INPUT DEVICES

 

INPUT DEVICES

Input devices are the means by which data/information is sent into the computer. They translate between the users natural language and the electronic signals needed by the central language and the electronic signals needed by the central processing unit, consisting of the processor and the main memory.

Over the years, there has been developments and improvements in the way data are sent into the computer for processing, beginning from the keyboard in the early days of computer systems unto voice recognition of recent days.

1.      Keyboard and Pointing Devices (e.g Mouse, Joystick, e.t.c)

A keyboard and mouse are commonly used input devices in office systems, in conjuction with Visual Display Units (VDUS). Many office workers including managers have a personal computer (PC) or other terminals on their desk top, with keyboard and mouse (of track balls) and the VDU for input and output.

A pointing device is any human interface device that allows a user to input spatial data to a computer. In the case of mice and touch screens, this is usually achieved by detecting movement across a physical surface. Analog devices, such as 3D mice, joysticks, or pointing sticks, function by reporting their angle of deflection. Movements of the pointing device are echoed on the screen by movements of the pointer, creating a simple, intuitive way to navigate a computer's GUI.

Using a mouse is usually quicker than a keyboard and input errors are fewer when the computer system provides a graphical user interface (GUI).

This is a way of processing data and information to users and offering processing choices to users, in the form of an easy-to- understand graphical presentation on screen.

Although it is now usual for computer systems to have a GUI, the term originated because          interaction between a computer user and the computer at one time was by text-and- keyboard interactions. GUI, in contrast, uses graphical displays and pull-down menus, which the computer user can control with a mouse for example, computer users have grown accustomed to WIMP computer system design. WIMP stands for either Windows, Icons, Mouse and pointer or Windows, Icons, Mouse and pull- down menus.

However, both keyboard and mouse Input are slow methods of input, since they are dependent on the speed of the human operator. They are  inappropriate in put devices for high volume, high –speed automated processing system and, where possible, faster input methods should be preferred.

2.      BAR COD READER

A bar code is a pattern of black and white stripes representing a code, often an inventory item code. The code is read by a scanner or light pen, which converts the bar code image into an electronic form acceptable to the computer. Bar codes are used widely at check points in supermarkets and shops (electronic point of sale systems or EPOS systems). They allow the point of sale system to recognize the item being purchased and to add its price to the customer’s total bill. They speed up the check out process and reduce the risk of input error by the checkout clerk.

3.      EFTPOS

Another input method associated with EPOS is EFTPOS-electronic funds transfer at point of sale. This system allows a customer to pay for their purchases using a magnetic stripe or chip and pin card by their card being read by a card reader at the supermarket checkout. Funds are then transferred from the customer’s debit or credit card account to the supermarket electronically.

4.                  Scanner

In computing, an image scanner—often abbreviated to just scanner—is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image. Common examples found in offices are variations of the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed on a glass window for scanning. Hand-held scanners, where the device is moved by hand, have evolved from text scanning "wands" to 3D scanners used for industrial design, reverse engineering, test and measurement, orthotics, gaming and other applications. Mechanically driven scanners that move the document are typically used for large-format documents, where a flatbed design would be impractical.
More from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_scanner)

More of input devices at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Input_device

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TYPES OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 TYPES OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Information technology is a conglomerate of equipment that provides information to the management of an organization to assist them perform their function organization to assist them perform their function organizations use information technology (II) to

1. Process data
2. Store data and information
3. Produce output for operational use or for management reports
4.   Communicate information.

IT systems are computer systems, which consists of

1.      Hard ware

2.      Software and

3.      Communication links, including links to the internet

These are the three types of information technology.

1.      Hardware.

The term hardware is used to describe the equipment in a computer system, including the computer system, including the computer itself. They are the physical components of the computer system that occupies space, that can be seen and touched.

 Hardware includes

• Input Devices
• Output Devices
• Secondary Storage Devices
• Central processing unit, comprising of the control unit, Arithmetic and logic unit and the memory unit.
• Communication Devices which facilitates the transmission of information from one point to another.

Hard Wares

Peripherals are hardware devices other than processors or networks. The term peripherals commonly refers to input,  output, secondary storage and communication devices.

2.      Software.

Computer software is the term used to describe collections of program instructions to the computer hardware. They are program instructions that directs the computer hardware to perform some defined tasks.

There are different types of software, namely operating systems, language translators transient utilities, application packages and bespoke systems.

3.      Communication Devices:     

Are the types of information technology that facilitates the transmission of information from  one point to another.

Where an organization has several locations, it may be effective to process data locally rather than at one central installation. By doing this, individual managers will be able to schedule their own processing and will have more control over the contents of their database systems. Any system that requires computers to communicate with each other will need specialized hardware and software such as:

ü  Modems, broadband or network connections.

ü  Communication programs.

ü  Network circuits and software.

ü  No cash changes hands

4.      Touch screen

A touch screen is another form of point of sale device which might be used in a cafeteria or restaurant. The screen displays a range of items that are available for sale, and the salesperson in puts the customer’s order by touching the appropriate icon in with a finger. The screen recognizes the instruction and converts it into an electronic command for the computer.

5.      Optical mark reading (OMR)

Optical mark reading (OMR) involves making marks, usually with a pencil or pen, on a standard document. The document is then read by an optical mark reader, and the positioning of the mark or marks on the document can be interpreted as data for processing by the computer.

