INPUT
Input is any data or instruction that you enter into the memory of a computer. There are four types of input: which are text, graphic, audio and video.
INPUT DEVICES
Input devices are any electronic device connected to a computer and produces input signals. A keyboard is an example of input device for text input. A scanner is an example of input device for graphical as well as text input. A microphone is an example of input device for audio input and a webcam is an example of an input device for video input. A mouse is also an input device but it is called a pointing device used to input data that is continuous and multi-dimensional into a computer.
a) INPUT DEVICES FOR TEXTS
You can enter data such as text and commands into a computer by pressing the keys on the keyboard.
You can press the keys of a virtual keyboard on the screen. An optical reader is a device that uses a light source to read characters, marks and codes and then converts them into digital data that a computer can process.
b) INPUT DEVICES FOR GRAPHICS
A scanner is a device that captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazine pages and similar sources for computer editing and display. A digital camera allows you to take pictures and store the photographed images digitally.
c) INPUT DEVICES FOR AUDIO
Audio input is the speech, music and sound effects entered into the computer. This can be done using input devices such as a microphone and digital musical instruments like the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) keyboard.
d) INPUT DEVICES FOR VIDEO
Video input is input of motion images captured into the computer by special input devices. A Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) video camera is a type of digital video camera that enables a home or small business user to capture video and still images. A webcam is any video camera that displays its output on a web page.
A digital video camera allows you to record full motion and store the captured motion digitally.
e) POINTING DEVICES
A pointing device is another form of input device. Pointing devices such as a mouse, trackball, graphics tablet and touch screen are used to input spatial data into the computer. Spatial data refers to data that is continuous and multi-dimensional.
