Chapter 5: Input Device

Front 1

audio input

Back 1

Process of entering any sound, such as speech, music, and sound effects, into the computer.

Front 2

bar code reader

Back 2

Optical reader that uses laser beams to read bar codes by using light patterns that pass through the bar code lines. Also called a barcode scanner.

Front 3

input

Back 3

Any data and instructions entered into the memory of a computer

Front 4

input device

Back 4

Any hardware component that allows users to enter data and instructions into a computer.

Front 5

joystick

Back 5

Handheld vertical lever mounted on a base used to control actions of a simulated vehicle or player.

Front 6

keyboard

Back 6

Input device that contains keys users press to enter data and instructions into a computer.

Front 7

light pen

Back 7

Handheld input device that can detect the presence of light.

Front 8

magnetic stripe card reader

Back 8

Reading device that reads the magnetic stripe on the back of credit, entertainment, bank, and other similar cards. See also magstripe reader

Front 9

mouse

Back 9

Pointing device that fits comfortably under the palm of a user's hand.

Front 10

OCR devices

Back 10

Optical character recognition devices that include small optical scanners for reading characters and sophisticated software to analyze what is read.

Front 11

optical character recognition (OCR)

Back 11

Optical reader technology that involves reading typewritten, computer-printed, or hand-printed characters from ordinary documents and translating the images to a form that a computer can process.

Front 12

pointing device

Back 12

Input device that allows a user to control a pointer on the screen.

Front 13

pointing stick

Back 13

Pressure-sensitive pointing device shaped like a pencil eraser that is positioned between keys on a keyboard and moved by pushing the pointing stick with a finger.

Front 14

POS terminal

Back 14

Terminal used by retail stores to record purchases, process credit or debit cards, and update inventory.

Front 15

RFID

Back 15

Short for radio frequency identification; standard, specifically a protocol, that defines how a network uses radio signals to communicate with a tag placed in or attached to an object, an animal, or a person.

Front 16

scanner

Back 16

Light-sending input device that reads printed text and graphics and then translates the results into a form the computer can process. See also optical scanner.

Front 17

smart card

Back 17

Card, similar in size to a credit card or ATM card, that stores data on a thin microprocessor embedded in the card.

Front 18

stylus

Back 18

Small metal or plastic device that looks like a ballpoint pen, but uses pressure instead of ink to write, draw, or make selections.

Front 19

touch screen

Back 19

Touch-sensitive display device with which users interact by touching areas of the screen.

Front 20

touchpad

Back 20

Small, flat, rectangular pointing device that is sensitive to pressure and motion.

Front 21

trackball

Back 21

Stationary pointing device with a ball on its top or side.

Front 22

voice input

Back 22

Process of entering data by speaking into a microphone.

Front 23

voice recognition

Back 23

Computer's capability of distinguishing spoken words. Also called speech recognition.

Front 24

pen input

Back 24

stylus or digital pen used to draw, write or make selections