Hardware, Software &
Automatic input devices
Lesson 2
LO: Recognise hardware, software.
Learning outcome: Correctly identify hardware and software.
Recognise and explain some of the most commonly confused
software applications.
Hardware or software?
Hardware
Hardware
Software
Software
Hardware
Hardware AND
software
Definitions
Hardware…
hardware(n.)(computer science) the mechanical, magnetic,
electronic, and electrical components making up a computer
system
Easier definition: If you can break it with a hammer, it’s
hardware.
Software…
software(n.)(computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated
documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in
read/write memory
Easier definition: If you can double-click it, or infect it
with a computer virus, it’s software. (Don’t get it
confused with data)
Definition
Data…
software(n.)(computer science) a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code;
Plural of Datum
Easier definition: The stuff the computer needs to use
or change
What is the difference between data
and information?
Anne
Yes
-
Bob
No
Yes
Craig
No
No
Without a context, data has no meaning
Name
Present?
Absence
Authorised?
Anne
Yes
-
Bob
No
Yes
Craig
No
No
Question:
What’s the problem in entering large
amounts of data via the keyboard?
Answer:
It involves people. People are slow,
inefficient and make mistakes.
Automatic input devices are needed!!
Three automatic input devices
and software easily confused …
OCR
Optical Character Recognition
OMR
Optical Mark Recognition
MICR
Magnetic Ink Character Rec.
OCR
Optical Character Recognition
OCR is used to scan in
a page of text, then
convert it to a form
where it can be edited
for example in a Word
Processor
OMR
Optical Mark Recognition
National Lottery Tickets
OMR is used to
read a mark
(usually made by
pencil) on a page in
a particular
position.
Multiple choice exam papers
MICR Magnetic Ink Character
Recognition
MICR enables a
computer to
accurately read
numbers from a
page. MICR
numbers are
also readable
by humans.
Three input devices and
software easily confused …
OCR
Optical Character Recognition
OMR
Optical Mark Recognition
MICR
Magnetic Ink Character Rec.
Advantages/Disadvantages
Device
OCR
OMR
MICR
Ads 
Can read ‘normal’
English text
Very accurate
Easy to use
Fast
Very accurate
Can use numbers
Human Readable
Disads 
Need to scan in
Difficult to use
Large file size
Errors with reading
Limited applications
Needs special ‘forms’
Specialist printing equip.
Not good for large amounts
Guess the input device
A
B
C