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GCSE ICT

Input and Output Devices - Inputs


Input devices
Input devices are used to get data into a
system.
They should be able to do this as
accurately and quickly as possible, and
with the minimum of human intervention.
Input devices
The most common types of input devices
are:
Keyboards
Point and Click devices (including mouse,
tracker balls, touch sensitive pads, joysticks,
light pens, touch screens, and graphic tablets)
Input devices
The most common types of input devices
are:
Readers (including magnetic strip readers,
barcode readers, optical character
readers/recognition, magnetic ink character
readers/recognition, and optical mark
readers/recognition)
Punched cards and tape (including punched
cards and Kimball tags)
Input devices
The most common types of input devices
are:
Sound capture devices (including voice
recognition and microphones)
Terminals (including EPOS and EFTPOS
terminals)
Input devices
The most common types of input devices
are:
Digital imaging devices (including video
digitisers, scanners, digital cameras, and web
cams)
Tonal devices (including touch tone
telephones)
Input Devices
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;

Keyboards
The most common type of keyboard is
the QWERTY keyboard (so called
because the top line of letters are q, w, e,
r, t, and y.

Concept Keyboard

A concept keyboard is a flat
board that contains a grid of
buttons. Each button can be
programmed to do whatever
you want.
An overlay sheet with
pictures or symbols is placed
on the grid so that the user
can tell what pressing on
different areas will do.

Concept keyboards are used
when fast input is needed and
are ideally suited to selecting
from a limited range of choices
such as fast food restaurants.
Checkout tills such as
McDonalds use symbols to
make ordering faster and
easier. Primary schools often
use them with young children.
The overlay image could be a
picture of a farmyard. Pressing
on an animal would cause the
computer to make the right
animal noise.
Concept keyboards are
particularly useful for
people who would find
using an ordinary
keyboard difficult. It is
also very handy in
locations where an
ordinary keyboard might
be damaged e.g. by
spillage or dust.


Advantages
Much faster for making non-
text selections such as menu
choices on the till of a fast-food
outlet.
The keyboard is waterproof
which can be useful where
there is dirt or the risk of
splashes


Disadvantages
Poor for text or numeric
input - although some
keyboards do include a
numeric keypad so the
operator can enter the
amount sold.
Limited to the options
shown on the keyboard
Keyboards
Another type of keyboard is the concept
keyboard.
The can be specially designed so that
people with restricted vision can use them
to interface with a computer.
Concept keyboards can also be
programmed to perform common functions
with one keystroke (e.g. a computerised till
in a fast food restaurant).

Advantages

Much faster for making
non-text selections such
as menu choices on the
till of a fast-food outlet.
The keyboard is
waterproof which can be
useful where there is dirt
or the risk of splashes

Disadvantages

Poor for text or numeric
input - although some
keyboards do include a
numeric keypad so the
operator can enter the
amount sold.
Limited to the options
shown on the keyboard.

Ergonomic Keyboard
Ergonomic computer
keyboards encourage the user
to adopt an ergonomic typing
posture which minimizes the
exposure to awkward postures
and repetitive stress. The main
concerns are the horizontal
and vertical bending of the
wrists, known as ulnar
deviation and pronation
respectively. These deviations
result in the compression of
the nerves in the wrist, causing
disorders such as carpel
tunnel syndrome.
carpel tunnel syndrome.
Pin Pad

Numeric Keypad
A small keyboard that only
has numbers.

Used to enter numeric data into
computers such as those in ATMs.

Most computer keyboards have a
numeric keypad on the right side,
and most mobile phones (there
are also computers) have a one
for entering phone numbers, etc.
This is a device with
a numeric keypad used to
enter a persons Personal
Identity Number (PIN) e.g.
when paying with a credit
card.

PIN pads are also found on
electronic door locks you
enter a PIN to unlock the door.

Advantages
Most computers come with a keyboard supplied
People are used to using keyboards to enter data,
they need very little training
A skilled typist can enter data very quickly
Specialist keyboards are available e.g. ergonomic,
gaming keyboards


Disadvantages
It is easy to make mistakes when typing in data
If you can't touch type, it can be time consuming to
enter data
Keyboards are not suitable for creating diagrams
Disabled people often find keyboards difficult to use
Excessive use can lead to R.S.I.
Point and Click devices
Point and Click devices include mouse,
tracker balls, touch sensitive pads,
joysticks, light pens, touch screens, and
graphic tablets.
Mouse
The mouse translates movement
on the desktop into digital
information.
This information is converted into
movement of the cursor on the
screen.
A mouse will also have one, two, or
three buttons which can be clicked
to help the user to select what
functions they wish to use.
The mouse is a very important input device. It helps
you to do many things, such as:

controlling the cursor or pointer
opening up menus
selecting items from menus by clicking the mouse
button
opening up software by clicking the mouse button
dragging icons to move them into folders, to save
files.
Advantages
Ideal for use with desktop
computers
Usually supplied as part
of a new computer
system
Most computer users are
familiar with them and
require little training
Works well in conjunction
with a keyboard for data
entry


