Input Devices (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE ICT)

Keyboard

(Entering data into a computer)

• Easy method of entering data

• Very common

• Repetitive strain injury

• Slow to enter data compared to direct data entry

Numeric Keypad

(ATMs , chip and PIN devices)

• Fast

• Easy to use

• Size of buttons can impede some users

• Button layouts not always the same

Pointing Devices

(Mouse)

• Intuitive and precise control

• Fast to make on-screen choices

• RSI (strain on wrist)

• Requires flat surface

• People with disabilities can find them difficult to use

Remote Control

(TV, hi-fi remotes)

• Easy to use

• Can control from a distance

• May require line-of-sight

• Easily lost

• Needs regular battery replacements

Pointing Devices

(Joystick/Driving Wheel)

• Enhances gameplay/simulation experience

• Improve realism

• Accurate

• Expensive

• Limited use outside of gaming and simulators

Touchscreen

(Smart phones & tablets)

• Intuitive

• No need for a separate pointing device

• Easy to keep clean

• Screens can get dirty

• Easily scratched

• Less precise than a mouse

Scanner

(Convert paper documents to electronic)

• Accurate reproduction

• Easy to share and store

• Combined with barcodes becomes a DDE

• Quality depends on resolution

• High quality means can be slow

Digital camera

(Taking photos/videos)

• Vast amounts can be captured

• No developing

• Easy to share

• Storage compression can lead to a loss in quality

• Need to be tech-savvy to use effectively

Microphone

(Input speech, sensor to pick up sounds)

• Hands-free input

• Can be used for voice recognition

• Fast

• Variable quality

• Verbal inputs can be inaccurate

• Need to remember key words/phrases

Analogue sensors

(Measure environmental data e.g. temperature, light, sound, humidity etc.)

• Generally accurate

• Provides real-time information

• Automatic

• Can collect data from places where they may be threat to human life

• May require calibration

• Data must be converted to digital data (ADC)

• Data may need to be checked for accuracy

Light pen

(Select/write on screen)

• Accuracy for fine detail

• Small & lightweight

• Easy to use

• Lag

• Only work on certain types of screen

• Dated technology

Magnetic stripe reader

(Debit/credit cards)

• Fast

• Simple to use

• Secure (unreadable)

• Magnetic stripes can get damaged and become unreadable

• Reader must be in close contact

Chip and PIN reader

• Secure

• Reduced fraud risk

• Requires PIN input

• Potential for skimming

• High payment limits an issue for stolen cards

RFID reader (read only)

(Contactless payment)

• Fast transaction (no pin)

• Data wirelessly transferred securely

• Retailers don't have to access customer credit/debit information

• Transaction limit is smaller

• RFID signals can be read/intercepted

RFID reader

(Security tags on clothes, location tracking )

• Very fast

• Data can be sent both ways

• Bulk detection

• Radio waves can be blocked/jammed

• Tag collisions

• Possible to hack

Optical Mark Recognition (OMR, read marks on exam paper in pen/pencil)

• Fast processing

• Reduced human error

• Limited to specific forms

• Cannot read handwriting

• Form must be completed accurately

Optical Character Recognition

(OCR, text to digital data)

• Fast data entry

• Accurate and less error prone

• Can struggle with complex layouts

• Font dependent

• Not always 100% accurate

• Expensive

Barcode reader

(reads barcode labels)

• Fast and accurate

• Low cost

• Allows for automatic stock control

• Tried & trusted

• Requires line-of-sight

• Barcodes are easily damaged

• Barcodes can be swapped/altered by consumers

QR scanner

(QR codes)

• Can store more data than barcodes

• Versatile uses

• Easy to read

• Can be encrypted

• QR codes can store malicious code

• Different QR code formats