Collins Guide chapter 1
Probably the most commonly used input device. Inputs characters by pressing them.
Advantages: cheap, widespread, easy to use
Disadvantages: anglophone (foreign characters not shown, especially for oriental languages like Chinese with thousands of characters), can harbour disease, easy to make msitaeks when typing
Used to move a pointer around a screen. Click buttons, icons, menus to activate options.
Advantages: easy & intuitive to use
Disadvantages: can cause RSI if overused
Common on laptop computers, can move mouse around screen by moving finger across it.
Advantages: included on computer
Disadvantages: can be difficult to use, hard to coordinate mouse clicks when using keyboard combinations e.g. Shift/click
Upside-down mouse. Possibly better for avoiding RSI.
Advantages: less RSI
Disadvantages: can be difficult to use
'Air mouse' used in presentations, wireless device that allows entry of button presses and movements when away from the computer. Useful in presentations.
Advantages: can give talk away from computer but still control it
Disadvantages: temperamental
Input movement into games.
Advantages: responsive
Disadvantages: none!
Often found on plastic cards. Store data that is read by a card reader e.g. to open a door, logon to a bank account (replaced by Chip and PIN). Luton Town FC introduced magnetic cards at their ground to exclude non-members but the system was not perfect, fans quickly found that any card with a magnetic stripe would let them in.
Advantages: cheap
Disadvantages: stripe may be faulty, not very secure
Scan pictures and text. Use OCR to scan text. Recognise letters by their shape.
Advantages: can read text and images into computer format
Disadvantages: none
Digital cameras are now very popular. Webcam used for security or for messaging and email.
Advantages: compact, take hundreds of images, no film to buy or process, instant results, can discard unwanted images
Disadvantages: batteries run out, images devalued by quantity (takes hundreds etc.)
Input data into data logging system e.g. temperature, sound, movement, passive infra-red.
Advantages: automatic reading, remote use
Disadvantages: need careful setting up, may not be accurate
Musical Instrument Digital Interface: keyboards and other instruments can be a source of data input, note pitch and length entered by playing keyboard or other instrument. Once entered music can be edited in music software such as a sequencer.
Advantages: can record and playback music electronically, manipulate sounds, correct errors, limitless possibilities
Disadvantages: limitless possibilities (spoiled for choice)