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CIE iGCSE ICT > Unit 2 Input Devices > Flashcards

Unit 2 Input Devices Flashcards

(80 cards)

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1
Q

What is the definition of an input device?

A

Hardware that allows data to be entered into a computer.

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2
Q

How many types of input devices are there?

A

2 - manual input devices and direct input devices.

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3
Q

What is the definition of a manual input device?

A

A device that allows data to be entered into a computer by hand.

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4
Q

Give 5 examples of manual input devices.

A

keyboard, numeric keyboard, pointing devices, remote control, joystick, touch screen, scanner, graphics tablet, light pen, microphone, digital camera, web camera

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5
Q

What are keyboards used for?

A

To enter data into applications e.g. word processing applications such as Word.
To use enter commands e.g. keyboard short cuts such as CTRL + P to print.

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6
Q

What are the advantages of using a keyboard?

A

Enables fast entry of text into documents.
Very easy to use (you just press the keys)
Information instantly appears on the screen so you can check quickly that what you entered is correct.

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7
Q

What are the disadvantages of using a keyboard?

A

People with wrist or hand problems can find a keyboard painful to use.
Keyboards are quite large and can take up a lot of desk space.
Entering data is slow compared with other methods.

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8
Q

What are numeric keypads used for?

A

Entering numbers into a computer system.
Some numeric keypads allow you to enter simple text and symbols.
Uses of numeric keypads include: ATM machines, telephones, chip and pin devices.

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9
Q

What are the advantages of using a numeric keypad?

A

Faster than using a QWERTY keyboard.

They are small so they can fit easily on smaller devices e.g. a phone

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10
Q

What are the disadvantages of using a numeric keypad?

A

People with large hands can find them hard to use.

Difficult to enter text information.

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11
Q

What are pointing devices?

A

Pieces of hardware that are used to control a pointer or curser on a screen.
Frequently used with GUI
Used to input commands by selecting icons

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12
Q

What are the 3 main types of pointing devices?

A

Mouse
Touchpad
Trackerball

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13
Q

How many types of mice are there?

A

2
ball mouse - uses a ball under the mouse to detect movement
optical mouse - uses reflected light to detect movement

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14
Q

What are the uses of a mouse?

A
  1. opening, closing, maximising and minimising programmes and files
  2. Moving, grouping and deleting files
  3. Selecting icons and moving them around the page
  4. Editing images
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15
Q

What are the advantages of using a mouse?

A

Faster to select icons
Very easy to move pointer
Small and don’t take up much space

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16
Q

What are the disadvantages of using a mouse?

A

People with wrist problems may find them painful to use
Dirt can affect accuracy
Need a flat surface to work on

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17
Q

What are touchpads used for?

A

Replacement for a mouse - especially in laptops

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18
Q

What are the advantages of using a touchpad?

A

easier than using a keyboard
built into laptops
can be used even when there is no flat surface
don’t get clogged with dirt

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19
Q

What are the disadvantages of using a touchpad?

A

more difficult to control than a mouse
can be painful to use for people with wrist problems
drop and drag can be more difficult to perform

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20
Q

What are trackerballs?

A

similar to mice but the ball is on the top of the device rather than the bottom

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21
Q

What are the uses of trackerballs?

A

Used as an alternative to a mouse

Used in arcade gaming machines

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22
Q

What are the advantages of trackerballs?

A

People with wrist problems can still use them
More accurate than touchpads
Can be used when no flat surface is available
No limit on ball travel

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23
Q

What are the disadvantages of trackerballs?

A

More expensive than mice

More difficult to learn how to use than a mouse

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24
Q

What are remote controls used for?

A

Controlling other devices using infra-red signals e.g.

