Input- any data or instructions entered into the memory of a computer. Input consists of either
data or instructions. Instructions can be in the form of: programs-series of instructions which
tells a computer what to do, commands- users issue commands and user responses- an
instruction a user issues by replying to a question.
Input devices- hardware components that allow users to enter data or instructions into a
computer. Storage devices, such as disk drives, serve as both input and output devices.
Ex. Keyoboard, mouse, etc.
Inseriton point- (cursor) blinking vertical bar.
Toggle keys- key which allows you to switch between two states. Ex. Num lock
Keyboard connections- parallel port, usb, or wireless.
Ergonomics- design which incorporates comfort, efficiency and safety into the design of the
item.
Pointing devices- control the pointer on the screen.
Ex. Mouse- mechanical – moving parts (ball) and optical mouse- no moving parts
An optical mouse is more precise and does not require cleaning but can require a mouse pad
because shinny services could render it useless.
Trackball- is a stationary pointing device.
Touchpad- used on laptops.
Pointing stick- pressure sensitive, used on a laptop.
Light pen- used with monitors in hospitals.
Touch screen- used in kiosks, PDA’s, atm’s, etc.
-any device which uses a stylus or a digital pen must use handwriting recognition software.
Voice input- computer is capable of distinguishing words. Voice recognition programs do not
understand speech. They recognize a vocabulary of preprogrammed words. Most computers
today use a combination of speaker dependent and independent software. Dependentcomputer makes a profile of your voice, and independent has a built in set of patterns. Also,
discrete speech is used where you have to speak slowly or continuous speech where you can
speak in a regular pattern. Most software is only 90-95% accurate.
Docking station- used for laptops and tablet pc’s.
Digital cameras- photograph images digitally. Use a variety of devices to store pictures.
Resolution is very important in determining the sharpness and clearness of an image. Pixels
define the resolution.
Video conferencing- use network or internet to transmit audio, and video. Must have video
software, microphone, speakers, a video camera, and a computer. Also, use a whiteboard.
Why would we use this???
Scanners and reading devices- eliminates manual data energy. Computer captures data from a
source document. Ex. Time cards, order forms, invoices, etc.
Optical scanner- input device that reads printed text and graphics, and then translates the results
into a form the computer can process. Works like a copy machine, except it creates a file of the
document in memory instead of a paper copy. Quality of scanners can vary greatly.
OPTICAL READERS- ACT JUST LIKE SCANNERS. BUT USED IN THE BUSINESS
WORLD.Optical Readers- read characters, marks and codes, and converts them into
digital data that a computer can process. Use OCR and OMR technology.
1.OCR- read typewritten, computer printed or hand written characters. Ex.turnaround
documents- bills
2.OMR- use hand drawn marks such as small circles or rectangles. Ex.scantron
Bar code reader- reads the vertical lines and spaces of different widths.
Ex.upc, postnet
3.MICR- magnetized ink
ex. Banks
Terminals:
Dumb- no processing power therefore sends data to a host.
smart- has a processor. Today personal computers have replaced the old smart terminals.
Point of sale terminals (POS)- have really changed and vary based on company and industry, but
generally do the same things.
Biometrics- authenticating a person’s identity by verifying a personal characteristic.
Ex.figerprint, voice, signature, retinal scans. Fingerprint scan is the most widely used.