1. Name: ________________________Date: _____________ Class: _________
INPUT DEVICES: Worksheet
An input device is anything that is used to get data INTO the computer. For example, you can
use a keyboard to type text which will then be stored in the computer. You can use a mouse to
highlight, select and click – the instructions for what you want to happen go from the mouse,
into the computer.
Write a couple of sentences to describe the following manual input devices:
Input device Picture Description
Keyboard A keyboard is used to enter text into the computer.
It has a set of alphabet keys, number keys and
function keys.
Keyboards usually use a QWERTY layout.
If you have wrist pain you can get an ‘ergonomic
keyboard’
Mouse
Joystick
Touch screen
Scanner
Graphics tablet
The above input devices are called ‘manual input devices’ because you physically do something
to enter the data e.g. press the keys on the keyboard, click a mouse button, touch the screen
etc.
There are another set of input devices called ‘automatic input devices’. These enter large
quantities of data automatically for you.

2. Name: ________________________Date: _____________ Class: _________
Read the details about automatic input devices and try to fill in the blanks using the words
provided.
OPTICAL CHARACTER MARKS EXPENSIVE ENTERED MICR
RECOGNITION
TAPE PROCESSING OMR SOFTWARE CHEQUES
THICKNESSES TEMPERATURE MICROCHIP READER CREDIT
ANALOGUE LIBRARIES
Automatic Input Device Description
Optical mark readers detect ________made in
Optical Mark Recognition or - certain places on special forms (e.g. National
________ Lottery tickets, answer sheets for multiple choice
exam papers).
Used when data needs to be _________quickly.
Uses a magnetic ink character reader to input
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition characters printed in special magnetic ink. Banks
or ______ use MICR to process_________. It is very secure.
Numbers at the bottom of the cheque are printed
like this. Equipment is very_____________.
Uses an ordinary scanner and special
_________ _________ __________to convert text so that it can be
_____________ or OCR edited by word ___________software. Poorly
formed characters will not be recognised. Royal
Mail uses it to read postcodes. Also used on
payment slips for credit card payments
A set of lines of different ___________to
Bar Code Readers represent a number. Data is input using a bar
code__________. Used as a code number on
products in shops – not to store price but can look
on the store’s computer system to find out price,
manufacturer, etc. __________also use barcodes
Thin band of magnetic _______found on back of
Magnetic Stripe Reader credit or debit cards. Used on _________cards
and electronic key cards (hotels). Holds small
amount of information and can easily be forged.
Soon will be replaced with ‘smart’ cards – much
more data stored on a small ___________on the
surface of the card.
To detect physical quantities outside the
Sensors computer, e.g.__________, light, pressure, etc.
To process the data an __________-to-digital
converter must be connected between the
computer and the sensors.