Unit 3

INPUT DEVICES

Written By: Tahir Ayub

Reviewed By: Dr. Mohammad Daud Khattak
 CONTENTS

3.1. Introduction: ....................................................................................59

3.2. Objectives: .......................................................................................59
3.3. Input Devices ...................................................................................60
3.3.1. Keyboard Device: ............................................................................60
3.3.1.1. Function Keys: .................................................................................61
3.3.1.2. Numeric Keys ..................................................................................61
3.3.1.3. Alphabetic Keys ..............................................................................62
3.3.2. Point and Draw Devices: .................................................................62
3.3.2.1. Trackball ..........................................................................................62
3.3.2.2. Joy Stick ..........................................................................................63
3.3.2.3. Mouse ..............................................................................................64
3.3.2.4. Light Pen .........................................................................................65
3.3.3. Touch Screen ...................................................................................66
3.3.4. Digitizer ...........................................................................................66
3.3.5. Speech Recognition Device .............................................................67
3.3.5.1. Types of Speech Recognition system ..............................................68
3.3.5.2. Uses of Speech Recognition System ...............................................68
3.3.6. Data Scanning Devices ....................................................................68
3.3.6.1. Image Scanner .................................................................................68
3.3.6.2. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) ............................................71
3.3.6.3. OMR (Optical Mark Reader) ...........................................................71
3.3.6.4. BCR (Bar Code Reader) ..................................................................72
3.3.6.5. MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) ................................73
3.3.6.6. Electronic Card Reader ....................................................................73
3.3.6.7. Vision Input System .........................................................................74
3.4. Self-Assessment Questions ..............................................................75
3.5. Self-Assessment Activities ..............................................................76

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 INPUT DEVICES

3.1. Introduction:
Input devices are used to feed data into a computer. Keyboard and mouse are most
popular input devices. This unit is focused on different input devices and their uses.

3.2. Objectives:
After completing the unit the student would be in position to:

· Describe the purpose of Input devices.

· Distinguish between different Input devices
· Have knowledge about advance Input devices like speech recognition
systems and image scanning.

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3.3. INPUT DEVICES
The Input devices are used to enter the data and instructions into the computer.
Following are most widely used Input devices.

3.3.1. Keyboard Device:

Keyboard is a standard input device as readily available for us to feed the

data.Akeyboard is similar to a conventional type writer with about 101 keys

as shown below.

Figure 1: Keyboard with Labels

Akeyboard is divided into three major parts.

a) Function Keys
b) Numeric Keys
c) Alphabetic Keys

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3.3.1.1. Function Keys:
Function keys are 12 in numbers labeled as F1 to F12. Function keys are

programmable keys to perform a specific stored function. For example: F1

key is used for help option.

Figure-2: Function Keys

3.3.1.2. Numeric Keys

Numeric keypad is very important for entering numeric data. Numeric
keypad is switched “ON” and switch “Off” by pressing “Num lock” key.
Numeric keypad can also be used for “Arrow keys” and page up & down

tasks as mentioned on the keys.

Figure-3: Numeric Keypad

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3.3.1.3. Alphabetic Keys
Alphabetic keys are used to type the character data. It is used for normal

typing work.

Figure-4: Alphabetic KeyPad

3.3.2. Point and Draw Devices:

Point and draw device is an input device which helps to rapidly point and
select an icon to display on the screen. Some of the most popular point and
draw devices are described below

3.3.2.1. Trackball
Trackball works just like a mouse; trackball contains only one ball instead of

different buttons like left or right etc. Trackball uses this ball to move the
cursor position from one location to the other. Trackball neither uses any

such pad nor covers much space.

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 Figure-5: Trackball an Input device Trackball
3.3.2.2. Joy Stick
Joy stick is a pointing device. Joy stick is mostly used by the children to play
their games. Joy stick is also used as a control stick in the aeroplanes to
control the movements. It consists of a handle, which can be used to move

the cursor position left, right, up and down. Joy stick can also be attached
with a television set. It uses USB or serial port for connection. Joy stick is
faster than keyboard.

Figure-6: Joy Stick

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3.3.2.3. Mouse
Mouse is a pointing device. User can move cursor very rapidly on the screen

with the help of mouse. Mouse controls the movements of the cursor
positions. There is variety of mouse available in the market. For example:

Wheel mouse, laser mouse, wireless mouse etc.

Ø Wheel mouse:
Wheel mouse contains left, right buttons, and a wheel
button at the middle. Wheel button is used to scroll the pages up
and down very rapidly.

Figure-7: Wheel Mouse

Ø Laser Mouse:
Laser mouse uses the laser beam for its movement.

Laser mouse does not need any mouse pad. Laser mouse is

automatically activated as it gets attached with the computer.

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 Figure-8: Laser Mouse
3.3.2.4. Light Pen
Light pen is a pointing device, which is used for making drawings. Light pen
rapidly moves on the screen just like ordinary pen but it works with

electricity. Light pen does not need any alphabetic keys.

Figure-9: Light Pen

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3.3.3. Touch Screen
Touch screen is an input device. Touch screen is capable to touch the data

directly by using fingers within the display area. Touch screen is very simple
and easy to use. Currently it is also used in the mobile phones.

