Name Elouise Mitchell-Gooding

WORKSHEET 2 - INPUT
DEVICES

Make sure that you are familiar with all of the information detailed in this
booklet. There are a number of tasks for you to carry out, be sure to read the
information fully whilst completing the tasks.

Use the theory notes on the teach-ict.com site to help you complete this
booklet.

TASK 1: INPUT DEVICES

An input device is anything that is used to get data INTO the computer. For
example, you can use a keyboard to type text which will then be stored in the
computer. You can use a mouse to highlight, select and click – the instructions
for what you want to happen go from the mouse, into the computer.

You need to know about a selection of input devices for your test. Write a couple
of sentences to describe the following manual input devices:

Input device Descriptio Extra fact

n you found
out
Keyboard A keyboard is used to enter text Most keyboards
into the computer. It has a set of
alphabet keys, number keys and either have 101 or
function keys. 104 keys.
Keyboards usually use a QWERTY
layout. If you have wrist pain you
can get an ‘ergonomic keyboard’
Mouse A mouse is a manual input device that is The trackball
connected to the computer either via cable or mouse and the
Bluetooth. This device controls the on- whale mouse are
screen cursor. It is used for translating hand
movements into the computer by detecting
alternatives to the
hand movements and inputting data into the traditional mouse
computer. that reduce wrist
and arm pain and
strain.

© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
Touchpad A touchpad is a flat, touch sensitive device The largest
that replaces the use of a traditional mouse. component of a
Like a mouse, the touchpad allows the user touchpad is a tactile
to control the cursor. This device detects the
motion and position of a user’s finger on the
sensor.
touch sensitive areas and translates them to
control the cursor.

© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
Joystick A joystick is an input device that can be The joystick was first
used for controlling the movement of the invented in 1926 by
cursor or a pointer in a computer device. C.B. Mirick.
The cursor movement is brought about by
maneuvering a lever on the joystick.
Joysticks also contain extra buttons for
additional functionality.
Concept A concept keyboard or overlay keyboard is a Checkout tills at fast food
Keyboar specialized keyboard with no preset keys. It restaurants make use of
d contains a grid of buttons that can be programmed this device for making
by the user to perform a wide range of functions. On ordering faster and easier.
the concept keyboard, an overlay sheet with pictures
or symbols is placed on the grid so that the user can
identify what each key does.

Touch screen A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that Touchscreen technology has
allows users to directly interact with what is shown been around since the 1960s.
on the screen using their fingers or a stylus. Using
an electrostatic field, the device’s software
determines the location and motion of the user’s
finger or stylus. The system then responds
accordingly to the touch input.

Scanner A scanner is a device used to convert images or text on The most popular type of
paper into a digital format that can be used by the scanner is the flatbed
computer. Scanners work by shining a beam of light onto scanner. They can scan
the surface of the object being scanned. This light is then larger images and are more
reflected back onto a sensor that detects the colour of the
accurate than handheld
light. This is then used to build up the digital image.
scanners are.

Graphics tablet A graphics tablet is a computer input device that Graphics tablets connect to
enables a user to hand draw or paint images, computers via USB or
graphics, with a special pen-like stylus, similar to Bluetooth, allowing data to
the way a person draws pictures with a pencil and be transferred.
paper by hand. The graphics tablet has a firm plastic
touch sensitive drawing surface that detects pen
operations on the screen.

MICR The term MICR refers to the series of numbers at The reader will only
the bottom of a cheque or other financial document. recognize numbers printed
These numbers are written in a special ink which using magnetic ink. This
contains iron particles. This ink is called magnetic provides a high level of
ink. It can be read by a machine called a ‘Magnetic security.
Ink Character Reader’

© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
OMR Specific forms such as multiple-choice test papers are Depending on the quality of
scanned by a specific device called a, “Optical Mark the machine used, up to
Reader.” The presence of a pencil mark is detected by 10,000 forms can be read per
reflecting light onto the paper. The OMR then interprets hour.
the pattern of marks and sends the results to the
computer storage.

Magnetic Magnetic strips are found on the back of several kinds of Magnetic strips can contain
Stripe Reader cards. These strips hold personal details about the card up to 60 characters, stored
number such as account number and name. To read this magnetically.
data, the card is swiped through a Magnetic Strip Reader
and the data is read and fed back to the computer.

Barcode Reader A barcode reader is a device used to scan a barcode In 1974, a pack of Wrigley’s
using a visible red light. The reflected light is translated gum was the first grocery
into digital data that is interpreted by the computer to store item to be scanned by a
identify the product being scanned an its price. barcode reader.

Biometric Biometric devices are used for security Biometrics were first
Devices identification and authentication. These devices can recorded in the early
recognize a user and then correctly prove whether
19th century through a
the identified user holds the identity they claim to
have. biometric
Biometric security systems use automated identification system
techniques, in which human intervention is reduced developed by
to the minimum to recognize and then confirm an Alphonse Bertillon to
individual's identity based on distinctive identify and compare
physiological or behavioral features, such as
criminals.
fingerprints, and voice recognition.

TASK 2: FILL IN THE MISSING WORDS

screen touch mouse keyboar

d
number input data touchpa
d

input devices are used to let you enter data into a computer. There are

many different types of input device and each one is suitable for a specific task.

For example, if you wanted to enter a large amount of text, then a

keyboard would be the most

suitable input device. Whereas if you wanted to enter your password or

account
© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
number at a bank an input device which is often used is a touch

screen.

A mouse is the best input device for pointing and selecting things on a computer

screen . However, when using a laptop, the mouse is often replaced with a

touchpad .

© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
TASK 3: MATCH THE INPUT DEVICE TO THE TASK

Changing a paper drawing into a Keyboard

digital image that can be inserted
into a document

Recording sales of items in a Mouse

fast-food restaurant

Automatically entering multiple Joystick

choice test marks

Writing a large report for your manager

Concep
t
keyboar
d

Drawing high quality images with a Optical Character

lot of detail Recognition

Selecting a paragraph of text to Scanner

cut and paste elsewhere in the
document

Playing a flight simulation Graphi

computer game cs
tablet

Entering how much cash you OMR

want to withdraw from your
bank account

© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
Scanning large amounts of text on a Touchscreen
paper-based document into the
computer and changing them into
text which can be edited
electronically
END OF WORKSHEET

© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.
You may:
• Guide teachers or students to access this resource from the teach-ict.com site
• Print out enough copies to use during the lesson

You may not:

• Adapt or build on this work
• Save this resource to a school network or VLE
• Republish this resource on the internet

A subscription will enable you to access an editable version and save it on your protected
network or VLE

© www.teach-ict.com This worksheet must not be posted onto any other site.