able to clearly predict where we will
end up in the future as far as computers are concerned, as the technology
progresses new terminologies also come into being or vogue.
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Computer definitions change and expand as often as a new version of

popular software is created and marketed. In the early years of computing,
computer definitions were small in number yet a complete mystery to the
average man or woman on the streets. Computers and computer definitions
- words and terms used to describe the newborn technology - were not
often heard in every day conversation. Computer definitions remained
inside laboratories and research centers where the technology was being
developed.

In this day and age, thanks in part to the prevalence of computers in every
day life and thanks in part to the extent the World Wide Web has invaded
so many aspects a computer user's life, computer definitions are common
in typical daily parlance. In the 21st century, despite the rapid change and
development of hardware and software, computer definitions related to the
technology are frequently included in the typical discourse of the average
Consumer.

Indeed, in this day and age, the typical computer user - and even folks who
are not regular computer users - have basic comprehension and
understanding of computer definitions.
Computer definitions will continue to develop and change into the future.
But, in this age of instant communications, new computer definitions likely
will never be foreign to a computer user for a very long time.

According to Sinha (2004)

A machine that can be programmed to manipulate

symbols. Computers can perform complex and
repetitive procedures quickly, precisely and reliably and
can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data. (P.06)
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The physical components from which a computer is constructed (electronic

circuits and input/output devices) are known as "hardware". Most
computers have four types of hardware component: CPU, input, output and
memory. The CPU (central processing unit) executes programs
("software") which tell the computer what to do.

Input and output (I/O) devices allow the computer to communicate with
the user and the outside world. There are several kinds of memory - fast,
expensive, short term memory (e.g. RAM) to hold intermediate results, and
slower, cheaper, long-term memory (e.g. magnetic disk and magnetic tape)
to hold programs and data between jobs.

According to Norton (2002)

An electronic device that has the ability to store, retrieves,

and process data, and can be programmed with instructions
that it remembers. The physical parts that make up a
computer (the central processing unit, input, output, and
memory) are called hardware. Programs that tell a
computer what to do are called software. (P.08)

Importance of Computer

By the time your current freshman class graduates it is estimated that 75%
of all jobs in Pakistan will be computer related or computer dependent. It is
required to encourage all education majors to quickly acquire computer
skills and to continue to develop these skills throughout their educational
program if they want to be competitive in the job market.

With computers and technology becoming more and more common place
in most professions this same advice should also apply to all students,
regardless of major. By becoming computer literate you can make use of a
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word processor to write reports, research papers and other assignments.

Additionally, you can make use of Spell Checkers and Grammar Checks to
improve your written documents.

There are many other advantages of being able to use a computer -- for
example, you can make use of computers at numerous locations around
campus to gain access to the reference section of the library. It is
encouraged to take a general education class with a computer focus or
attend any of the numerous training sessions around university

Computers have become an integral part of day to day life. Since the
advent of personal and home computers, they have become an integral part
of the education system. Having computers as a part of ones education can
prove very helpful. Being good in studies and computers can secure better
job prospects, in this age and time computer knowledge is a must.

The computer networks these days have a powerful impact on the ways
which individuals, private organizations can communicate with each other.

This age is known as the era of IT Education, where every application is

linked with computer technologies. The use of computers can make
business transactions very accurate, thus keeping a proper record of profit
and loss. Computers play a very vital role in education.

Input Devices

Any machine that feeds data into a computer is called Input Device. For
example, a keyboard is an input device; Input devices other than the
keyboard are sometimes called alternate input devices. Mice, trackballs,
and light pens are all alternate input devices.
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1. Keyboard

2. Mouse

3. Microphone

4. Digital Camera

5. Joystick

6. Scanner

7. Drawing Tablet

Input and output devices allow the computer system to interact with the
outside world by moving data into and out of the system. An input device
is used to bring data into the system. Some input devices are:

1. KEYBOARD

The keyboard is an input device. It has letter and number keys, and
what are called function keys, computer specific task keys, that allow you,
the user, to use an English-like language to issue instructions to an
electronic environment.

It is the primary input device. It uses a cursor to keep your place on the
screen and to let you know where to begin typing. You are able to input
commands, type data into documents, compose documents, draw pictures
with use of certain keys, pull down menus, and respond to prompts issued
by the computer. Almost all computers require you to use a keyboard
unless, of course, it is adapted for individuals with disabilities or for a
specified alternative input devices.

