Input Devices in Computers

Input devices provide us a way to give input or instruct the computer to perform a function. It can be any information or data given to the processor and this processor gives the output by some output device. In a computer, the keyboard and mouse are input devices, CPU is the processor and monitor is the output device. Let us read ahead to know more about the various input devices in computers and their functions.

List of Input Devices

• Keyboard

• Mouse

• Scanner

• Light pen

• Barcode Reader

• Microphone

• Touchscreen

• Joystick

• Webcam

Details of the Input Devices

1. Keyboard: The keyboard is the main input device of the computer that is used most often. The keyboard is used to perform all typing tasks on the computer. The keyboard has many types of keys for proper function. The QWERTY keyboard has 6 types of keys:

• Indicators

• Function keys

• Alphanumeric Keys

• Control keys

• Number keys

• Navigation keys

Keyboard

2. Mouse: The mouse is also the main input device. With which the pointer on the computer screen is controlled. That is why it is also called a pointing device. Mouse is used to open, close, drag and drop files,icons on a computer. The use of the mouse has increased a lot with the introduction of GUI (Graphic User Interface).

Mouse

3. Scanner: A scanner is used to scan documents and enter them into the computer in digital form. The scanned document can be saved as an image on the computer. You can also edit the document if you want.

Scanner

4. Light pen: This is a positioning input device which is used to do graphic design, text messaging, etc. on a touch screen computer. You can draw very easily with the Light pen. Its pen-like shape makes it very easy to use.

Light Pen

5. BCR (Barcode Reader): This is an input device that is used to read the code hidden in the lines of the barcode. A barcode is a vertical (permanent) line of black colour, in which a lot of information is hidden: product name, product price, product price, batch number, company name, etc.

Barcode Reader

6. Microphone: A microphone is an input device developed by Emile Berliner in 1877. It is used to convert sound waves into electrical waves or to input sound into computers. It captures sound by converting sound waves into an electrical signal, which can be digital or analogue.

Microphone

7. Touch Screen: A touch screen is a screen that you control with the touch of your finger. You can also use your finger or stylus to control it. An Android phone is a simple example of a touch screen, as a touch screen is available in most Android phones. You don't need a separate mouse or keyboard to run it.

Touch screen

8. Joystick: A joystick is an input device with a stick attached and is used to control the direction of the device. It is most commonly used in gaming.

Joystick

9. Webcam: A webcam is an input device. A webcam is a camera that you use to take pictures or video conferences by connecting it to your computer or laptop. You can connect the webcam to your computer with a cable, or you can also use a wireless webcam.

Webcam

Use of Input Devices

• Keyboard: The keyboard is probably the primary means of communication of the user with the computer system. It was also the first example of input devices

• Mouse: Users can control the cursor and select all types of text, files and icons on the computer screen.

• Touch Screen: On the touch screen, users can select any text, file and image with their own fingers without any other device.

• Light Pen: Its shape is like a pen, using this input device to feed input directly from this pen to the computer screen with good accuracy.

• Joysticks: Joysticks are primarily devices designed for playing games, using this device you can control any character in the game.

• Microphone: This device is capable of converting sound waves into electrical waves. It is used to record voices.

• Webcam: We use this device to capture real-time images and connect to a computer.

• Digital Camera: A digital camera is capable of storing all images and videos in digital form (memory chip) instead of film (rolls).

• Barcode Scanners: With the help of a barcode, large companies can track their products. You can quickly find out prices and stock levels from the barcode. Companies use it in their computerised centralised system to increase their efficiency and productivity.

Points to Remember

• An input device is any hardware device that sends data to your computer and allows you to interact with and control it.

• Keyboard and mouse are two primary input devices.

• CPU is both an input and output device.

• Mouse and light pen are pointing input type devices.

• Microphone is an audio input device.

Learn By Doing

Choose the Correct Option:

Q1. A keyboard with 101 keys is called a __________ keyboard.

1. SIMPLE

2. COMPLEX

3. QWERTY

4. NORMAL

Q2. __________ allows you to select screen positions by touching your finger.

1. Touch panels

2. Image scanner

3. Light pen

4. Mouse

Q3. The most common input devices are:

1. Microphone, printer

2. Scanner, monitor

3. Digital camera, speaker

4. Keyboard, Mouse

Q4. Which keys allow the user to enter frequently used operations with a single keystroke?

1. Function keys

2. Cursor control keys

3. Trackball

4. Control keys

Q5. When was the computer mouse invented by Douglas Engelbart in a Stanford research laboratory?

1. 1977

2. 1980

3. 1970

4. 1952

Sample Questions

Q1. Which type of input device is a web camera?

Ans:  A web camera is a type of visual and imaging device.

Q2. Give examples of gaming type input devices.

Ans:  The examples of gaming input devices are gamepad, joystick and light gun.

Q3. Which type of device CPU is?

Ans: CPU is both an input and an output device.

Summary

Input devices help us to instruct the computer system what we want it to do for us, so that it can give us the result we want. The computer system reads any data or program using input devices. We have learnt that there are many input devices like keyboard, mouse, microphone, joystick etc. Moreover, the keyboard and mouse are two basic input devices of a computer. We hope to have answered your queries on this topic through this article. To read more about computers, visit our website today!