Introduction
We are living in an information age dependent upon digital information. Digital information is electronic information, the result of computer processing. Every type of job relies upon getting information, using it, managing it, and relaying information to others. Computers enable the efficient processing and storage of information.
Do not think of a computer merely as the machine with the keyboard and the mouse, although that might be true for some types of computers. Embedded computers may be inside your household appliances, the VCR, the automobile, planes, trains, powerplants, water purification plants, calculators, and even inside a few toys. These embedded computers are very small. They affect our lives each day. Why, even modern traffic lights operate with computers. They are all around us. Think of additional ways in which computers affect our lives each day.
Do not think of a computer merely as the machine with the keyboard and the mouse, although that might be true for some types of computers. Embedded computers may be inside your household appliances, the VCR, the automobile, planes, trains, powerplants, water purification plants, calculators, and even inside a few toys. These embedded computers are very small. They affect our lives each day. Why, even modern traffic lights operate with computers. They are all around us. Think of additional ways in which computers affect our lives each day.
Input
Home computers are microcomputers. Input is supplied to the microcomputer with the use of a keyboard, a mouse, or another input device. These input devices may be called peripheral device
An input device is any hardware device that sends data to the computer, without any input devices, a computer would only be a display device and not allow users to interact with it, much like a TV. In the picture to the right, is a Logitech trackball mouse and an example of an input device. Below is a complete listing of all the different computer input devices that can be used on a computer.
At its most basic, a keyboard is an arrangment of keys (buttons). Typically the keys will have printed characters, and one keypress equals one character. Keyboards can also used to send commands to the computer using single keystrokes, or multiple keys all at once.
CTRL+ALT+DEL is one example. A standard keyboard has 101 keys, but most have more, up to 130 in some cases. Make sure that you consider the ergonomics of the keyboard you select, and that you consider an ergonomic computer keyboard stand to ensure that the hours you spend on your computer don't hurt (your back, shoulder, neck, arm and wrist)! This article will take a brief look at keyboards and what to consider when buying one.
This mouse gives active tactile feedback in the form of vibration to the user. In that sense, it is a display as well as an input device. It is useful for playing games, as well as for the visually impaired.
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network. Unlike an IP camera (which uses a direct connection using ethernet or Wi-Fi), a webcam is generally connected by a USB cable, FireWire cable, or similar cable.