The keyboard contains special keys to manipulate the user interface. When
a key is touched, an electrical impulse is sent through the device which is
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picked up by the operating system software, and sent through the computer
to be processed.

The keyboard operates as a typical typewriter and uses a standard

"QWERTY" keyboard. QWERTY is the way the keyboard is set up for
typing. If you look at the keyboard under the top number row, you will see
that the alphabet top row begins with QWERTY.

A device for putting information into a computer. In fact this is one of the
two main input devices (the other being a mouse). The computer keyboard
was adopted from the typewriter keyboard. In fact, a good portion of the
computer keyboard is identical to those found on any typewriter, including
the QWERTY key layout. There are additional function keys, generally
marked F1 through F-12 arranged across the top of the keyboard, generally
above the QWERTY keys.

There is generally a numeric key pad on the right hand side of the
keyboard. Between the QWERTY keys and the numeric key pad are sets
of keys generally used for navigating around the monitor screen. The
reason that the term "generally" is used so often here is that layout can
vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Today's computer keyboard for
an IBM-compatible computer generally contains 104 keys.
Special Features of Keyboard
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1. Numeric keypad:

This portion of the keyboard allows you to use the keyboard like a
calculator and input numbers into application programs. It has a Num lock
key that when depressed, will activate that portion of the keyboard so that
numbers can be entered. When the lock key is not on, there are arrow keys
on the keys which then work to move the cursor in different directions.
The "NUM LOCK" key is a toggle key which switches back and forth
between these two modes.

2. Caps Lock:

The "CAP LOCKS" key works in this same manner as the "NUM
LOCK" key. If the Cap Lock is lit on your screen the keyboard will type
only in capitals. If the Cap Lock light is not lit it will type only in small
letters.

3. Function Keys:

The function keys are used to initiate commands on help menus or

database programs especially before the development and use of computer
pointing devices. They are still used extensively today as options on the
keyboard to pull down menus or to be programmed to do specific functions
in application programs.

Ctrl or Shift keys also work with Function keys to add more commands to
programs and what are called shortcuts, ways to operate functions like
saving and deleting without going through elaborate features and steps.
Short cuts speed up typing and input into the computer.

4. Escape Key:
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One of the most important keys is the escape key. It usually cancels
the last command or takes you back to the previous step in a program.

Main Types of Keyboard

Keyboards come in may shapes and sizes. They can be large and small,
almost like a custom car. They come in various colors and can be designed
specifically for the user, especially in the case of the disabled.

 QWERTY:

The most popular is the standard QWERTY keyboard. The newer

keyboards can have a trackball built into the keyboard. This allows the
user the convenience of a built in pointing device. The trackball acts as the
mouse and saves time and space in the work area.

 ERGONOMIC:

This keyboard is built so that the keyboard is divided into two parts.
One half fits the right hand and the other half fits the left hand. This split
keyboard arrangement is built to fit the natural positioning of the hand and
to help with repetitive motion hand injury which occurs when a job is
carried out over and over again, such as in keyboarding.

2. MOUSE (Pointing Device)

A pointing device is an external tool that is used to move objects

around and also to select options from menus. The pointing device is an
element of the graphical user interface. It manipulates on screen objects to
issue commands. Examples of pointing devices include the mouse,
trackball, light pen, pen for graphic tablet, joystick, touch screen, wand,
head mounted display, virtual reality glasses, and 3-D mouse.
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The concept of the pointing device was developed in

1970 by Douglas Engelbart as another way to input
information into the computer other than through the
keyboard. This input device has become popular and
with the growth of the graphical user interface it has
become one of the most necessary and important tools of the computer.

The mouse is a hand operated device which controls a pointer on the

monitor screen. The pointer on the screen is called a cursor. The mouse
generally allows one to enter information to the computer faster than using
just the keyboard. The mouse was originally developed for the Apple
Macintosh computer and was later developed for the IBM-compatibles.

