3.2.

1 Input devices
Alam Zeb Computer Teacher
Barcode scanners (readers)
➢A barcode is a series of
dark and light parallel
lines of varying thickness .
➢Each line represents a
number 0 to 9.
Working of barcode reader to convert
barcode to digital information
➢the barcode is first of all read by a red laser
➢the dark areas reflect little or no light, white line reflect more light
➢the reflected light is read by sensors (photoelectric cells)
➢a pattern is generated, which is converted into digital data
➢for example: the digit ‘3’ on the left generates the pattern: LDDDDLD
(where L = light and D = dark), this has the binary equivalent of: 0111101
(where L = 0 and D = 1)
Applications of Barcode scanners (readers)

➢Barcodes are most commonly found at the checkout in supermarkets.

➢These are also used in library management
➢These are used for inventory control and management
How Barcodes help in Supermarkets

➢the barcode number is looked up in the stock database

➢when found, the item record is displayed on screen including price,
dates, quantity and manufactures’ data
➢the number of stock items in the record is reduced by 1 each time the
barcode is read
➢the number of stock items is compared to the re-order level; if it is
less than or equal to this value, more stock items are automatically
ordered
➢when new stock items arrive, the stock levels are updated in the
database
Advantages to the management of using
barcodes
➢much easier and faster to change prices on stock items
➢much better, more up-to-date sales information/sales trends
➢no need to price every stock item on the shelves (this reduces time
and cost to the management)
➢allows for automatic stock control
➢possible to check customers buying habits.
Advantages to the customers of using
barcodes
➢faster checkout queues (staff don’t need to remember/look up prices
of items)
➢errors in charging customers is reduced
➢the customer is given an itemized bill
➢cost savings can be passed on to the customer
➢better track of ‘sell by dates’ so food should be fresher..
2. Quick response (QR) codes
❖ This is made up of a matrix of filled-in dark
squares on a light background.
❖ It can presently hold up to 4296 characters (or up
to 7089 digits) where as barcode can hold up to 30
digits.
❖ QR codes can be scanned anywhere using
smartphones or tablet.
 Advantages of Quick response (QR)
codes
❖ They can hold much more information
❖ There will be fewer errors; the higher capacity of the QR
code allows the use of built-in error-checking systems
❖ QR codes are easier to read; they don’t need expensive
laser or LED (light emitting diode) scanners like barcodes
– they can be read by the cameras on smartphones or
tablets
Advantages of Quick response (QR)
codes (Continued)
❖ It is easy to transmit QR codes either as text
messages or images
❖ It is also possible to encrypt QR codes which gives
them greater protection than traditional barcodes
3. 2D / Image scanner
❖ These are used to input hard copy (paper)
documents. The image is converted into an
electronic form that can be stored in a computer.
Working of 2D / Image scanner
❖ The document is placed on a glass panel.
❖ A bright light then illuminates the document.

❖ An image of the document is produced, which is

then sent to a lens using a series of mirrors.
Working of 2D / Image scanner (continued)
❖ The focused image now falls onto a charge
couple device (CCD), which converts light into an
electric current. Essentially the CCD is made up
of thousands of light-sensitive elements (or
pixels). Each element creates an electric charge
when light falls on it. This means that the
scanned image is now turned into an electronic
form.
Application of 2D scanners
❖ At airports, a 2D image is taken so it can be matched
to the image of scanner taken from the passport
❖ Used to make soft copies of pictures and important
documents
4. OCR (optical character recognition)
❖ Output of 2D scanner was image (not editable)
❖ Computers equipped with optical character
recognition (OCR) software allow the scanned text
from the document to be converted into a text file
format.
❖ This means the scanned image can now be edited and
manipulated by importing it into a word processor.
5. 3D scanners
❖ 3D scanners scan solid objects and produce a three-
dimensional image.
❖ These take images at several points along X,Y,Z
coordinates forming digital image.
❖ The scanned images can be used in computer aided
design (CAD) or sent to a 3D printer to produce a
working model of the scanned image.
Uses of 3D scanners
❖ Based on tomography technology, which basically
builds up an image of the solid object through a series
of very thin ‘slices’.
❖ Each slice is built up by use of X-rays, radio
frequencies or gamma imaging producing CT scan,
MRI, SPECT
6. Digital cameras
❖ It is an input device that captures images and videos
and store them in binary form
❖ These can automatically carry out the following tasks:
✓ adjust the shutter speed
✓ focus the image automatically
✓ operate the flash gun automatically
✓ adjust the aperture size
✓ adjust the size of the image
✓ remove ‘red eye’ when the flash gun has been used
Working of Digital cameras
❖ When image is captured, light passes through the lens
onto a light-sensitive cell having millions of tiny
sensors which are acting as photodiodes (CCD) which
convert light into electricity.
❖ The image is converted into tiny electric charges which
are then passed through ADC which converts the
electric charges from each pixel into digital format
7. Keyboards
❖ Keyboards are used for data entry.
❖ Each character on a keyboard has an ASCII