  • changing the tv channel
  • increasing/decreasing volume on a music player
  • selecting a different chapter on a dvd player
  • operating cranes with heavy
  • activating explosives in demolition
  • operating robot arms in hazardous chemical plants
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25
What are the advantages of using remote controls?
Devices can be operated without having to go up to them - helpful for people with disabilities Can operate devices in unsafe environments
26
What are the disadvantages of using remote controls?
People with limited hand movement can find them difficult to use The infra red signal between remote and device can become blocked
27
What is the function of a joystick?
To control a pointer on a screen (similar to a mouse)
28
What are the uses of a joystick?
To control a pointer on a screen - the handle moves the pointer the buttons allow us to select or 'click stuff'
29
What are joysticks used for?
video games industrial machinery simulators
30
What are the advantages of joysticks?
easier to control simple to use and get used to disabled people might be able to use them more easily
31
What are the disadvantages to joysticks?
Not as accurate as a mouse Can be painful for people with wrist/hand issues Difficult to enter text
32
What is the function of a touch screen?
Input commands into a computer by touching or pressing buttons/icons on the screen
33
What are the uses of a touch screen?
``` Mobile/smart phones PDAs Public information systems Interactive whiteboards Multiple choice tests ```
34
What are the advantages of using a touch screen?
fast and easy to use | no training needed to use them
35
What are the disadvantages of using a touch screen?
Limited number of options available on the screen Expensive Screens can become very dirty
36
What are the functions of scanners?
To enter information from a hard copy (piece of paper) into a computer
37
What are the uses of a scanner?
scans hard copies e.g. documents, photographs, certificates etc. into the computer
38
What are the advantages of scanners?
Very fast to enter hard copies Very easy to scan and store Easy to back up and duplicate Damaged photos can then be repaired using graphic editing software
39
What are the disadvantages of a scanner?
Images are of lesser quality | Scanned images take up a lot of memory space
40
What are the functions of graphic tablets?
Allows designers to produce digital images much more accurately Feels like drawing with a pen (the stylus)
41
What are the advantages of using a graphics tablet?
Much easier to draw images than with a mouse Very accurate drawings can be produced Fine detail can be added (unlike using a mouse) Can be used where symbols are used instead of text
42
What are the disadvantages of using a graphics tablet?
Very expensive | Not able to enter data into a computer this way
43
What are the functions of light pens?
Quite old technology used instead of mice, touch screen or graphics tablets Used for drawing directly onto a CRT screen (cathode ray tube)
44
What are the advantages of light pens?
More accurate than touch screens | Very small
45
What are the disadvantages of light pens?
Not as accurate as a graphics tablet Can only be used with CRT screens Can be uncomfortable to use
46
What are the functions of microphones?
Used to input analogue sound into a digital computer
47
What are the uses of a microphone?
``` Narration Voice over Speaking over the internet using VoIP e.g. Skype video conferencing Converting speech to text Hands free mobile phones ```
48
What are the advantages of using microphones?
Faster to input words than typing using a keyboard Able to be used by disabled people who cannot use their hands Makes driving safer Very cheap to buy
49
What are the disadvantages of microphones?
Sound files take up a lot of storage space Not as accurate as typing Background noise can interfere
50
What are the functions of digital cameras?
Take photographs and digitally store them on a memory card Preview photos and discard unwanted ones Capture sound as well as picture
51
What are the uses of digital cameras?
Save special moments Gather images for use in presentations Transfer images to a computer for editing Print images easily
52
What are the advantages of digital cameras?
``` No film to develop Unwanted images can easily be deleted Easy to make copies of images No need to print Can store thousands of pictures Can be easily transferred Can be easily edited ```
53
What are the disadvantages of digital cameras?
\need to have computer skills to use | Artistry can be lost - camera automtically corrects to what it thinks you want
54
What are the functions of web cameras?
Very similar to digital cameras but are directly connected to a computer and do not have memory storage Used in face to face conferences such as Skype
55
What are the advantages of web cameras?
Allow long distance face to face conversations Allow cheaper interviews and business meetings to take place Can allow parents to keep an eye on their children from a different location Can be used as as security device as can be left running constantly
56
What are the disadvantages of web cameras?
Image quality can be poor Permanently fixed to computing device Usually fixed so can't move around
57
What is the definition of a direct input device?
Device with little or no human input needed.
58
Give 3 examples of a direct input device?
``` magnetic stripe reader chip and pin reader barcode reader optical marker reader (OMR) optical character reader (OCR) Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MIRC) ```
59
What are the uses of a magnetic stripe reader?
ATM reader of bank cards EFTPOS for transferring customer money Hotel room keys
60
What are the advantages of using a magnetic stripe reader?
Very fast No typing involved - therefore no errors Not affected by water and are robust Cannot be read by the eye so details on card are safe
61
What are the disadvantages of magnetic stripe readers
Can only hold a small amount of data Need to have contact between the reader and card to work - cannot be used over the internet If damaged all data is lost Can be easily duplicated - cloning
62
What are the uses of a chip and pin reader
To make secure payments
63
What are the advantages of a chip and pin reader
More secure than magnetic stripe readers Information is harder t clone Can hold more data than magnetic stripe Readers are portable
64
What are the disadvantages of a chip and pin reader
Might forget the PIN | People can look over shoulder and copy PIN if card was stolen
65
What are the uses of a barcode scanner?
Read information stored on a products bar code e.g. product Id number, manufacturer, country of origin
66
What are the advantages of a barcode scanner?
Quick and easy to change product prices Quick and easy to get info onto a system Very accurate Automatic stock control
67
What are the disadvantages of a barcode scanner?
Expensive way to gather info Bar codes can be swapped Damaged bar codes can't be read
68
What are the uses of an Optical Mark Reader (ORM)?
Reads marks made with a pencil, e.g. lottery ticket, multiple choice exams
69
What are the advantages of an ORM?
Quick Accurate Can save money
70
What are the disadvantages of an ORM?
Cannot be read if filled in incorrectly Can only read shaded areas Forms can jam
71
What are the uses of an Optical Character Reader? (OCR)
Can scan text on a paper into a computer. Converts scanned text to a digital format. e.g. processing passports
72
What are the advantages of OCRs?
Very fast Cheaper Avoids typing errors
73
What are the disadvantages of OCRs?
Can find handwriting difficult to read Not 100% accurate Need to check errors manually
74
What are the uses of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition? (MICR)
MIRC can read special ink e.g. customer cheques
75
What are the advantages of MIRC?
Process cheques quickly Greater security Less errors as not manual input Info can still be read even if someone writes over it
76
What are the disadvantages of MIRC?
Only a limited number of characters can be read | More expensive than other methods
77
What is a sensor?
A device that automatically inputs data into a computer system, where the data is constantly changing and can be measured.
78
What are sensors used for?
``` Measuring: Temperature Pressure Light Sound Humidity/moisture pH ```
79
What are the advantages of sensors?
Readings taken are more accurate Sensors monitor constantly Sensors respond to information immediately (burglar alarms) No need of humans to operate sensor
80
What are the disadvantages of sensors?
Faulty sensors can give incorrect results e.g. reverse parking sensors

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