Disadvantages
They need a flat space
close to the computer
The rollers in mice that
use balls can become
clogged with grease and
grime and lose their
accuracy until cleaned.
Overuse can lead to RSI
Tracker ball
The tracker ball is essentially an
upside down mouse.
Instead of moving the mouse on
the table top, the ball is rotated.
This achieves the same result as
using a mouse but takes up far
less room.
Used as an alternative to a
mouse. To operate it the
user rotates the ball which
moves the pointer on
screen. They are
particularly easy to use for
those with limited
movement in their hands
and are often used in
Computer Aided Design
(CAD) for their increased
precision over a mouse.

Touch sensitive pad
These are most
commonly found on
laptop computers.
A stylus or the users
finger is pressed gently
onto the pad, and as it is
moved the cursor moves
on the screen.
Joystick / Joypad
These are most commonly used to
interact with computer games,
although they are also used in other
circumstances (e.g. on hospital
scanners).
Like the tracker ball, the movement
of the joystick moves the cursor on
the screen,
Advantages
They give a better
gaming experience
for racing or flying
styles of computer
games
Disadvantages
Some people find
joysticks more difficult
to control than a
traditional mouse.
Joysticks are not
particularly robust and
can break easily if too
much force is used on
them.

Light pen
Light pens are usually used
with specialist design
software.
The light pen works by being
touched against the screen.
As the pen is moved on the
screen, the cursor moves.
Light Pen :
Light Pen A light pen is a computer input device in
the form of a light-sensitive wand used in
conjunction with a computer's CRT TV set or
monitor. It allows the user to point to displayed
objects, or draw on the screen. A light pen is fairly
simple to implement. Just like a light gun, a light
pen works by sensing the sudden small change in
brightness of a point on the screen when the
electron gun refreshes that spot.
Touch screen
The touch screen is a special type of
screen which is sensitive to touch.
Selections can be made by touching
the screen.
These are particularly useful in banks,
building societies, and shops, where
customers who are not used to using a
keyboard can interact with a computer
system.
Stylus
Used on palmtop and tablet
computers where a flat screen
is pressure sensitive and
sends a signal ack to the
computer when it touched by a
plastic stick called a stylus.
This is often used
with handwriting
recognition software to allow
the user to enter data. The
software is "taught" the shapes
of letter that the user uses and
then as the user writes on the
touch screen the shapes are
interpretted into text.
Advantages
Easy to use - intuitive,
don't need much training
No extra peripherals such
as a mouse are needed
Software can alter the
screen while it is being
used, making it more
flexible than a concept
keyboard which has a
permanent overlay.

Disadvantages
Not suitable for inputting large
amounts of data
Not very accurate - selecting
detailed objects can be difficult
with fingers
Tiring to use for long periods
More expensive than
alternatives such as a mouse
Not robust - can soon become
faulty if misused
Graphics tablet
A graphics tablet allows
the user to create designs
directly onto the screen.
A special stylus is
connected to the
computer via the graphics
tablet, and as the user
draws on the tablet with
the stylus the drawing
appears on screen.
This has a flat surface that can sense the
slightest touch.


Artists and designers use it to enter drawings
into a computer system.


By dragging a stylus across the tablet surface
you can draw freehand and the drawing is
entered exactly into the computers memory.
Advantages
It is much more
natural to draw
diagrams with a
pencil type
implement (the
stylus) rather than
with a mouse
A great level of
accuracy can be
achieved

Disadvantages
Not really suitable
for general
selection work
such as pointing
and clicking on
menu items
Graphics tablets
are much more
expensive than a
mouse

Sensors
Sensors are often used as part of a
feedback cycle. They collect data
continuously and are typically linked to
a control program that specifies
acceptable levels, eg the minimum and
maximum temperature in a green
house. The control program decides
what to do next based on the data it's
fed by the sensors.

Readers
The most common types of reader used
include
magnetic strip readers
barcode readers
optical character readers/recognition,
magnetic ink character readers/
recognition
optical mark readers/recognition).
Magnetic strip readers
The most common
magnetic tape readers are
those used at electronic
points of sale (EPOS).
These read the personal
data stored on the
magnetic strip of a credit or
debit card.
Magnetic stripes are built into
many plastic cards such as debit
or credit cards and personal
identity cards.

