ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INPUT DEVICES

KEYBOARD
Advantages
1. Enables fast entry of new text into a document.
2. Most people find them easy to use.
3. Easy to do verification check as data is entered, as it appears on the screen simultaneously.

Disadvantages
1. Users with limited arm/wrist use can find keyboards hard to use.
2. Entering data is slow when compared to direct data entry (e.g., OMR).
3. They use up desk space as they are quite large.

MOUSE
Advantages
1. Faster to select an option by a mouse than a keyboard.
2. Enables easy navigation through applications and the internet.
3. Mice are small and don’t take much area.
Disadvantages
1. People with restricted hand/wrist movement can find it hard to operate a mouse.
2. They are hard to use if there is no flat surface available 3. They are easily damage.

JOYSTICK
Advantages
1. Easier to navigate round a screen compared to a keyboard.
2. Control is in three dimensions.

Disadvantages
1. More difficult to control the on-screen pointer with a joystick than with mouse.
TOUCHPAD
Advantages
1. Faster to select an option by a touchpad than a keyboard
2. Enables rapid navigation through applications and the internet
3. They require no flat surface unlike a mouse.
Disadvantage
1. People with limited hand/wrist movement can find touchpads hard to use
2. It is difficult to control the pointer when compared to a mouse.
3. Drag and drop operation is difficult when compared to a mouse.

WEBCAM
Advantages
1. Allow people to keep in contact with each other without the need to travel
2. It is very useful in video and conference calling
Disadvantages
1. Webcams have limited features and often poor picture quality.
2. They need to be connected to a computer.

DIGITAL CAMERA
Advantages
1. They produce better quality photographs than traditional cameras.
2. Very easy to upload photographs to a computer.
3. Easy to delete an image from the memory if it’s not needed.
Disadvantages
1. The camera user needs to be computer literate to use the camera properly.
2. Images often need to be compressed to reduce the amount of memory used.
3. The resolution is not yet as good as traditional cameras.

SCANNER
Advantages
1. Images can be stored for editing at a later time
2. It is possible to recover damaged documents and photographs by scanning them again.
3. Scanners are much faster and more accurate than typing the whole documents again
Disadvantages
1. The quality can be limited depending on how good the scanner resolution is.

MICROPHONE
Advantages
1. Faster to input text than to type it using a keyboard
2. Possible to manipulate sound using special software
Disadvantages
1. Voice typing is not accurate as typing in manually using keyboard.
2. Sound files use up a lot of memory space.

BARCODE READER
Advantages
1. Faster than manually keying information.
2. Barcodes enable automatic stock control.
3. When an item price is changed, only the central database needs to be updated, there is no need
to change the prices individually on each item
Disadvantages
1. Barcode scanning is an expensive system to use. since every item in the shops needs a barcode
and every barcode needs to be entered on the system.
2. Barcode can be swapped around on items this can affect the price.
3. Also, there is a need to invest in the computer technology and staff training

OUTPUT DEVICES
They convert information from machine-readable into human readable form. Examples include
monitor, printer, speaker, plotter, and projector.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INPUT DEVICES
CRT Monitors
Advantages
1. Less expensive than other display technology.
2. Fast response time.
3. They produce more colors
4. CRT also suitable for use even in dim or dark light.
5. Easily increases the monitor's brightness by reflecting the light
6. Fast response times and no motion artifacts

Disadvantages
1. Very bulky and take up large space on a desk
2. Not suitable for very brightly environment because less bright than LCD
3. They are large, heavy and bulky
4. Consume a lot of electricity and also produce a lot of heat
5. Harmful DC and AC electric and magnetic fields

LCD Monitors
Advantages
1. No radiation emission from the screen
2. Better under brighter conditions because of anti-glare technology
3. Lighter in weight with respect to screen size
4. Energy efficient because of lower power consumption
5. Produce lower electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields
6. It has not affected by an increase or decrease in air pressure
7. Number of pixels per square inch is typically higher than any other technology or system
Disadvantages
1. Slightly more expensive than CRT
2. Suffer from a motion blur effect
3. High refresh rate
4. The aspect ratio and resolution are fixed
5. Restricted viewing angles
6. Slow response times

Laser Printers
Advantages
1. Printing is fast for high volumes.
2. Can handle very large print jobs.
3. It produces high quality printing.
4. Toner cartridges last for a long time.

Disadvantages
1. Very expensive to buy.
2. Only really fast if several copies are being made
3. Colour laser printers tend to be expensive to run since four cartridges are needed.

Inkjet Printers
Advantages
1. High quality output
2. Cheaper to buy than laser printers
3. Very lightweight and take up little space

Disadvantages
1. Printing is slow if several copies are needed.
2. The cartridges run out very quickly.
3. Can be expensive use for large printing
Dot Matrix Printers
Advantages
1. Very cheap to run and maintain
2. Carbon copies or multi-part outputs can be produced
3. Can be used in environments which would be a problem for laser and inkjet printers dusty,
dirty or moist atmospheres
Disadvantages
1. Very noisy and hence not good for an office environment.
2. Quite expensive compared to ink jet printers.
3. Printing is of poor quality.
4. Printing is very slow.

Graph Plotters
Advantages
1. Can produce very large printouts.
2. Print quality is extremely high.
3. Plotters are very efficient.
4. Plotters can print with speed and consistency.

Disadvantages
1. They are quite expensive.
2. The plotters are large in size, therefore, needs large space for installation
3. A plotter needs heavy maintenance
4. Plotters are not suitable for home use like printers.
5. Some plotters make noise while printing.

Speaker
Advantages
1. Usually long lasting and durable
2. Usually provided with the computer/laptop although these may not be the best quality.
Disadvantages
1. Can take up a lot of desk space compared to headphones
2. High volume may cause hearing impairment
3. High volume can distract people around you.

Projector
Advantages
1. Projected screen causes no damage to the eye as compared to other screens
2. They provide a large screen viewing
3. They can make a presentation more effective
4. Projectors are alternative to large televisions.
5. They are cheap than a large TV
6. They are easy to use and install.

Disadvantages
1. It needs dark room to get better result.
2. Needs maintenance regularly.
3. Installation cost is more.
4. They need separate audio device in most cases.