An input device is a piece of hardware that is used to

enter data into a computer.

Examples of input devices are the keyboard, the mouse, the

touchpad, the joystick, the touch screen, the scanner, the

graphics tablet, the microphone, and the webcam.

The keyboard is the most common and widely used input

device. It is made up of buttons called keys. The keys are

arranged into sections: (i) alphabet keys, (ii) Function or F

keys (F1, F2…), (iii) numeric keys, (iv) arrow keys, (v) command

keys (insert, delete, home…)

A mouse usually has two buttons, a right and left one and

also a central wheel which allows you to scroll down and up the

page. When you press of the buttons in the mouse, you click.

A touchpad is an input device which is usually found on a

laptop computer.

Joystick let computer gamers experience a more realistic

game environment.

A touch screen works both as an input and output device.

You view the options available to you on the screen (output) and

then you use your finger to touch the option that you have

chosen (input).

A scanner can be used to convert images or texts on paper

into a digital format that can be used by the computer.

A graphic tablet is used by graphic designers and

illustrators to produce more accurate drawings than using a

mouse for example.

A microphone is used to input sound.

A webcam is an input device because it captures a video

image of the scene in front of it. It is either built in to the

computer (e.g. laptop) or it is connected through a USB cable.

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