The magnetic strip on the back of
the card can hold the personal
details of the card owner and,
with the necessary PIN, will allow
access to secure information, eg
bank account details.

Data stored on the strip is
scanned and input into a computer
system by a magnetic stripe
reader.

The information printed on the
cheque using MICR is :
A unique number for the
cheque.
A code that identifies the bank
and branch that issued the
cheque.
The number of the account
that the cheque relates to.
MICR readers can only read
one special font which can
represent only numbers and a
few punctuation marks. They
can read characters very
quickly and with 100%
accuracy. Information printed
in magnetic ink is also very
secure. It is not possible to
change the information by
writing over it with a pen and
the printed numbers are not
damaged by folding (as often
happens with cheques). Both
the reader used by MICR and
the special ink are expensive.


Barcode readers
Barcodes are used in
shops, libraries,
luggage handling,
and stock control.
The lines on a
barcode represent
numbers, and can be
scanned very quickly
using a laser
scanner.
Barcodes are printed on nearly every product you buy,
each product has a unique code. When read,
information stored in the shop's database is recalled,
such as the product name and price. This information
later appears on your receipt. The scanning process
also assists in stock management, reducing the stock by
one each time a product is scanned/sold.

The information normally included on a bar code for a
product is country of origin, manufacturer and item code.
The price is not included in the bar code.
A scanner can read a barcode number incorrectly. A check digit is
included in the barcode number to reduce the likelihood of this
happening.


Scanners
A scanner is a
device that
optically scans
images, printed
text, handwriting,
or an object, and
converts it to a
digital image.

A scanner works by shining a light at the image being
scanned and measuring how much light is reflected back
using an optical sensor. The amount of light that is
reflected back tells the computer how light or dark the
image is at each point
:- Image Scanners
(a)Flatbed scanners
(b)Handheld scanners
OCR (Optical Character
recognition)
OMR (Optical Mark
Reader)
Bar code Reader
MICR (Magnetic Ink
Character Recognition).
Types of Scanners are
Flatbed Scanner : You place the image on top of the scanner. The
scanner moves the light and sensor itself and scans the whole image
automatically. Most flatbed scanners are A4 size.
Handheld Scanner : You must manually push the light/sensor along the
image. Handheld scanners are usually 5 inches wide.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software can be used to
read printed text from an image that has been scanned and store it
as text rather than an image. You can then edit the text using a
word processor or desktop publisher. OCR software is not yet
sophisticated enough to read hand-written text accurately.

Advantages
Flatbed scanners are very accurate and
can produce reasonably high quality
images
Any image which is digitised by the
scanner can then be included on electronic
documents
Images once digitised can be enhanced
with a graphics application

Disadvantages
Images can take up a lot of memory
space

Images lose some quality in the
scanning and digitising process

The quality of the final image is
dependent on the quality of the original
image
Optical character
readers/recognition
Optical character recognition is a method of
inputting text using a scanner.
It requires special software to convert the
scanned image of each letter into an ASCII
(American Standard Code for Information
Interchange) code, and it often confuses similar
shaped letters and numbers (e.g. S and 5, B and
8).
It is used to convert paper books and documents
into electronic files. When one scans a paper
page into a computer, it produces just an image
file, a photo of the page.
Magnetic ink character
readers/recognition
Magnetic ink characters are printed at the
bottom of cheques.
They are used by banks to identify the
bank a customer banks with, the individual
branch where their account is held, and
the customers bank account number.
Magnetic ink character
readers/recognition
Branch code Cheque number Account number
Magnetic ink characters appear at the bottom of cheques. Banks use
MICR to read the numbers from the bottom of cheques to obtain data
such as account numbers and bank sort codes. A particular font is used
that makes it easy for the machine to discriminate between characters.
The ink is magnetised, this makes it immune to creases and dirty
marks.

Optical mark readers/recognition
Optical mark recognition sense marks
made on specially designed forms (e.g.
multiple choice answer sheets, lottery
cards).
OMR is a very cheap, easy and quick to
handle system of inputting data, but if a
user makes a mistake they are difficult to
correct.
Optical mark readers/recognition
An OMR reads marks made by pencil on a printed form into the
computer. OMR systems are suited to reading pre-printed forms and
check boxes such as National Lottery number selection sheets and
multiple choice exam papers.