Figure-10: Touch Screen

3.3.4. Digitizer
Digitizer is an input device. Digitizer is used to convert the maps, pictures

and drawings into a digital form for storing in the computer system. A

Digitizer consists of a digitizing tablet and a stylus (pen). Digitizing tablet is

a flat surface on which stylus or a pen is moved to draw shapes, pictures or

maps etc.

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 Figure-11: Digitizer

3.3.5. Speech Recognition Device

Speech Recognition is an input device. Speech Recognition allows a person
to input data to the computer through speaking or voice. Speech Recognition
device converts the human voice into text. This device is especially helpful

for the disable persons.

Speech recognition has the capability to first recognize words with the help
of software or a device then convert into text or device readable format.

Figure-12: Speech
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3.3.5.1. Types of Speech Recognition system
Ø Single Word Speech Recognition System
These systems recognize only single word like “Hello', “Yes”,
“No”, at one time.
Ø Continuous Type of Words Speech Recognition System
This type of Speech Recognition System recognizes more than

one word or a complete sentence. For example “hello how are

you”.

3.3.5.2. Uses of Speech Recognition System

Ø Speech Recognition Systems are especially helpful for the

disable persons, who cannot write.

Ø It helps those persons who feel comforts to speak rather than to
write.
Ø It facilitates a user in a situation where he/she is unable to edit &
review a long text. It also helps the users, who are quite busy and

don't want to type the data due to shortage of time.

3.3.6. Data Scanning Devices

3.3.6.1. Image Scanner

Image scanner is an input device. Image scanner translates the documents

into an electronic format and stores them into the computer. Important
documents can be preserved in an electronic form by using image scanner

for later use. These documents can also be printed.

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 Figure-13: Image Scanner

Image scanner is further classified into the following

Ø Flatbed Scanner
Flatbed Scanner is like a photocopier machine having a glass sheet.
Flatbed scanner is also called desktop scanners. In a flatbed scanner, the
paper is placed on a glass sheet, and a light source is moved horizontally

from one line to other line. The process is repeated until all the lines are

completed.

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 Figure-14: Flatbed Scanner

Ø Hand-Held Scanners
A handheld scanner is an input device. Hand-held scanner works much

like a flatbed scanner but it works manually by the user itself. For
scanning the documents or products, the scanner is dragged slowly with

its light on. Hand-held scanners are mostly used in the shops to scan the
price of the products.

Figure-15: Handheld Scanner

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3.3.6.2. OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
Optical Character Recognition is also called Optical Character Reader.
Optical Character Reader uses software called “OCR software”. The scanner

first creates an image of the document and then OCR software converts that
image into ASCII text. Computer interprets the ASCII text as letters,
numbers and special characters.

OCR is also called as ICR (Intelligent Character Recognition), which is used

to scan images and text.

Figure-16: Optical Character Recognition

3.3.6.3. OMR (Optical Mark Reader)

Optical Mark Reader has the capability to recognize the pre-mentioned
marks either of a pen or a pencil. Optical Mark Reader is specifically helpful

for making objective type questions. The students mark the answer sheet by

filling/darkening a circle, oval shape or square. This printed answer sheet

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is fed into the computer and the grading is done by using Optical Mark

Reader.

Figure-17: Optical Mark Reader

3.3.6.4. BCR (Bar Code Reader)

Barcode reader is an input device. It is normally used in the shops, glossary

stores. This device contains the photo electric cells that read bar codes
consisting of lines having different thickness. Barcode reader helps

shopkeepers to analyze the price of an item immediately.

Figure-18: Bar Code Reader

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3.3.6.5. MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition)
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is an input device. MICR is
used to read the magnetically encoded characters. MICR is a system that

provides a full alphanumeric recognition of printed or handwritten

characters by simply scanning the form. A user scans the data through a
scanner, which is recognized by an engine of the OCR system. The MICR

converts the images into machine-readable characters.

3.3.6.6. Electronic Card Reader

Electronic Card Reader is an input device which is used to scan e-cards /

smart cards like visa card, bank credit cards etc. An electronic card reader
reads the memory card of the ATM debit card or visa card etc. The memory
card is in the form of a black strip, which is wiped through an electronic

device called an Electronic card Reader machine.

Figure-19: Electrical Card

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3.3.6.7. Vision Input System
Vision Input System is one of the latest input devices that recognize the

vision, image, which appears in the range of its lens. These are especially
used to design industrial Robots.

Figure-20: Vision Input System

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3.4. SelfAssessment Questions

Q.No.1. What is the purpose of scanner? Also describe BCR & MICR
with suitable examples.

Q.No.2. Define the following:

i. Function keys ii. Numeric keys iii. Alphabetic

keys

Q.No.3. What is the importance of point and draw devices. Name any two
points & draw devices.

Q.No.4. In what respect trackball is different from joy-stick. Give

examples.

Q.No.5. Discuss the purpose of speech recognition device?

Q.No.6. Explain some types of image scanner.

Q.No.7. What is the difference between handheld scanner and flatbed

scanner?

Q.No.8. Clarify the difference between OCR and OMR.

Q.No.9. Explain briefly vision input systems.

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3.5. SelfAssessmentActivities:

1. Draw any map using point & draw devices and show the results to your
teacher.

2. Create a text by using speech recognition device and practically

show the required output to the teacher.

3. Observe the working of voice reproduction devices. Also consult with

your teacher.

4. Scan some documents and pictures show the results to the teacher

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