The mouse is included in almost every computer that is sold today. Besides
becoming an important input tool, it has provided access to the computer
for many individuals with disabilities that might not otherwise have the
opportunity to use the computer. The pointing device also lets you double
click on an icon to start a program application; and in the WINDOWS 95
operating system you can use the mouse to drag a file or document to the
Recycling Bin to delete a file.
The computer mouse moves by way of a roller and ball system. When you
move the mouse across the desktop, the ball underneath rolls. This ball
corresponds to the position of what is called a pointer on the screen. The
pointer is usually shaped like an arrow, though some people like to change
their pointer to look like objects. (One person in our group has changed his
pointer to an ink pen icon.) When you move the pointer around it is called
mousing.
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The speed of the mouse can be managed by your

computer operating system software, or a
commercial application program for your mouse.
You can drag objects on the screen by clicking on
the object, holding down on the mouse button, and rolling the mouse
across the desktop until you get the object to a new location. When you
reach the spot that you want, let go of the mouse button.

Most mice come with two buttons. You use the left button on the mouse to
do most selecting of objects. The right button can be used for some menu
actions. This is especially true when using browser software to examine
and manipulate pictures and graphics on the Internet.

There is a three button mouse and the middle button can be programmed
for specific application software, but usually the two button mouse is used
the most. If you are left handed, you can change to a left-handed mouse
option in your software so that you can use your mouse in your left hand.

Types of Pointing Devices

1. PEN

The pen lets you draw on what is called a digitizing tablet that
mirrors the surface area of the computer screen. The pen can be used as a
standard mouse (without wires connected to it) or also as a free flowing
drawing device. The pen is useful for drawing since drawing graphics with
a mouse tends to be somewhat difficult.

2. MOUSE
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The mouse is a hand held device that lets you point to and selected
items on your screen. In a PC mouse there are mostly 2-3 buttons and on a
Mac there is one. A ball under the mouse senses movement. To ensure
smooth motion your should remove the ball and clean it regularly.

3. CORDLESS MOUSE

The cordless mouse is a lot better than a normal mouse thus by

reducing the clutter of the work space needed to move the mouse around.
This mouse runs on a battery. When you move the mouse it sends an
infrared beam to a sensor which interprets it causing it to move.

4. TRACKBALL

The trackball is an upside-down mouse that remains stationary on

your desk. It is the same principle as the mouse except that the rollers are
reversed and the ball is on top. This ball does not need as much attention as
the normal mouse because the only thing that touches it is your hand as the
normal mouse touches a surface.

5. TOUCHPAD

The touchpad has sensors that sense your touch. When they sense
your touch they send a signal to the computer to move the mouse pointer to
that location on the screen.

6. LIGHT PEN

The light pen system allows the user to touch the computer screen
with a lighted pen to activate commands and make selections.

7. TOUCH SCREEN
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The touch screen lets the user touch the area to be activated by using
the finger or hand. Touch Screen - A touch screen is a computer screen or
other screen that you can touch with your finger to enter information.
Examples of touch screens include a smart board, a microwave, a
dishwasher, or an ATM at a bank.

A basic touchscreen has three main components: a touch sensor, a

controller, and a software driver. The touchscreen is an input device, so it
needs to be combined with a display and a PC or other device to make a
complete touch input system.

8. Head Mounted Virtual Reality Displays, Wands, Special

Trackballs, Data Gloves, and Special 3-D Flying Mice that can go in six
different directions- These devices are currently the newest pointing
devices.

3. SCANNER

Scanners allow a pc to convert a picture or object into digital code that

allows the computer to display and use an image. A scanner's
sophistication is the ability to translate an unlimited number of analog
voltage levels to digital values.

The computer is not able to use graphics unless they are in a form that they
can understand. The scanner takes the information it sees on a page and
converts into code that the computer can use. A picture once scanned can
be edited, printed, or used in an application. Scanners can come with
specialized software called optical character recognition (OCR). This
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software can read text as printed or written. The information can then be
manipulated in the computer.

Important Note: A feature of the scanner is the resolution. This is how

sharp and detailed the scanner can read. Scanners are measured in dots per
inch. The higher the resolution, the more the memory that is required to
scan the file. The bigger the file that is produced. Larger files take longer
scanning time.

