Grade 8 Information Technology 2023 – Input Devices

Complete the following game by visiting

Types of Input Devices

Manual Input devices-These are used by people to enter data by hand. Manual input devices require humans to do most of the work needed to get data into the system.
Automated/Source Data Entry devices-Methods of capturing and entering data directly into the computer without any need for human intervention. (Direct input devices do not require much human interaction to get their data into a computer system). Sometimes called direct data entry, or DDE for short. Used when very large amounts of data need to be input quickly and accurately.

Keyboard

The keyboard is the most common type of input device.
It is used to input data into applications. For example, entering text into word processing applications like Microsoft Word and entering numbers into spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel

Numeric Keypads

These are used for entering numbers into a computer system. Some numeric keypads allow the user to enter simple text and symbols.
It is used on ATMs (Automatic teller Machines) to enter Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to allow us to get cash. It is also used on telephones- use to enter phone numbers when making a call.

Pointing devices

A mouse is a pointing device. It is the next most common type of input device after the keyboard. Touch pads and trackballs are also types of pointing device. They are often used instead of a mouse on portable computers.
Uses of Mice, Touchpads and trackballs:
- Opening, closing, maximizing and minimizing programs and files
- Moving, grouping and deleting files
- Controlling a pointer on screen to select icons or move around the page
- Editing images in terms of size and position on the screen

Remote Control

This is a device that is used to control other devices using infra-red signals
Uses of Remote Controls:
- Home entertainment systems e.g.. Hi-Fi systems (music centers), DVD/Blu-ray players, satellite systems and some overhead projectors
- In industries to operate machinery that might be too dangerous to get near to, e.g. cranes with heavy loads, activating explosives in demolition, operating robot arms in hazardous chemical plants

Joystick

The main use of a joystick is to play computer games by controlling the way that something moves on the screen.
Joysticks can be used to control movement from side-to-side, up-and-down and diagonally.
It can be used to control characters or objects in video games, control industrial machinery for e.g. cranes. etc.

Touch screen

A touch screen can detect exactly where on its surface it has been touched.
It is used with mobile phones and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) as a way of saving space. It is also used with public information systems at airports or tourist information offices.

Graphics Tablet

A graphics tablet consists of a flat surface and a pen, or stylus, which can be used to produce freehand drawings or trace around shapes. It allows designers to produce digital images much more accurately than if they were using a mouse

Light Pen

A light pen is a small ‘pen-shaped’ wand, which contains light sensors. It is used to choose objects or commands on the screen either by pressing it against the surface of the screen or by pressing a small switch on its side.

Microphone

A microphone is used to input sound into a computer system. Microphones are often used for voice recognition systems which convert sounds made by a user into commands that the computer can carry out.

Digital Camera

A digital camera can store many more pictures than an ordinary camera.
Pictures taken using a digital camera are stored inside its memory and can be transferred to a computer by connecting the camera to it.

Web Cameras (Webcam)

Web cameras are similar to digital camera in their function but they are directly connected to a computer and do not have memory storage.
Web camera can capture both digital images and video. Images/ video are sent directly to the computer where they can be stored and used.

Identify the following Manual Input Devices

Scanner

A scanner can be used to input pictures and text into a computer or enter information on paper (hard copies) into a computer. There are two main types of scanner; Hand-held and Flat-bed. Scanners can be used to scan old photos and important documents into the computer. This means you still have a copy if the original is damaged or lost.

Magnetic stripe readers

This is a hardware device that “reads” the information that has been encoded on the magnetic stripe on the back of a plastic card. The stripes may include information like access privileges, account numbers, or other cardholder details.
Hotel rooms sometimes use magnetic stripe readers in place of door keys.

Chip and Pin Reader

Chip and PIN readers are point-of-sale (POS) terminals used to process credit and debit card payments. They are equipped with a card reader (chip and PIN) that reads the chip on the back of the card and prompts customers to enter their PIN code for verification. it is used to make secure payments for goods/services in places such as: supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, buying petrol etc.

Bar Code Reader/Scanner

A barcode reader, also called a price scanner or point-of-sale (POS) scanner, is a hand-held or stationary input device used to capture and read information contained in a barcode.
It is used in supermarkets where goods are marked with a barcode. It is also used in libraries to scan in library cards and read ISBN numbers on books to find out which ones are on loan.

Optical Mark Reader/Recognition (OMR)

An optical mark reader is used to detect marks made in certain places on specially printed forms. It is a fast input method; used where large amounts of data need to be input quickly.
It can be used to input data from things like answer sheets for multiple choice exams.

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)

MICR uses an input device called a magnetic ink character reader to input characters that have been printed in special magnetic ink
Banks use MICR to process cheques, because it is very secure

Optical Character Reader/Recognition (OCR)

OCR is the use of an ordinary scanner and special software to convert text in a scanned image into a format that can be edited by word processing software.
OCR depends on the shape of the marks whereas OMR depends on the position of the marks
Used in the processing of passports and identity cards and to digitize books

Sensors

Sensors are used to detect physical quantities outside a computer such as temperature, pressure and light. This device converts signals from sensors into digital data that the computer can process.