6.      Optical character recognition (OCR)

With optical character recognition (OCR), a reader can recognize hand writing characters from their shape, and convert them into electronic data format.OCR applications have includes meter reading forms for electricity and gas meters. The person reading the meter records the meter reading in boxes on a standard form, and the form is then input into the processing system through an OCR reader.

7.      Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)

With MICR, a special reader can detect characters on a standard form in magnetic ink characters. The use of MICR is uncommon, although its most well-known use is the automatic reading of characters on bank cheques.

8.      Scanners

A scanner is a device that can read only any form of image and convert it into an electronic form for acceptance by a computer system.

Scanners can therefore be used to input diagrams and pictures, signatures and other visual images, as well as images of text.

Scanners are widely used in the publishing industry, for the processing of diagrams and other pictures in books, magazines and newspaper.

9.      Plastic Cards (Magnetic Strip And Chip & Pin)

Plastic Swipe cards hold data in electronic form an a magnetic strip on the card.

Plastic cards or other items might hold data in electronic form in an electronic chip. These can be read in by a special reading device (either reading the magnetic strip on the card or the chip in case of a chip & pin card) and fed into the computer system.

Plastic cards are used in banking systems, credit cards, security passes e.t.c.

10.  Smart Cards

The next generation of plastic cards will have funds actually on the card itself (rather than simply providing online authorization to transfer funds). The card will be read in the same way as chip & pin cards, but funds then transferred direct from the card to the super markets (or other seller’s) bank account. The smart card will be recharged with money at specialist ATMs.

11.  Voice Recognition

Voice recognition systems receive input as the spoken word. They are currently used in limited number of situations such as routing calls within call centres

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Jokes

5 HILIARIOUS JOKES

1.      An old man was critically ill. Feeling that death was near, he called his lawyer. "I want to become a lawyer. How much is it or the express degree you told me about?"

"It's $50,000," the lawyer said. "But why? You'll be dead soon, why do you want to become a lawyer?"

"That's my business! Get me the course!"

Four days later, the old man got his law degree. His lawyer was at his bedside, making sure his bill would be paid.

Suddenly the old man was racked with fits of coughing and it was clear that this would be the end. Still curious, the lawyer leaned over and said, "please, before it's too late, tell me why you wanted to to get a law degree so badly before you died?"

In a faint whisper, as he breathed his last, the old man said, "One less lawyer . . ."

2.      Husband comes home from church,greets his wife, lifts her up and carries her around the house. The wife is so surprised and asks smiling, ”did the pastor preach about being romantic”?,Out of breath the husband replies,” No he said, the pastor said that we must always carry our burdens”….. 

3.         The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the surrogate father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife and said, "I'm off. The man should be here soon" Half an hour later, just by chance a door-to-door baby photographer rang the doorbell, hoping to make a sale.

"Good morning, madam. I've come to...."

"Oh, no need to explain. I've been expecting you," Mrs. Smith cut in.

"Really?" the photographer asked. "Well, good. I've made a speciality of babies"

"That's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat"

After a moment, she asked, blushing, "Well, where do we start?"

"Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch and perhaps a couple on the bed. Sometimes the living room floor is fun too; you can really spread out!"

"Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work for Harry and me""Well, madam, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But, if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven different angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results"

"My, that's a lot of....." gasped Mrs. Smith."Madam, in my line of work, a man must take his time. I'd love to be in and out in five minutes, but you'd be disappointed with that, I'm sure" 

"Don't I know it," Mrs. Smith said quietly.The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures.

"This was done on the top of a bus in downtown London""Oh my God!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed, tugging at her handkerchief. "And these twins turned out exceptionally well, when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with" "She was difficult?" asked Mrs. Smith.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to Hyde Park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep, pushing to get a good look"

"Four and five deep?" asked Mrs. Smith, eyes widened in amazement.

"Yes," the photographer said, "And for more than three hours too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling. I could hardly concentrate.

Then darkness approached and I began to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just packed it all in."

Mrs. Smith leaned forward. "You mean squirrels actually chewed on your, um......equipment?"

"That's right. Well, madam, if you're ready, I'll set up my tripod so we  can get to work."

"Tripod?????"

"Oh yes, I have to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big for me to hold for very long. Madam? Madam? ....... Good Lord, she's fainted!!"

4.         One day a florist goes for a haircut. After the cut, he goes to pay the barber and the barber replies: "I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you, I am doing a community service". The florist is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, there is a card and a dozen roses waiting at his door. A butcher goes for a haircut the next day and he also goes to pay the barber and the barber reples: "I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing a community service". The butcher is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning the barber goes to open his shop and there is a thank you card and a package of steaks waiting at his door.

The next day a Fireman goes for a haircut and goes to pay the barber. The barber replies: "I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you, I am doing a community service".

The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, guess what he finds at the door?

Can you guess?

Come on, think like a Fireman....

....two dozen other Firemen waiting for free haircuts! 

5.       Grieving

A man visiting a cemetery heard a second man who was kneeling at a nearby grave crying-out loudly, "Why did you have to die?!!? Why did you have to die?!!?".

The first man was so moved by the other man's obvious pain, that he walked over and lightly placed a comforting hand on the distraught man's shoulder and asked him, "Is this your wife?".

"No", replied the weeping man, "Her first husband!"