A presentation of various input devices of ICT systems.

2. 1.KEYBOARDS
• LAYOUTS:
1. Qwerty layout
2. Dvorak layout
• TYPES:
1. Conventional
2. Ergonomic or ergonometric
3. Overlay or concept
• USES:
1. To input text
2. To type in commands
3. To type in unusual selection of
characters. E.g. passwords
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Allow accurate entry
of data
1.Conventional
keyboards can be
difficult for people
with disabilities
2. Quick entry of
original text
2.Not very quick to
input data compared
to direct data capture.
e.g. OMR, MICR,
barcode readers
3.Robust
4.Concept keyboards
are helpful to people
with disabilities
3.Takes up more space
than many other input
devices

3. 2.NUMERIC KEYPAD
• DEFINITION: a numeric keypad is
used specifically to enter numbers,
although alphabetic characters can be
entered by using the function key
• USES:
1. At electronic point of sales (EPOS)
terminals
2. With automated teller machines
3. On mobile phones
4. For remote voting in conference
rooms
5. Entering PIN at various outlets for
funds transfer
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Small and
compact and
can be carried
easily
1.Difficult to enter
text
2. Many of the
devices can be
connected to
the same
computer
2.Can be too small
for the number to
be used efficiently
3.Easy to cover
up when
entering PIN

4. 3.MICE
• DEFINITON: a mouse allows
the user to point by moving
the cursor in a graphical user
interface (GUI) on a PC’s
screen
• USES:
1. To move the pointer on the
screen as well as select
various items
2. Can be used to draw objects
in drawing and art packages
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Allow faster
entry of chosen
option
1.Difficult to use for
people with
disabilities
2. Allows faster
navigation
through
websites/slides
hows
2. Can be
vandalized/
damaged
3.Smaller and
more compact
than keyboards
3.Difficult to enter
textual data

5. 4.JOYSTICK• DEFINITION: a joystick is an input device, which works
by moving the cursor when the user rocks a lever
connected to sensors
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Allow faster entry of
chosen option compared to
typing on a keyboard
1.Difficult to for entering data
other than choices
2. Can be used to control
objects in three dimension
(3D)
2. Difficult to control the pointer
than other WIMP devices

6. 5.TOUCHSCREEN
• USES:
1. ATMs by bank customers
2. EPOS terminals in cafes and
various other outlets
3. Tourist information kiosks and for
public transport enquiries
4. Personal digital assistants (PDAs),
for choosing options and
handwriting recognition
5. Interactive whiteboards in
education
6. smartphones
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Allow faster
entry of option
compared to
keyboards
1.Difficult to enter
data other than from
a list of options
2. Easier to select
an option than
with a mouse
2. Extensive use of
touchscreen may lead
to RSI
3.People with
disabilities can
find it easier to
use
4.Less likelihood
of selecting a
wrong option

7. 6.MAGNETIC STRIPE
READER
• USES:
1. Can be used anywhere payment is
to be made using a debit or a
credit card
-in bank ATM
-at EFTPOS (electronic funds
transfer at point of sales)
terminals in cafes, supermarkets,
restaurants and other types of
shops
2. In security , they are used to
prevent unauthorized access to
restricted areas
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Allow faster
entry of chosen
option compared
to keyboard entry
1.If the strip is
damaged, data may
need to be entered
manually resulting in
loss of speed
2. More accurate
in data entry than
with a keyboard
2.If the card is
damaged or lost, it
prevents access to
the cardholder to
the restricted area
3.Data entry is
more secure than
with a keyboard
4.Prevents entry
to restricted areas
without the card

8. 7.SMART CARD
READER/CHIP CARD
READER
• USES:
1. Used as payment cards (e.g.
phone cards), loyalty cards, ID
cards and public transport
tickets
2. Used with satellite
broadcasters to decode
televisions programs
3. Used with subscriber
identification modules (SIMs) in
mobile telephones
4. Used with electronic passports
and in driving licenses
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Allows
immediate
updating thereby
preventing fraud
1.If the card is lost
the owner loses a
proportion of the
money/points
2. No need to be
in immediate
contact with the
reader-reduces
damage
2.If the card is stolen
the information can
be misused by the
hackers
3.More secure
than using
magnetic strip
4.Prevents entry
to restricted areas
without a card

9. • USES:
1. Used wherever a payment
needs to be made; for example,
in restaurants, supermarkets,
shops of all descriptions.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1.Allows only
secure transaction
to take place.
1. If the customer
forgets the PIN, the
transaction has to
be cancelled.
2. Saves time
comparatively to
payments made
using cash or
cheques.
2. Need to ensure
protection of PIN
while using the card.
3. Chips are more
robust than
magnetic strips.
READER

10. • USES:
1. Scan documents that can be
converted into text-based
documents using OCR
Software.
2. Scan old documents for keeping
records / “archival”.
3. Scan images that can be
transferred as faxes.
4. To obtain digital images of
photographs.
5. Used as barcode readers.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGE
1. Allow images to
be store for
further editing.
1. Accuracy of
reproduction is
limited.
2. Using OCR on
printed
documents saves
time compared to
typing in the text
again.
3. Using barcode
scanner is quicker
than typing in the
barcode.
9. SCANNER