If a file is big and you need to fit it on a diskette, you may run into a
problem storing it unless you store it to the hard drive or another high
capacity drive. Therefore, if you are wanting to produce a file for screen
output, you should scan at 72 dpi because that the best resolution that the
monitor can display. It is the same of the printed output. If you only have a
300 dpi printer, do not scan the file at a higher resolution since the printer
will only print it at that resolution.

Types of Scanners:

1. Sheet-Fed Scanner

Sheet-fed scanners have mechanical rollers that move the paper past the
scan head.

How it work

Gray Scale: Using black and white and shades of gray, the scanner is able
to translate the image into gray scales. Why would you use a gray scale
scanner? If you plan to print on a black and white printer, it is most cost
effective since color ink is so expensive. Text is best done on a grayscale
scanner.
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Color: A color scanner scans images in red, blue, and green shades. This
scanner is more expensive in terms of final print output . A color scanner
usually costs more than a gray scale scanner. If you plan on doing
presentation work, work with color photographs, or any sort of task that
requires a color output, then use a color scanner. With this scanner you can
also choose options of scanning such as line art (scanning the image only
in black or white), grayscale (black, white, and shades of gray, or color
(shades of red, blue, and green).

2. Flatbed Scanner

Flatbed Scanners have a glass window where the item to be scanned is

placed on top of a while the head moves past the item. This method is
similar to a xerox machine.

How It Work

1. A light source underneath the picture or document illuminates the

image. Spaces white or blank reflect more light than do inked and colored
areas.

2. A motor moves the scan head underneath the page. when the
scanhead is moving it captures light that was reflected from individual
areas of the page about 1/90,000 of an inch

3. Light from this page is bounced through an intricate system of

mirrors that must continually pivot to keep the light beams aligned with a
lens.

4. A lens focuses the beams of light into light sensitive diodes that
translate the amount of light into an electric current. The amount of the
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current depends on the amount of light reflected, the greater the amount of
light reflected the greater the current.

5. The analog to to digital (A-D) converter stores each analog reading

of voltage as a digital pixel representing either a black or white area.
Scanners that are more sophisticated can translate the voltage into shades
of gray. In a color scanner, the scan head makes 3 passes under the image
and the light on each pass is directed through a red, green or blue filter
before it strikes the original image.

6. The digital information is sent to the pc where it is translated into a

format that a graphics program can read.

3. Hand Held Scanners

Hand held scanners are small, portable scanners that depend on a

human operator to move the head across the the object or image to be
scanned. .

How It Work

1. On the majority of handheld scanners when you press the scan

button a light-emitting diode (sometimes called a LED) illuminates the
image below the scanner. An inverted, angled mirror that sits right above
the scanner's window reflects the image onto a lens in the back of the
scanner.

2. The lens focuses a single line of the image onto a CCD (known as a
charge coupled device), which is a component designed to detect subtle
changes of voltage. As the light shines onto sever rows of light detectors
located on the CCD, each registers the amount of light as a voltage level
that equals to black,white or gray.
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3. Special analog chips receive light voltage generated by the CCD for
gamma correction. This process enhances the black tones into an image
that is that the eye will have be able to recognize the shades of the image
easier.

4. The line of the image now is moved to the analog-digital converter.

In a gray scale scanner, the converter assigns 8 bits to each pixel, or 256
shades of gray.

5. As the disk turns, a light shines through the slits and is detected by
a photomicrosensor on the other side of the disk. When light strikes the
sensor it throws a switch that sends a signal to the A-D converter. This
signal tells the converter to send the line of bit generated to the computer.
Then the converter clears itself of the old data.

6. The computer then moves to the next line.

4. Microphone

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
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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.

When connecting the microphone to the back of the

computer, the microphone will be placed in the hole
which generally has Mic or Microphone written
next to it as illustrated in the above illustration.

While generally Microphones are a separate computer component, some

manufacturers are integrating the microphone into computers. Generally,
integrated microphones can be found on laptops and some desktop
monitors. Integrated Microphones are usually a small hole in front of the
computer which when spoken into will record your voice.

A microphone is an example of a transducer, a device that changes

information from one form to another. Sound information exists as patterns
of air pressure; the microphone changes this information into patterns of
electric current. The recording engineer is interested in the accuracy of this
transformation, a concept he thinks of as fidelity.

A variety of mechanical techniques can be used in building microphones.

The two most commonly encountered in recording studios are the
magneto-dynamic and the variable condenser designs.

