Hardware

• Computer


  An electronic machine that manipulates data according to a set of instructions called a program
• Computer system


  • All the hardware equipment together with all the software that make them work
  • Designed to perform four basic operations: Input, Processing, Output and Storage
• Peripheral device


  An internal or external device that connects directly to a computer but does not contribute to the computer's primary function, such as computing
• Peripheral devices


  • Mouse
  • Keyboard
  • Printer
  • Webcam
  • Scanner
  • External drives
• User


  A person who uses computers for work or entertainment or communication or business
• Input device


  Any hardware component that allows users to enter data or instructions (programs, commands and user response) into a computer
• Keyboard


  The most commonly used input device, contains keys that the user presses to enter data into a computer
• Keyboard


  • Typing area with alphabet keys, function keys, numeric keys, arrow keys, command keys
  • Most keyboards are 'QWERTY' keyboards
• Concept keyboard


  A manual input device with pictures of items instead of 'A-Z' keys
• Number pad/numeric keypad


  A panel of keys with numbers and numeric operations, used with electronic devices
• Pointing device


  An input device that allows a user to control the movement of the pointer or location of the cursor on the screen
• Mouse


  A small handheld device pushed over a horizontal surface, used to control the movement of the pointer or cursor on the screen
• Pointer


  A symbol or graphical image on the computer monitor or other display device that echoes movements of the pointing device
• Cursor


  A movable, sometimes blinking, symbol that indicates the position on a display screen where the next character entered from the keyboard will appear, or where user action is needed
• Joystick

  A vertical stick that moves the graphics cursor in the direction the stick is pushed
• Light pen

  A pen-like device that can be used to select items on a computer screen
• Trackball

  A pointing device consisting of a ball housed in a socket containing sensors to detect rotation of the ball about two axis
• Graphics tablet


  A special tablet similar to a touchpad, but controlled with a pen or stylus that is held and used like a normal pen or pencil

  
• Stylus


  A small pen-shaped instrument used to input commands to a computer screen, mobile device or graphics tablet

  
• Touchpad


  A flat surface that can detect finger contact, commonly used on laptop computers
• Touch screen


  A device embedded into the screen that allows users to interact with it by physically pressing items shown on the screen, either with their fingers or a stylus
• Voice data entry (VDE)


  A system that accepts the spoken word as input data or commands
• Microphone


  A device used to record sounds and voices, give voice commands and for voice communication
• Digital camera


  A camera that records images digitally and allows for the quick transfer of picture data from the camera to the computer
• Webcam


  A type of video camera, usually small and attached to a computer, that allows live chat over the internet
• Document scanner


  A device that copies a document or picture and stores it in a computer

  
• Types of document scanners

  • Hand-held scanner
  • Flatbed scanner
  • Sheet-fed scanner

  
• OMR (Optical mark reader/recognition)


  Detects the position of a mark or marks on paper, e.g. shading in a multiple choice

  
• OCR (Optical character reader/recognition)


  The ability to read printed information into a computer system, e.g. scanned in texts
• MICR (Magnetic ink character reader/recognition)


  Detects data printed using a special ink, e.g. cheques
• MSR (Magnetic stripe reader)


  Scans information in the form of a magnetic stripe, usually on the surface of a card such as a debit or credit card
• Barcode reader


  Reads a pattern of bars representing the code number of the item on which it is printed
• QR scanner


  Reads a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) that contains information about the item to which it is attached

  
• Sensor


  An input device that collects specific data directly from the environment and transmits it to a computer
• Magnetic stripe reader (MSR)


  Scans information in the form of a magnetic stripe, usually on the surface of a card such as a debit or credit card
• Barcode Reader (BCR)


  Reads a pattern of bars representing the code number of the item on which it is printed
• QR code


  Trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) first designed for the automotive industry in Japan
• Sensor


  One of input devices that collect specific data directly from the environment and transmit it to a computer
• Sensor


  • Can be used to detect speed, movement, weight, pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, current, fog, gas, smoke, light, shapes, images, earthquakes, and others that beyond human limitations
• Biometrics


  The science of measuring individual body characteristics, then using then to identify a person through a fingerprint, hand, eye, voice, or facial characteristics