Computer Input Devices – Learn History, Types and Functions

A Component / Devices who helps the User to send the information or Data to Computer its called an Input Devices.

Lets have a look on Some Common Input Devices:

1. Graphic Tablet
2. Scanner
3. Microphone
4. Track Ball
5. Light pen
6. Mouse
7. Keyboard
8. Joy-Stick
9. Optical Character Reader (OCR)
10. Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)
11. Optical Mark Reader (OMR)
12. Barcode Reader

1. Keyboard

Today’s keyboard is the most basic and very commonly used input device that input data to the computer. There is the layout of the buttons in a normally used keyboard is like to the traditional typewriter, but there are a few additional keys provided by different manufacturers for performing additional functions or multi-functions.
Keyboards with 104 keys or 108 keys are now also possible for Windows and the Internet, in addition to the more common sizes of 84 keys and 101/102 keys.

Structure of Keyboard

1. Typing Keys – It Covers (A-Z) Alphabet Keys and also used Numeric Keys (0-9).
2. Numeric Keypad – There are 17 Buttons Keypad which helps you to Type Calculations and input Numeric Data in Computer.
3. Function Keys – There are 12 Function Keys (F1-F12) on the top of Keyboard for using different tasks according to Software and its usage.
4. Control keys – These Keyboard Keys are used for cursor and screen control. Following Keyboard keys are includes in control keys: Home, End, Delete, Insert, Page Up, Page Down, Control (Ctrl), Escape (Esc) Alternate (Alt).
5. Special Purpose Keys -Mostly Slandered keyboards also contains some special purpose Keys e.g., Enter, Caps Lock, Shift, Num Lock, Space bar, Print Screen, and Tab.

Also Read : Computer Keyboard Shortcuts

2. Mouse

Mouse is also a very Basic and most commonly used pointing device. It is a small palm-size box with a Laser and Sensor based Device, which tracks the movement of the mouse and feeds digital signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed. Generally, the mouse has Two Buttons and one Wheel to operate the tasks but some mouse has two or more buttons for additional uses.

According to Function generally Left Key of Mouse is used for open a Context Menu of Current Highlighted Command and Right key uses for do an Action of Confirm the Command.

Wheel Button Scrolls the Page and Windows Horizontally or Vertically.