Smart Cards
Smart cards are often called input devices. In fact they are actually
simple storage devices. A smart card contains a small RAM chip.
When the card is put into a machine data can be read from the card
or written onto it. A smart card can store much more data than a
magnetic stripe can. A popular card in use at the moment can store
8k (about 8000 characters) of information.

Petrol companies and supermarkets use smart
cards to store information about points that
customers earn when they buy goods. Every
time the customer buys something the number
of points stored on the card is increased. The
customer can then spend these points to buy
goods.
Satellite television companies also use smart
cards in their receivers. The smart card stores a
code which is needed to let the receiver decode
and display the pictures coming from the
satellite. The government is currently
considering introducing an identity card which
could be based on a smart card. Many people
are worried about this as people would not be
able to tell what information was stored about
them.

A new generation of smart cards is now
appearing which contain a small
microprocessor as well as memory. These
cards are practically a complete computer
system on a card.

Punched cards and tape
Punched cards and tape were used by the
first computers to store programs and
data.
They are seldom used today except for
clock cards, which records when a person
starts and ends work, and Kimball tags,
which are used for stock control.
Sound capture devices
The most common use of sound capture
devices involves the use of voice
recognition software and microphones.
Sound capture devices
Voice recognition software remembers
the way a user speaks, and converts their
speech into text that appears on screen.
Although voice recognition software has
become increasingly sophisticated, many
such programs have difficulty converting
more than 90% of common words
accurately.
Microphone
The sound is detected by the microphone
and an electrical signal is transmitted to the
computer.

Special hardware is used to convert this
analogue data into digital data so it can be
stored and manipulated.
Voice Recognition
Voice recognition systems listen to what
people are saying and carry out the
instructions given to them when people
speak.
Existing voice recognition systems come in
two different types :
Systems which recognise only a few
words but can understand most peoples
voices. e.g. telephone banking computers.
Systems which recognise a wide
vocabulary but need to be trained to
understand each different voice. e.g.
automatic dictation systems.


Digital Cameras
Digital camera
A digital camera takes pictures and can
usually record video too. The pictures it
takes and the videos it records are stored
in files. These files can be copied to a
computer and later edited.


WEB CAMS
Webcams: are very basic digital
video cameras used to capture
images to be sent down networks
for video conferencing.
Webcams do not allow you to save
the images like digital video cameras
do. Video conferencing is where
people can "meet" across a network
using microphones, webcams and
monitors. This lets people meet who
are different countries meet.


A video digitiser takes an image from a video
camera or television and converts it so that it
can used by and stored on a computer. Almost
all video digitisers now work in colour. Unlike
scanners video digitisers can capture moving
video sequences as well as still images.

When a video sequence is captured the
computer stores this as a sequence of still
images called frames. These images are
displayed quickly one after the other
(rather like a flick-book) to create the
illusion of a moving picture.
When you want to capture a video
sequence you must tell the computer :
Size : How big you want the image you
capture to be. e.g. should it take up the
whole screen, 1/2 the screen, 1/8th of the
screen ... ?
Frame Rate : How frequently the frames
should be captured from the video.

Terminals
EPOS (Electronic Point Of Sale) and
EFTPOS (Electronic Fund Transfer at
Point Of Sale) terminals are connected,
via secure Internet connections, to the
computers of the main banks and credit
card companies.
Terminals
EPOS and EFTPOS allow a retailer to
transfer the cost of what they have sold to
a customer from the customers credit card
or bank account to their own bank
account.
This is much faster than accepting
payment by cheque, and more secure
than accepting payment in cash.
Terminals
It also gives the retailer an opportunity to
collect information about their customers,
and to develop individual customer profiles
(i.e. know what an individual customer
may want to buy).
This helps to retailer to target individual
customers with special offers etc.
Digital imaging devices
These include video digitisers, scanners,
digital cameras, and web cams.
Video Digitisers
The video digitiser is a combination of
hardware and dedicated software that
converts an analogue signal into a digital
signal.
This is the basis of most set top boxes that
give access to digital television on
standard television sets.
It can also be used to capture still images
from video.
Digital cameras
Digital cameras convert the analogue
image seen through the cameras lense
into a digital signal that can be stored.
Each picture is split up into millions of tiny
squares (or pixels), each of which is a
different colour.
Each pixel is stored as a bit of digital
information.
Web cams
Web cameras (web cams for short) are
small digital cameras which are attached
to computers so that still and motion digital
images can be captured and used.
They are often used in conjunction with
the Internet so that people can
videoconference.
Tonal devices
Touch tone telephones are the most
common tonal device used to input data.
Customers can use them to interact with
computerised telephone systems so that
they can respond to choices given to them
by recorded messages.

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