value which is a number from 0 to 255 that is easily then

converted to binary.
❖ Unfortunately, frequent use of these devices can lead to
injuries, such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) in the hands and
wrists.
❖ Ergonomic keyboards can help to overcome this problem
How the computer recognizes a letter
pressed on the keyboard:
❖ There is a membrane or circuit board at the base of
the keys
❖ When a key is pressed, circuit below it is completed

❖ The CPU then determines which key has been pressed

❖ The CPU refers to an index file to identify which ASCII

code the key press represents
❖ ASCII value is then converted to binary.
8. Microphones

❖ A microphone can convert sound waves into an

electric current. The current produced is converted to
a digital format.
Working of Microphones

❖ Sound waves causes the cone in diaphragm to vibrate.

❖ A copper coil is wrapped around the cone, moves backwards
and forwards causing magnetic field around the permanent
magnet, inducing an electric current.
❖ The electric current is then either amplified and converted to
digital form
9. Optical mouse

❖ An optical mouse is an example of a pointing device.

❖ It is used in GUI to point, select, run and drag
applications/icons.
Working of Optical mouse

❖ It uses tiny cameras to take 1500 images per second.

❖ It can work on virtually any surface.
❖ A red LED is used in the base of the mouse and the red light
is bounced off the surface and the reflection is picked up by a
complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS).
❖ The CMOS generates electric pulses to represent the
reflected red light and these pulses are sent to a digital signal
processor (DSP).
Working of Optical mouse (continued..)

❖ The processor can now work out the coordinates of the

mouse based on the changing image patterns as it is moved
about on the surface.
❖ The computer can then move the on-screen cursor to the
coordinates sent by the mouse
 10. Touch screens

❖ Touch screens are now a very common form of input device.

❖ Touch screens allow the user to carry out the same functions
as they would with a pointing device, such as a mouse.
❖ There are three common types of touch screen technologies
currently being used by mobile phone and tablet
manufacturers.
❖ capacitive
❖ infrared
❖ resistive (most common method at the moment)
 10.1 Capacitive touch screens

❖ Capacitive touch screens are composed of a layer of glass

(protective layer), a transparent electrode (conductive) layer
and a glass substrate.
❖ when bare fingers (or a special stylus) touch the screen, the
electrostatic field of the conductive layer is changed. The
installed microcontroller is able to calculate where this
change took place and hence determine the coordinates of
the point of touching.
 Advantages of Capacitive touch screens

❖ Better image clarity than resistive screens, especially in

strong sunlight
❖ Very durable screens that have high scratch resistance
❖ Projective capacitive screens allow multi-touch
 Disadvantages of Capacitive touch screens

❖ Surface capacitive screens only work with bare fingers or a

special stylus
❖ They are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation (such as
magnetic fields or microwaves).
❖ These are expensive in price
 10.2 Infrared touch screens

❖ Infrared touch screens use

a glass screen with an array of
sensors and infrared transmitters.
❖ The sensors detect the infrared radiation. If any of the
infrared beams are broken (for example, with a finger
touching the screen), the infrared radiation reaching the
sensors is reduced. The sensor readings are sent to a
microcontroller that calculates where the screen was
touched:
 Advantages of Infrared touch screens

❖ Allows multi-touch facilities

❖ Has good screen durability
❖ The operability isn’t affected by a scratched or cracked
screen.
 Disadvantages of Infrared touch screens

❖ The screen can be sensitive to water or moisture

❖ It is possible for accidental activation to take place if the
infrared beams are disturbed in some way
❖ Sometimes sensitive to light interference.
 10.3 Resistive touch screens

❖ are made up of two layers of

electrically resistive material with a voltage applied across them.
❖ The upper layer is made of flexible polyethylene (a type of
polymer) and the bottom layer is made of glass.
❖ When the top surface is touched, the two layers make contact,
circuit is now completed which results in a flow of electricity. The
point of contact is detected where there was a change in voltage
 Advantages of Resistive touch screens

❖ Good resistance to dust and water

❖ Can be used with bare fingers, stylus and gloved hand.
❖ Cheaper in price
Disadvantages of Resistive touch screens

❖ Low touch sensitivity

(sometimes have to press down harder)
❖ Doesn’t support multi-touch facility
❖ Poor visibility in strong sunlight
❖ Vulnerable to scratches on the screen (made of polymer)