Ict

• Input devices


  Piece of hardware used to enter data and instructions into a computer system
• Input devices


  • Keyboard, mouse, touchpad, microphone, digital camera, web camera, sensors
• Keyboard


  Input device used to enter text, numbers, special symbols (e.g. #,,%) and other commands into a computer by pressing buttons
• Groups of Keys on a keyboard

  • Function Keys (e.g F1, F2)
  • Special Keys (e.g. Alt, Shift, Ctrl)
  • Lock Keys (e.g. Caps Lock, Insert, Num Lock)
  • Numeric Keypad
  • Direction Keys
  • Normal Keys
• Types of Keyboard

  • Wired Keyboard
  • Wireless Keyboard
  • Integrated Keyboard
  • External Keyboard
  • Braille Keyboard, Keyboard with coloured keys, oversized keyboard
• Braille Keyboard


  Contains dots that form a pattern on the keys
• Keyboard with coloured keys


  Uses different colours for the different groups of keys in order to easily identify the keys
• Oversized Keyboard


  Characters on the keyboard is bigger in size as compared to the characters found on normal keyboards
• Uses of Keyboard

  • Used for data entry in computerised systems
  • Used to type letters, reports, e-mails and assignments
• Mouse


  Pointing device used to move and control a pointer cursor on a computer screen
• Types of Mouse

  • Wired Mouse
  • Wireless Mouse
• Basic Operations of a mouse

  1. Click

  2. Right Click

  3. Double Click

  4. Dragging

  5. Scroll Wheel
• Touchpad

  Pointing device found on laptop computers, made up of a flat, touch sensitive surface on which the user slides a finger to move the cursor on the screen
• Joystick


  Cursor control device consisting of a stick (also called as a lever) that pivots on a base, has several push buttons which are pressed to send signals to the computer
• Uses of Joystick


  • Used for playing games
  • Used for controlling machines such as cranes, trucks, surveillance cameras, medical equipment, and wheelchairs
  • Used for people with movement disabilities
• Scanner


  Device that produces a digital image of information contained in hardcopies, image is transferred into the computer system where it is stored as a file
• Uses of Scanner

  • Used to convert printed photographs, hand drawn pictures
  • Used to convert handwritten documents, magazine pages and other documents that can be stored and transferred electronically
• Barcode Reader


  Also called a barcode scanner, is a device that can read printed barcodes (black and white lines) using laser beams to capture the barcodes and then translates them into digital information
• Uses of Barcode Reader

  • Used in supermarkets, shops, warehouses and libraries
• Advantages of Barcode Reader


  • Eliminates the possibility of human error
  • Very fast and reliable
• Touchscreen


  Computer screen that is sensitive to pressure, a user can interact with the computer by touching the pictures or words on the screen with his finger
• Uses of Touchscreen

  • Used in PC tablets and smart phones
  • Used in public places such as Information Kiosks, restaurants, museums and airports
• Advantages of Touchscreen

  • Easy to use
• Microphone


  Device used to input audio (sound) into a computer system, captures audio by converting sound waves into electrical signals that can be processed and stored by the computer
• Uses of Microphone


  • Used for online chatting
  • For recording voice for dictation
  • For recording songs
  • To record sound from musical instruments
• Digital Camera


  Captures pictures and records videos in digital format, can display images on a screen immediately after being recorded, unwanted images/videos can be deleted, images and videos can be transferred to a computer
• Web Camera

  Also called a webcam, is a video camera that captures moving images and sends them directly to a computer, the video stream can be saved, viewed or sent over the internet
• Uses of Web Camera

  • Used in video conferencing
  • Used in video chatting
• Sensors


  Input devices used to measure physical quantities (such as temperature, light, pressure and sound) and send signals to a computer processor, the data fed into the processor is examined by a control program which decides what to do next
• Examples of different types of sensors

  • Temperature sensors: used in automated heating or cooling systems
  • Infrared sensors: used for automatic door opening of shopping malls
  • Proximity sensors: used in vehicles to facilitate parking and avoid bumping into objects
• Output Devices


  Piece of hardware that the computer uses to give information in a suitable form, output can be printed on paper, displayed on a screen or in the form of sound
• Hardcopy


  Information printed on paper
• Softcopy

  Information displayed on a screen
• Monitor


  Also called a Visual Display Unit (VDU), is used to display information produced by a computer, displays text, graphics and video
• Types of Monitors

  • Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)
  • Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Light Emitting Diode (LED)
• Advantages of LCD and LED monitors

  • Are lighter and thinner
  • Are more energy efficient
• Printers


  Output device used to transfer text and graphics from a computer onto paper, the printed copy is called a hardcopy
• Types of Printers

  • Dot Matrix Printer
  • Inkjet Printer
  • Laser Printer
  • 3D Printer
  • Plotter
• Dot Matrix Printer


  Pins strike an inked ribbon to form text and images on paper, is an impact printer and can produce carbon copies of printouts using special paper, produces low quality printout and makes a lot of noise
• Uses of Dot Matrix Printer

  • In banks
  • In retail outlets
  • In offices to print multipart stationery