1. Dynamic Microphone

In the magneto-dynamic, commonly called dynamic, microphone, sound

waves cause movement of a thin metallic diaphragm and an attached coil
of wire.
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A magnet produces a magnetic field

which surrounds the coil, and
motion of the coil within this field
causes current to flow. The
principles are the same as those that
produce electricity at the utility company, realized in a pocket-sized scale.
It is important to remember that current is produced by the motion of the
diaphragm, and that the amount of current is determined by the speed of
that motion. This kind of microphone is known as velocity sensitive.

2. Condenser Microphone

In a condenser microphone, the diaphragm is mounted close to, but not

touching, a rigid backplate. (The plate may or may not have holes in it.)

A battery is connected to both

pieces of metal, which
produces an electrical potential,
or charge, between them. The
amount of charge is determined
by the voltage of the battery, the area of the diaphragm and backplate, and
the distance between the two. This distance changes as the diaphragm
moves in response to sound. When the distance changes, current flows in
the wire as the battery maintains the correct charge. The amount of current
is essentially proportioinal to the displacement of the diaphragm, and is so
small that it must be electrically amplified before it leaves the microphone.

A common varient of this design uses a material with a permanently

imprinted charge for the diaphragm. Such a material is called an electret
and is usually a kind of plastic. (You often get a piece of plastic with a
permanent charge on it when you unwrap a record. Most plastics conduct
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electricity when they are hot but are insulators when they cool.) Plastic is a
pretty good material for making diaphragms since it can be dependably
produced to fairly exact specifications. (Some popular dynamic
microphones use plastic diaphragms.) The major disadvantage of electrets
is that they lose their charge after a few years and cease to work.

5. Joystick

The joystick is a hardware input device used for games and/or flight
simulators. This device is used to maneuver a particular item throughout
locations.

Along with the capability of maneuvering items, the joystick will also have
a series of buttons which can be programmed to fire weapons, add
acceleration as well as several other possibilities, depending upon the
program.
A joystick is used to move the cursor from place to
place, and to click on various items in programs. A
joystick is used mostly for computer games.

6. Digital Camera

A type of camera that stores the pictures or video it takes in electronic

format instead of to film. There are several features that make digital
cameras a popular choice when compared to film cameras.

First, the feature often enjoyed the most is the LCD display on the digital
camera. This display allows users to view photos or video after the picture
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or video has been taken, which means if you take a picture and don't like
the results, you can delete it; or if you do like the picture, you can easily
show it to other people. Another nice feature with digital cameras is the
ability to take dozens, sometimes hundreds of different pictures. To the
right is a picture of the Casio QV-R62, a 6.0 Mega Pixel digital camera
used to help illustrate what a digital camera may look like.

Digital cameras have quickly become the camera solution for most users
today as the quality of picture they take has greatly improved and as the
price has decreased. Many users however are hesitant in buying a digital
camera because of the inability of getting their pictures developed.
However, there are several solutions in getting your digital pictures
developed. For example, there are numerous Internet companies capable of
developing your pictures and send you your pictures in the mail. In
addition, many of the places that develop your standard cameras film now
have the ability to develop digital pictures if you bring them your camera,
memory stick, and/or pictures on CD.

Digital Camera - A digital camera can be used to take pictures. It can be

hooked up to a computer to transfer the pictures from the camera to the
computer. Some digital cameras hold a floppy disk, and the floppy disk
can be taken out of the camera and put directly into the computer.

7. Drawing Tablet

Drawing Tablet - A drawing tablet is similar to a white board, except you

use a special pen to write on it and it's connected to the computer. Then
the word or image you draw can be saved on the computer.
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Bibliography

1. White, Ron (1993) How Computer Work

London: Ziff-Davis Press,

2. White, Ron (1993) How Software Work

London: Ziff-Davis Press,

3. Evans, C (1977) Pioneers of Computing, Oral History of Computing

London: Science Museum,

4. Fifer, S (1961) Analog Computation: Theory, Techniques, Applications

New York: McGraw-Hill

5. Goldstine, H., (1972) The Computer from Pascal to von Neumann

Newyork: Princeton University Press

6. Huskey, H.D (1947) The State of the Art in Digital Computing

New York: Britain and the United States press,