Input Device

• Other uses of RFID

  • Keeping track of inventory in stores and warehouses
  • Managing and locating equipment and tools in workspace
• Touch screens Benefits

  • Offer intuitive operation
  • Quick menu selection
  • Easy maintenance
• Analogue data

  Information that is represented in a physical, continuous way, like sound waves or temperature readings
• Digital data

  Information that computers can store, access and work using symbols
• Sensor

  A device that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment
• The type of data output from a sensor is analog
• The type of data read by a microprocessor is digital
• The item of hardware that converts data from a sensor so a microprocessor can read it is an analog to digital converter (ADC)
• The type of sensor that is used in a refrigerator is temperature sensor
• Uses of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)


  • Collecting information from forms with bubbles
  • Processing lots of hand-filled documents
• Types of input devices

  • Manual input devices
  • Direct input devices
• Direct data entry devices


  • Chip and pin reader
  • Bar code scanner
  • RFID reader (Radio Frequency Identification Reader)
  • MICR reader (Mangentic ink character recognition)
• What is Magnetic Strip Reader: are used to read data found on magnetic strips found on the back of the cards
• What is a Chip and Pin reader?

  are used POS terminals to make a secure payment using a debit or credit card.
• What is a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)? . 


  reads information stored on tapes using radio waves.
• MICR


  Able to read characters in a printed special link, the characters are then transformed into computer understood format
• MICR


  • Less chances of human error
  • Characters can't be altered
  • Can be read even if written over
• MICR Disadvantages

  • Expensive
  • Limited amount
  • Slower than using a keyboard
• Optical Mark Reader


  Able to read pencil marks written in pen or
• Optical Mark Reader

  • More accurate than OCR
  • Less chance of errors
  • Very fast method of inputting data
• Optical Mark Reader Disadvantages

  • Forms have to be completed correctly to avoid manual checking
• OCR (Optical Character Reader)


  A technology that converts images of text into machine readable text format
• OCR

  • Faster method than manually typing the data
  • Less chance of error
• OCR Disadvantages

  • Not as accurate as OMR
  • Unable to read handwriting
• Barcode Scanners

  Used to scan bar code which has info about the product
• Barcode Scanners

  • Quicker than typing the codes
  • Can easily be updated with new prices
• Barcode Scanners Disadvantages


  • Can be unreadable or missing
  • Could be swapped
  • Can be an expensive system