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Input Devices And Their Uses

Introduction

What is an input device?

Input devices are devices that are designed to enter data in to a system. They are not to be confused with devices that you put physical components on ( such as paper in a printer). The device must be putting data in from a physical format into a digital format.

They come in two forms:

  • Manual entry input devices
  • Direct data entry systems

Manual entry

devices require the user to enter data manually, such as a keyboard or a mouse.

Direct data entry systems allow data to be entered semi or fully automatically. These are usually used in specialist systems, such as retail or industrial systems.

Direct entry devices will be covered in a separate lesson, here.

Warning!

Students often mis-categorise devices such as CDs, USB pens, SD Cards etc. as input devices. The data on these devices is already in digital format, and therefore they are not input devices but a whole separate class of device – storage devices.

2.1. Input devices and their uses.

Text

Position

Touch

Video

Audio

Activity

Plenary

Homework