Some of the input devices are described below.

Keyboard
The keyboard is the most frequent and widely used input device for entering data into a
computer. Although there are some additional keys for performing other operations, the
keyboard layout is similar to that of a typical typewriter.
Generally, keyboards come in two sizes: 84 keys or 101/102 keys but currently keyboards with
104 keys or 108 keys are also available for Windows and the Internet.

Keyboard
Types of Keys
  Numeric Keys: It is used to enter numeric data or move the cursor. It usually consists of a
set of 17 keys.
 Typing Keys: The letter keys (A-Z) and number keys (09) are among these keys.
 Control Keys: These keys control the pointer and the screen. There are four directional
arrow keys on it. Home, End, Insert, Alternate(Alt), Delete, Control(Ctrl), etc., and Escape
are all control keys (Esc).
 Special Keys: Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, NumLk, Tab, etc., and Print Screen are among the
special function keys on the keyboard.
 Function Keys: The 12 keys from F1 to F12 are on the topmost row of the keyboard.
Mouse
The most common pointing device is the mouse. The mouse is used to move a little cursor
across the screen while clicking and dragging. The cursor will stop if you let go of the mouse.
The computer is dependent on you to move the mouse; it won't move by itself. As a result, it's
an input device.
A mouse is an input device that lets you move the mouse on a flat surface to control the
coordinates and movement of the on-screen cursor/pointer.
The left mouse button can be used to select or move items, while the right mouse button when
clicked displays extra menus.

Mouse
Joystick
A joystick is a pointing device that is used to move the cursor on a computer screen. A spherical
ball is attached to both the bottom and top ends of the stick. In a socket, the lower spherical
ball slides. You can move the joystick in all four directions.
 Joystick
The joystick's function is comparable to that of a mouse. It is primarily used in CAD (Computer-
Aided Design) and playing video games on the computer.
Track Ball
Track Ball is an accessory for notebooks and laptops, which works on behalf of a mouse. It has a
similar structure to a mouse. Its structure is like a half-inserted ball and we use fingers for
cursor movement. Different shapes are used for this like balls, buttons, or squares.
Light Pen
A light pen is a type of pointing device that looks like a pen. It can be used to select a menu
item or to draw on the monitor screen. A photocell and an optical system are enclosed in a tiny
tube. When the tip of a light pen is moved across a monitor screen while the pen button is
pushed, the photocell sensor element identifies the screen location and provides a signal to the
CPU.

Light Pen
Scanner
A scanner is an input device that functions similarly to a photocopier. It's employed when
there's information on paper that needs to be transferred to the computer's hard disc for
subsequent manipulation. The scanner collects images from the source and converts them to a
digital format that may be saved on a disc. Before they are printed, these images can be
modified.

Scanner
Optical Mark Reader (OMR)
An Optical Mark Reader is a device that is generally used in educational institutions to check
the answers to objective exams. It recognizes the marks present by pencil and pen.
Optical Character Reader (OCR)
OCR stands for optical character recognition, and it is a device that reads printed text. OCR
optically scans the text, character by character turns it into a machine-readable code, and saves
it to the system memory.
Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)
It is a device that is generally used in banks to deal with the cheques given to the bank by the
customer. It helps in reading the magnetic ink present in the code number and cheque number.
This process is very fast compared to any other process.
Bar Code Reader
A bar code reader is a device that reads data that is bar-coded (data that is represented by light
and dark lines). Bar-coded data is commonly used to mark things, number books, and so on. It
could be a handheld scanner or part of a stationary scanner. A bar code reader scans a bar code
image, converts it to an alphanumeric value, and then sends it to the computer to which it is
connected.
 Bar Code Reader
Web Camera
Because a web camera records a video image of the scene in front of it, a webcam is an input
device. It is either built inside the computer (for example, a laptop) or attached through a USB
connection. A webcam is a computer-connected tiny digital video camera. It's also known as a
web camera because it can take images and record video. These cameras come with software
that must be installed on the computer toevery broadcast video in real-time over the Internet.
It can shoot images and HD videos, however, the video quality isn't as good as other cameras
(In Mobiles or other devices or normal cameras).
 Web Camera

