Input devices

Question 1

Hardware

Answer 1

A physical components of a computer.

Question 2

Input device

Answer 2

Is a hardware device allows a user to enter data into a computer system.

Question 3

Automatic input device

Answer 3

Automatically will read data and input it into a computer system. E.g. temperature sensor

Question 4

Manual input device

Answer 4

Need a user to physically enter the data into a computer system. E.g. keyboard

Question 5

Software

Answer 5

Programs and instructions run on a computer.

Question 6

Mechanical keyboard

Answer 6

They have a set of keys that can be pressed to enter the data. Include letters, numbers and symbols. Also special command function keys are programmed(arrows, print screen…)

Question 7

Virtual keyboard

Answer 7

On-screen keyboard. They are created by software.

Question 8

Concept keyboard

Answer 8

Each button in a concept keyboard can be programmed to do a specific task. An overlay is than placed over the buttons to indicate the tasks that they perform.

Question 9

A mouse

Answer 9

Used to control a cursor on a screen. It allows user to move the cursor around the screen.

Question 10

Trackball mouse

Answer 10

The user rotates the ball whilst the main body part stays still. It allows students to be more precise. Used in computer aided design (CAD).

Question 11

Foot mouse

Answer 11

Trackballs have been adapted for those users who have limited hand movement in the form of a foot mouse.

Question 12

2D scanner

Answer 12

Two-dimensional scanner. By shining light into the surface of the document, the light is reflected and captured onto a light-sensitive device using mirrors and lenses. Than its converted into digital for computer.

Question 13

Optical character recognition (OCR)

Answer 13

A software, where text on a scanned document is recognised and converted to digital text. But converted document is often full of mistakes.

Question 14

Optical mark recognition (OMR)

Answer 14

The scanner scans a page and the OMR software note where marks have been made on it. Used to mark multiple choice question papers.

Question 15

Flatbed scanner

Answer 15

An image is placed on the scanner bed. The scanner moves the light and sensor itself and scans the whole image automatically.

Question 16

Handheld scanner

Answer 16

The light and sensor must be manually pushed along the image to scan it. Used to scan smaller images.

Question 17

3D scanner

Answer 17

A 3D scanner will scan a 3D object using a laser or a light source. It will measure and input the geometry of an object into a computer system.

Question 18

Uses of 3D scanner

Answer 18

Used on the airports. The body is scanned and 3D image is displayed for inspection to check if a person is carrying something.

Question 19

Biometric devices

Answer 19

Device that recognises human physical characteristics, such as fingerprints. A person’s physical features are scanned and compared if they match with these in the system.

Question 20

Sensor

Answer 20

A device that records physical inputs.

Question 21

Analogue

Answer 21

A signal or data that constantly varies.

Question 22

Digital

Answer 22

A signal or data that consists of two states 1 or 0.

Question 23

Barcode

Answer 23

Represented by black vertical bars with spaces between them. Can store up to 30 numbers.

Question 24

Barcode reader

Answer 24

A barcode is scanned and illuminated with a red light an illuminator. A sensor detects the light reflected back. The signal received is an analogue signal. The analogue signal is converted to digital signal, which is then decoded and send to computer as a number.

Question 25

QR codes

Answer 25

A quick response code is a 2D square barcode. QR codes are two-dimensional and store data both horizontally and vertically. Can store about 7000 numbers. Useful for creating links and storing things.

Question 26

Encoding

Answer 26

The process of converting data or information to a particular form.

Question 27

Digital camera

Answer 27

Capture an image by recording the image via a sensor called a charge-coupled device (CCD). The image is stored and can be viewed on the screen.

Question 28

Touch screen

Answer 28

Interactive device that combines a liquid crystal display (LCD) with touch-sensitive sensors. The sensors recognise simple touches. The screen determines which part of the screen has been touched.

Question 29

Capacitive touchscreen

Answer 29

Uses a natural electrical signals that we have in our bodies to detect when we are touching the screen.

Question 30

Resistive touchscreen

Answer 30

Has multiple layers with space in between. When slight pressure is applied to the screen the layers touch and the device recognises that we are touching the screen.

Question 31

Interactive whiteboard

Answer 31

The computer’s visual display is projected onto the board. The board is then calibrated to make sure that sensors line up with the displayed image. The sensors determine which part of board has been touched.

Question 32

Microphone

Answer 32

Is an analogue input device that records sound. The analogue sound must be converted into digital format before the computer can process it.

Question 33

Analogue-to-digital convertor (ADC)

Answer 33

A device that converts analogue data into digital data.

Question 34

Speech-to-text software

Answer 34

Allows the user to speak words which the computer converts to text in a document. Ideal for disabled people.