Input Devices

Human input devices:
   - Allow person to send data to the computer
   - Keyboard
   - Mouse (and other pointing devices)

Machine-readable input devices:
   - Send data directly to computer without human involvement
   - No human involvement means no human error
   - Usually faster than human input

Keyboard as Input Device

- Easy way to enter text, numbers, and simple commands
- Follows the layout of the typewriter
- QWERTY keyboard leads to RSIs
   - Repetitive Stress Injuries
   - Requires increased attention to ergonomics of the work environment
     - Posture
     - Lighting
     - Working

Machine-readable Input Devices

- Bar code scanners
   - Uses light to read series of coded stripes
   - Universal Product Code (UPC) – Adams.com
   - Package tracking at UPS
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
   - Software that works with scanner
   - Translates scanned digital image to character that user can recognize and manipulate
- Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
   - Character recognition technology used by banks to allow rapid routing of checks between banks