Digitizer
Digitizer is a device that is used to convert analog signals to digital signals. It converts signals
into numeric values. An example of a Digitizer is a Graphic Tablet, which is used to convert
graphics to binary data.
Microphone
The microphone works as an input device that receives input voice signals and also has the
responsibility of converting it also to digital form. It is a very common device that is present in
every device which is related to music.
2. Output Devices
Output Devices are the devices that show us the result after giving the input to a computer
system. Output can be of many different forms like image, graphic audio, video, etc. Some of
the output devices are described below.
Monitor
Monitors, also known as Visual Display Units (VDUs), are a computer's primary output device. It
creates images by arranging small dots, known as pixels, in a rectangular pattern. The amount
of pixels determines the image's sharpness.
The two kinds of viewing screens used for monitors are described below.
 Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor: Pixels are minuscule visual elements that make up
a CRT display. The higher the image quality or resolution, the smaller the pixels.
 Flat-Panel Display Monitor: In comparison to the CRT, a flat-panel display is a type of
video display with less volume, weight, and power consumption. They can be hung on the
wall or worn on the wrist.
Flat-panel displays are currently used in calculators, video games, monitors, laptop computers,
and graphical displays.

Monitor
Television
Television is one of the common output devices which is present in everycan house. It portrays
video and audio files on the screen as the user handles the television. Nowadays, we are using
plasma displays as compared to CRT screens which we used earlier.
Printer
Printers are output devices that allow you to print information on paper. There are certain
types of printers which are described below.
 Impact Printers
 Character Printers
 Line Printers
 Non-Impact Printers
 Laser Printers
 Inkjet Printers

Printer666
Impact Printer
Characters are printed on the ribbon, which is subsequently crushed against the paper, in
impact printers. The following are the characteristics of impact printers:
 Exceptionally low consumable cost.
 Quite noisy
 Because of its low cost, it is ideal for large-scale printing.
 To create an image, there is physical contact with the paper.
Character Printers
Character Printer canto produce print only one character at a time. It is of two types.
 Dot Matrix Printer
 Daisy Wheel
Line Printers
Line Printers are printers that have the capability to print one line at a time. It is of two types.
 Drum Printer
  Chain Printer
Non-Impact Printers
Characters are printed without the need for a ribbon in non-impact printers. Because these
printers print a full page at a time, they're also known as Page Printers. The following are the
characteristics of non-impact printers:
 Faster
 They don't make a lot of noise.
 Excellent quality
 Supports a variety of typefaces and character sizes
Laser Printers
Laser Printers use laser lights to produce. dots which will produce characters on the page.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are printers that use spray technology for printing papers. High-quality papers
are produced in an Inkjet printer. They also do color printing.
Speakers
Speakers are devices that produce sound after getting a command from a computer. Nowadays,
speakers come with wireless technology also like Bluetooth speakers.
Projector
Projectors are optical devices that have the work to show visuals on both types of screens,
stationary and moving both. It helps in displaying images on a big screen. Projectors are
generally used in theatres, auditoriums, etc.
Plotter
Plotter is a device that helps in making graphics or other images to give a real view. A graphic
card is mandatorily required to use these devices. These are the pen-like devices that help in
generating exact designs on the computer.
Braille Reader
Braille Reader is a very important device that is used by blind users. It helps people with low
vision or no vision to recognize the data by running their fingers over the device to understand
easily. It is a very important device for blind persons as it gives them the comfort to understand
the letters, alphabets, etc which helps them in study.
Video Card
A video Card is a device that is fitted into the motherboard of the computer. It helps in
improvising digital content in output devices. It is an important tool that helps people in using
multiple devices.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Global Positioning System helps the user in terms of directions, as it uses satellite technology to
track the geometrical locations of the users. With continuous latitudinal and longitudinal
calculations, GPS gives accurate results. Nowadays, all smart devices have inbuilt GPS.
Headphones
Headphones are just like a speaker, which is generally used by a single person or it is a single-
person usable device and is not commonly used in large areas. These are also called headsets
having a lower sound frequency.