ICT IGCSE Theory –

2.1 Input devices and their uses

• Identify input devices and their uses, e.g. keyboard, numeric keypad, pointing devices (such
as mouse, touchpad, tracker ball), remote control, joystick/driving wheel, touch screen,
scanners, digital cameras, microphone, sensors (general), temperature sensor, pressure sensor,
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

light sensor, graphics tablet, video camera, web cam

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 ICT IGCSE Theory –
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices in their Use
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Input Devices allow data to be input into a computer.

Input Central
Processing Unit
Output
Devices (CPU)
Devices

Storage

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 ICT IGCSE Theory
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices
Device Use Advantages Disadvantages
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Keyboard • Inputting data into • Easy and familiar to Slower method

applications use compared to
• Typing commands • Fast entry of Text direct data entry.
into into a document
a CLI Interface

Numeric Inputting numeric data Straight forward to • Keys can be

Key Pad into: enter numeric data like too small.
• ATM pins or prices at a • Difficult to
• POS Terminals POS. type letters
• Chip and Pin (older Mobiles
• Mobile Phones etc. to text)

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 ICT IGCSE Theory
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices
Device Use Advantages Disadvantages
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Mouse To control the pointer on • Easy to navigate • Easily

the screen to: through menu Damaged
• Selecting Windows options • Flat
• Clicking Icons • Quicker to select an surface
• Menu Options option compared required.
• Positioning Pointer to using a
keyboard.

Touch Pad • Used as a pointing • Is part of the • More difficult

device on a laptop. keyboard so no to use
need for separate compared to a
device. normal mouse.

Tracker Ball • Used by users who • Easier to use • Tend to be

tend to have limited compared to mouse more
motility in their wrist • More accurate expensive.
(RSI) positing of • Not familiar to
the pointer. users.

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 ICT IGCSE Theory –
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices
Device Use Advantages Disadvantages
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Remote Used to control: • Can be used from a • Signal could be

Control • TV Channels and distance. blocked by
Menu options obstacles or
• Multimedia walls.
Systems
• Industrial
applications

Joystick • Used in computer • Easier to used • More difficult

games and simulators. compared to a to use
keyboard. compared to a
normal mouse.

Driving • Used by gamers in • Driving experience • More

Wheel computer games is more accurate expensive.
(Racing/Driving). than using • Movement
• Used in keyboards. could be too
simulators. sensitive

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 ICT IGCSE Theory
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices
Device Use Advantages Disadvantages
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Touch Used on: • Very easy to use • Options could

Screen • Mobile/Tablets and select options. be selected
• Point of Sale (POS) accidently.
• Interactive White • Screen can
Boards get
dirty.

Scanners • Used to scan in • Copies can be • Quality is

documents or created. dependant on
photographs. resolution
settings.

Digital • Used to take • Higher Resolution • Transferring,

Cameras photographs and small images can be storing and
video clips. stored on memory editing images
• Data can be cards. can be
transferred to • No need to develop complicated
computers. film.

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 ICT IGCSE Theory –
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices
Device Use Advantages Disadvantages
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Video Cameras • Used to record video • Can record in HD • HD movie take

footage. • Footage can be up a lot of
edited on a storage.
computer. • Cost of
camera

Microphone • Used to input sound • Voice overs can be • Voice

into a computer. added to recognition is
• Used in voice presentations. not as accurate
recognition • Recorded audio can as typing text
applications. be typed directly into a
into Word Processor computer.
applications.

Graphics • Used with a stylus to • Very accurate • Longer to

Tablet draw free hand method of drawing produce
drawings which can be compared to a drawings
stored on a computer. pointer device. • Cost of
tablet
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 ICT IGCSE Theory –
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices
Device Use Advantages Disadvantages
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Web Cams • Used by users who • Allows for face to • Quality is

want to have a web face video chat. dependant on
conference (Skype • Can contact people internet
Call) without the need to connection
travel.

Light Pens • Used in CAD • More accurate than • Only used with
applications for touch screens CRT Monitors
drawing onscreen • Small in size • Dated
Technolog
y

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 ICT IGCSE Theory
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices : Sensors

Real world measurements

Chapter 2: Input and output devices

are collected as an analogue

signal from the sensor.
Data collected from Sensor is in
A computer only Analogue
understands digital signals.
ADC - Analogue-to-digital converter

An ADC (Analogue-to-digital Analogue Signal now can be

converter) is needed to understood by computers.
convert the signal so a
computer understands the
signal.
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 ICT IGCSE Theory –
2.1 Input devices and their uses

Discuss why different user interfaces require the use of different types of
input devices.
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

Exam Question

With a GUI (graphical user interface) a mouse enables users to easily manoeuvre a
pointer around a screen to select Icons representing applications, menu options and
windows. The mouse can also be used to drag windows and icons across the screen.
People with disabilities may prefer to use a trackerbal as a pointing device as they may
have limited motility in their wrists. In addil or gamepad could be used to
mimic the behavior of a mouse when playing tion a joystick
games. On the other hand a keyboard will
be required to enter command prompts into a CLI (Command Line Interface). Touch
screen can be used to directly select options on a screen normally found on portable
s
devices such as smart phones, tablets or even at a POS (Point of Sale).

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 ICT IGCSE Theory
2.1 Input devices and their uses

Compare and contrast the use of Mouse, Touchpad and Tracker ball as a
pointing device?
Key Words: familiar, flat surface, damage, difficult/easier use, fixed
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

device, limited motility, expensive

Exam Question

The mouse is normally used with a desktop computer and is the most familiar
pointing device used. However the mouse requires a flat surface to be used and is
more likely to be damaged. The touch pad is a fixed device commonly found on
laptops. It is more difficult to use compared to a mouse. The tracker ball pointing
device is used by users who have limited motility in their wrist. User would move the
ball at the top of the device using their fingers to control the pointer on the screen.
The tracker ball however tends to be more expensive than the other pointing
devices.

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 ICT IGCSE Theory
2.1 Input devices and their uses
Input Devices : Sensors

A sensor is a device that converts a real world property into data that a
Chapter 2: Input and output devices

computer can process.

Sensor Example Use
Temperature Used in green houses to measure temperature
Light Umpires check light conditions in cricket match
Moisture To check the moisture in the soil in a green house
Water-Level Used in washing machine to measure water level
Proximity Used when parking cars to judge distance.
Movement Detects movement which could trigger an alarm
Pressure Used in burglar alarms

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