11. 10. DIGITAL
CAMERAS
• USES:
• Used by professional
photographers in their work and by
amateur photographers for
personal use.
1. In security , they are used to
prevent unauthorized access to
restricted areas
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. produce better
quality
photographs than
a traditional
camera
1. more expensive
than traditional
cameras
2. quicker to
upload images
than waiting to
scan them first
2. batteries need to
be charged more
quickly than in
traditional cameras3. quicker to view
images than
waiting for the film
to be developed
4. memory cards
store more images
than photographic
films and can be
re-used

12. 11. MICROPHONES
• USES:
1. to input speech for incorporation with
various files for different purposes
2. to input dictated text for voice
recognition software
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. Changes to
tone/voice can be
done in real-
time/instantly
1. when recording
voice, the computer
can only be used for
recording purpose
2. Quick to input
text by speaking
in the microphone
than typing it
2. voice recognition
software is not as
accurate as
keyboard

13. 11. SENSORS
• DEFINITION:
a sensor is a device used to input data about a physical or
chemical change in an environment that is being
monitored (measured) or controlled
• USES:
1. temperature sensor- A/C, Weather Forecast
measurement
2. pressure sensors- pressure cooker, burglar
alarms
3. light sensors- LDR, barcode readers
4. humidity sensors- Weather forecast
measurement
5. sound sensors- security systems
6. pH sensors- controlling soil fertility
7. motion sensors- security systems, cell phone

14. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. readings taken are more
accurate than the ones taken
by humans.
1. if there is a power cut, readings
cannot be taken.
2. readings are taken
continuously and so the
microprocessor can take
immediate action.
3. facilitates automatic
processes so that human
intervention is minimized

15. 13. MIDI
INSTRUMENTS
• USES:
1. a performance can be stored directly onto a
computer and stored as a midi file
2. MIDI files can in turn be used as a supplement
for other musical instruments
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. creates/stores files that
can be
synthesized/manipulated.
1. music produced can
sound manufactured rather
than spontaneous
2. any errors in the
performance can be
removed.

16. 14. GRAPHICS
TABLETS
• USES:
1. to create computer graphics
2. to type in or write in other language characters, e.g.-
Japanese, Chinese
3. produce technical drawings in CAD
4. some users prefer to use it as a pointing device
instead of a mouse
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. allows alterations
to drawings instantly
1. more expensive than
mice
2. more accurate way
of drawing than using
a mouse
2. can be difficult to
use in choosing menu
selections

17. 15. MICR (MAGNETIC INK
CHARACTER READER)
• USES:
1. used in banking applications
for the processing of cheques.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. more secure than
OCR as they cannot be
tampered with
1. limit to the character
set that can be used
2. more accurate
method of input than
OCR or manual entry.
2. an expensive method
of data entry

18. 16. OMR (OPTICAL MARK
READER)
• USES:
1. used for processing many types of forms.
2. a form of OMR is used to input barcodes.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. a quick method of
data entry.
1. compared with manual
methods of marking, it is
an inaccurate method
2. produce greater
accuracy of input than
using OCR.
2. an expensive method
of data entry

19. 17. OCR (OPTICAL
CHARACTER READER)
• USES:
1. incorporated with scanners to input text from
typed/hand written documents.
2. used with purpose-built readers such as multiple-
line OCR readers to process passports and ID
cards.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. faster methods of
data entry compared
to manual typing.
1. a lot of errors are
produced.
2. easier method of
data entry for people
with disabilities
2. cannot read
handwriting very well.

20. 18. BAR CODE READER
• USES:
1. used in all kinds of shops where product detail
needs to be input
2. in libraries, to input book details.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. faster than typing in
numbers using a
keyboard.
1. they can be expensive.
2. more accurate
method of data entry
compared with typing
the numbers in.
2. if code is unreadable,
the barcode needs to be
typed in manually.

21. 18. R F I D (RADIO
FREQUENCY
IDENTIFICATION) READER
• USES:
1. used in passports in a number of
countries
2. used by companies to track their
products and for stock taking
3. used in pet identification
4. in libraries, they are replacing
barcodes in book.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. can cope with
obstruction between
the tag and the reader
1. more expensive than
other methods of input.
2. can be read from
and written in.
3. more difficult to
copy than barcodes
2. when used to hold
personal data, people's
movements can be
tracked easily, which
ultimately leads to lack
of privacy.
4. tags are very
robust.

22. 19. VIDEO CAMERAS
• USES:
1. used by both professional film-
makers and people making
home movies
2. used for security purposes in
closed circuit television (CCTV)
3. are also found in cell phones.

23. 20. WEBCAMS
• USES:
1. high quality webcams can be
used by business organizations
for video conference
2. mainly used for video chatting
for personal use
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. can be online
instantly.
1. has very limited
facilities
2. provide elderly or
disabled people to
stay in touch with
relatives/friends.
2. not portable
3. the software has
limited editing facilities.