An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data or instructions into the computer Six widely used input devices are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, digital camera and PC video camera.

 

Mouse. Is a pointing device used to manipulate on screen objects. A mouse is a small hand held device used for pointing.

A mouse moves a pointer on the computer screen.

It acts like a finger, allowing you to press buttons and select objects

Using your mouse

Basic parts

A mouse typically has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button (usually the right button). The primary button is the one you will use most often. Most mice also include a scroll wheel between the buttons to help you scroll through documents and web pages more easily. On some mice, the scroll wheel can be pressed to act as a third button. Advanced mice might have additional buttons that can perform other functions.

Ø  Left Hand Button - Use to point and select 

Ø  Right Hand Button - To open menus, commands

Ø  Using the scroll wheel

Ø  If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to scroll through documents and web pages. To scroll down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you).

Ø  Cord - plugs mouse into computer

Mouse operations Pointing

Pointing to an item on the screen means moving your mouse so the pointer appears to be touching the item.

When you point to something, a small box often appears that describes the item.

Ø  Clicking (single-clicking). To click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the primary button (usually the left button). Clicking is most often used to select (mark) an item or open a menu. This is sometimes called single-clicking or leftclicking.Right click to open a menu and to give more advanced instructions

Ø  Double-clicking. To double-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then click twice quickly. If the two clicks are spaced too far apart, they might be interpreted as two individual clicks rather than as one double-click.Double-clicking is most often used to open items on your desktop. For example, you can start a program or open a folder by double-clicking its icon on the desktop.

Ø  Drag. You can move items around your screen by dragging them. To drag an object, point to the object on the screen, press and hold the primary button, move the object to a new location, and then release the primary button.Dragging (sometimes called dragging and dropping) is most often used to move files and folders to a different location and to move windows and icons around on your screen.

 

Tips for using your mouse safely.

Holding and moving your mouse properly can help you avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms, particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid problems:

Ø  Place your mouse at elbow level. Your upper arms should fall relaxed at your sides.

Ø  Don't squeeze or grip your mouse tightly. Hold it lightly.

Ø  Move the mouse by pivoting your arm at your elbow. Avoid bending your wrist up, down, or to the sides.

Ø  Use a light touch when clicking a mouse button.

Ø  Keep your fingers relaxed. Don't allow them to hover just above the buttons.

Ø  When you don't need to use the mouse, don't hold it.

Ø  Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes 

 

Other pointing devices / variants of the mouse

The mouse is the most widely used pointing device today. Some users however, work with other pointing devices.

These include the following.

Ø  Track ball. A track ball is a stationary pointing device with a ball onto its top.

Ø  Touchpad. A touchpad is a small, flat, rectangular pointing device that is sensitive to pressure and motion. To move the pointer using a touchpad, slide your fingertip across the surface of a pad.

Ø  Joystick and wheel. A joy stick is a vertical lever mounted on a base. You move the lever in different directions to control the actions of the simulated vehicle or players Ø Wheel. Is a steering wheel-type input device.

Ø  Pointer stick. A pointer stick is a pressure-sensitive pointing device shaped like a. pencil eraser that is positioned between keys on a keyboard.

Ø  Light pen. A light pen is a handheld input device that can detect the presence of light.

Ø  Touch screen. A touch user's screen is a touch-sensitive display device. Users interact with these devices by touching areas of the screens require a lot of arm movements.

 

Keyboard

A keyboard is an input device that contains keys users press to enter data into a computer.

This is an input device comprising of alphabetical letters, numbers and other keys used to enter data into a computer. Many computer keyboards have got four sections.

Ø  Typing keys (Alphabetical key pad): Which include letters of the alphabet, numbers, punctuation marks, and other basic keys.

Ø  Numeric key pad: on the right side of the keyboard.

Ø  Functional Keys: which are labeled with the letter F followed by a number (Fl, F2 F12)

Ø Special keys on the keyboard

1.        Enter Key (Execute key). It is used to accept a command or execute a command. Or it is used to go to another line when typing,

2.        Back space key. It is used to erase / rub characters to the left side of the cursor.

3.        Space bar. It is the longest key on the keyboard and it is used to insert spaces between word and characters.

4.        Caps lock. It is used to turn capital letters into small letters and small letters into capital letters. When the caps lock is pressed a caps lock light on the top right corner is turned on to indicate that you are in capital letters to switch to small letters press the caps lock button again,

5.        Shift key. It is used to activate characters on top of the buttons, it can also turn in either small letters or capital letters dependin g on the keyboard case mode.

6.        Delete key. It is used to erase characters on the right side of the cursor.

7.        Fl: It is used as help.

8.        Esc (escape): it is used to cancel an application under taken.

 

Functions of the keyboard.

Its keys allow the user to type data in form of text.

It can be used to command the computer to perform an operation or task,

It is the major connector between the user and the computer,

Without it die user may not be put in the language the compute understands,

 

 

Other input devices

Scanner. This is a light-sensing input device that reads printed text and graphics and translates the results into a form a computer can process

Digital camera. It allows users to take pictures and store the photographed images digitally Instead of on traditional film.

Web cam. This is a video camera that displays it's output on a web page.

Joysticks. It is a pointing device with vertical lever for playing games.

Touch Screen. A touch screen is a special kind of input device that allows the direct selection of a menu item or the desired icon with the touch of finger. Essentially, it registers the input when a finger or other object is touched to the screen

Bar code reader. Bar code is a machine-readable code in the form of a pattern of parallel vertical lines of varying widths. It is commonly used for labeling goods that are available in super markets and numbering books in libraries. This code is sensed and read by a bar code reader using reflective light. The information recorded in bar code reader is then fed into the computer, which recognizes the information from the thickness and spacing of bars.