Input Devices (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what an input device is in computing and what it is used for. Also, examples of this type of devices and differences with output devices.

input devices - keyboard and mouse — The keyboard and mouse are two of the most used input devices.

What are input devices?

In computing, they are known as input devices or power devices (input) to the devices that allow information to be entered into the computer system whether coming from the user or from another computer. For example: the keyboard, mouse or microphone.

The different input devices translate data into electrical impulses which are then transmitted to the computer for processing and storage in the central or internal memory. These devices are essential because they allow the user to use the computer and interact with it.

Input devices are distinguished from output devices, which are devices that connect to a computer and extract information.

Besides, some input devices are also output devices (I/O or mixed devices) because they introduce and extract information from the system. For example: a touch monitor.

Input Device Features

Some characteristics of input devices are:

They allow information to be entered into the computer in different formats, such as audio, image, text, among others.
They translate the information provided by the user into data that is readable by the computer.
They are part of the computer hardware and can be connected wirelessly or via a cable.
They adapt according to different technological developments.
They are essential for the user to use the computer and are easy to use.

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Examples of input devices

Some examples of input devices are:

Keyboard. It is a board made up of keys or buttons with letters, numbers and symbols. This device connects to the computer wirelessly or via a cable (in the case of laptops, it comes built-in) and allows the user to enter information or perform functions. The most popular keyboard is QWERTY.
Mouse or mouse. It is a device that is used to enter information into the system and that translates the movements that the user makes with the device into specific instructions. There are different types of mouse and the most common is oval-shaped and when you move it, a pointer moves on the screen. Laptop computers usually come with a built-in touchpadwhich is a touch panel that performs the same function as the mouse.
Microphone. It is a device that captures sound and translates it into electrical impulses that can then be encoded, stored, transmitted and played. The microphone introduces a spoken message, music or any other type of sound to the system.
Camera. It is a device that captures an image, using a system of lenses and photosensitive components, and then digitizes it and transmits it to the system. These cameras can take photographs or videos that are later transmitted or played back.
Scanner. It is a device that digitizes documents or images and inserts them into the computer. These files can then be stored, sent or edited.
Barcode reader. It is a device, which can be a gun, base or bar, that works as a reader that recognizes a barcode (black lines on a white background) in which the information of a product is contained.
joystick. It is a device usually used for video games, which consists of a lever that the user moves to execute actions on the computer. Its name comes from English: joy (fun) and stick (bar, stick).
Stylus. It is a pen-shaped device that is used on touch media, such as monitors and screens, to enter information into the system.
Graphic tablet. It is a flat digital base on which the user draws graphics and drawings that are then displayed on the computer screen.

Output and input/output devices

So that the user can make use of The computer needs both input and output devices. Output devices are those that translate data from the computer into information that can be understood by the user.

In most cases, this information is presented in the form of image, sound, text, among others. The most important output devices are: the screen or monitor, the speakers and the printer.

Additionally, there are some devices that function as both input devices (because they input information into the system) and output devices (because they extract information from the computer). These devices are called input/output or mixed and among the most notable are:

Multifunction printers. They are devices that when printing function as an output device and when scanning function as an input device.
Touch monitors. They are devices that function as input and output because they show information to the user and also allow the person to enter directives by tapping the screen.
Modems. They are devices that convert digital signals into analog signals (and vice versa) and allow the connection of a device to the Internet.

Continue in: Input and output devices