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By Jide Awe | Contributing Writer
INPUT DEVICES
Since we have
covered data storage lets move to data input.
(a) PRIMARY INPUT DEVICES
Two primary input devices are key to getting data into a PC. The keyboard
and the mouse.
(i) KEYBOARD
Input device that lets you enter data into the computer. The layout
is similar to the standard QWERTY typewriter keyboard. However, there
are many extra special keys that are defined by the software you are
running.
(ii) MOUSE
Hand operated pointing and selection device which serves as alternate
input to the keyboard. It is very useful for Graphical User Interface
(GUI) Applications such as Windows, etc., which is rolled or moved
across the desktop to position a cursor or pointer on the computer
screen.
The mouse also contains several buttons to help select items on data
on the monitor screen. A mouse was initially an optional device, but
it is becoming difficult to work without it, with the spread of Windows
based systems.
(b)SPECIALTY INPUT DEVICES
Lets move on to the specialty input devices like the scanner and the
Digital camera.
(i) SCANNER
A scanner converts text and images to digital information. This text
and images can be from a variety of sources such as magazines, photographs,
articles, scientific diagrams, etc. The scanner creates a digital
image from your photograph or drawing, for use in graphics, DeskTop
Publishing or Presentation applications.
There are different types of scanners like Hand scanner, flatbed scanner
and the multifunction scanner/fax/printer/copier. The flatbed scanner
provides a larger scanning area than the other scanners and is the
usually more expensive.
(ii) DIGITAL
CAMERA
The Digital Camera produces the same result as a Scanner. Any pictures
taken are transferred straight to the computer, i.e. in the form of
a graphics image suitable for image editing or DeskTop Publishing
applications. It eliminates the need for film.
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