6.1 Input Devices



Keyboard

A keyboard is a typing device that allows the user to input text into a computer.
The most popular type of keyboard is the QWERTY keyboard (shown in Figure 6.1) which took use of the
letter layout of the typewriter that was used before the keyboard was developed.
The name comes from the six letters that are situated next to one another on the upper left hand side
of the keyboard.
Another type of keyboard that is not as popular as the QWERTY keyboard is the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard
which was developed in 1936 by Dr A. Dvorak and Dr W. Dealey.
This type of keyboard main difference is that it places the commonly used letters next to one another to
reduce finger motion time.
Keyboards now come in different shapes and sizes ranging from travel size keyboards, wireless keyboards
which communicate with the computer using infrared or Bluetooth to foldable keyboards that can be placed on
any surface and still function.

6.1 Input Devices





Figure 6.1: Standard QWERTY and foldable keyboard

Mouse

The mouse (shown in Figure 6.2) is an input device that is connected to the computer. The mouse operates
as a pointing device.
The user is provided with a cursor on the computer screen (pointer) which the mouse is in control of.
As the user moves the mouse in one direction, the cursor instantly moves in that direction.

6.1 Input Devices



The mouse is used for pointing at a specific part of the screen in which the user wants clicked at.
Similar to keyboards, mice have advanced over the years.
Mechanical mice which were developed in the 1970s are now non-existent with optical and laser mice as well
as internal and gyroscopic mice proving more popular with consumers.



Figure 6.2: Mechanical and wireless mouse

Microphone

Microphones (shown in Figure 6.3) are used to input sound into the computer.
They are used for recording audio and storing it on the computer system.

6.1 Input Devices



Nowadays, they are commonly used with software applications that allow audio interaction between two or
more parties.
They are becoming a more popular choice for communication than text based chat.



Figure 6.3: Standard microphone and full head-set

Scanner

A scanner (shown in Figure 6.4) is a piece of computer hardware which enables the user to digitize
documents of different types.

6.1 Input Devices



Once scanned the document appears on the computer screen and is stored as a soft copy on the computer
system.



Figure 6.4: Scanner