Input devices

Input Devices

Input devices are hardware components used to enter data, instructions, and commands into a computer system. They convert user actions into machine-readable form.

History of Input Devices

• Early computers (1940s–1950s) used punch cards as the primary input method.
• In the 1960s, keyboards replaced punch cards for faster and easier data entry.
• The mouse was invented in the 1960s, revolutionizing graphical user interfaces.
• With the rise of multimedia, microphones, scanners, webcams became common input devices.
• Modern systems use touch, voice, gesture, biometric, and AI-based input technologies.

Types of Input Devices

• Text Input Devices
• Pointing Devices
• Image Input Devices
• Audio Input Devices
• Biometric Input Devices
• Specialized and Emerging Input Devices

1. Keyboard

• Inventor: Christopher Latham Sholes (1868, based on typewriter design)
• History: Derived from typewriters and adapted for computers in the 1960s.
• Function: Used to input text, numbers, and commands.
• Types: Mechanical, Membrane, Virtual, Ergonomic, Wireless.

2. Mouse

• Inventor: Douglas Engelbart (1964)
• History: First used in GUI-based systems at Xerox PARC.
• Function: Controls pointer movement and selection.
• Types: Mechanical, Optical, Laser, Trackball, Wireless.

3. Scanner

• Inventor: Russell A. Kirsch (1957 – first digital image scanner)
• History: Developed to convert printed text/images into digital form.
• Function: Digitizes documents and photos.
• Types: Flatbed, Handheld, Drum, Barcode scanner.

4. Microphone

• Inventor: Emile Berliner (1877)
• History: Originally developed for telephone and audio recording.
• Function: Captures sound input.
• Types: Dynamic, Condenser, USB, Wireless.

5. Webcam / Digital Camera

• Inventor: First webcam developed at University of Cambridge (1991)
• History: Created to monitor a coffee pot, later used for video communication.
• Function: Captures live video and images.
• Types: HD webcam, IP camera, DSLR camera.

6. Touch Screen

• Inventor: E.A. Johnson (1965)
• History: First used in air traffic control systems.
• Function: Accepts input via finger or stylus touch.
• Types: Resistive, Capacitive, Infrared, Optical.

7. Light Pen

• Inventor: Ben Gurley (1950s, MIT Whirlwind Project)
• History: Used to select objects directly on CRT screens.
• Function: Points and selects items on screen.
• Status: Obsolete device.

8. Joystick

• Inventor: Ralph H. Baer (1960s)
• History: Used in gaming and aircraft simulators.
• Function: Controls movement in games and simulations.
• Types: Analog, Digital, Flight stick.

9. Trackball

• Inventor: British Royal Navy (1946)
• History: Used in military radar systems.
• Function: Stationary pointing device using a rolling ball.

10. Barcode Reader

• Inventor: Norman Joseph Woodland & Bernard Silver (1952)
• History: Used in retail and inventory systems.
• Function: Reads barcode information.

11. Graphics Tablet / Digital Pen

• Inventor: RAND Tablet (1964)
• History: Designed for drawing and handwriting recognition.
• Function: Used by designers and artists.

12. Biometric Devices

• Examples: Fingerprint scanner, Face recognition, Iris scanner, Voice recognition.
• History: Biometric identification research started in the late 19th century.
• Function: Identifies users using biological traits.

Latest Input Devices (Modern & Emerging)

• Voice Assistants: AI-based voice input (Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri).
• Gesture Recognition Devices: Use cameras and sensors (Leap Motion, Kinect).
• Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI): Direct brain signal input to computers.
• Eye Tracking Devices: Control systems using eye movement.
• Smart Rings: NFC and gesture-based wearable input.
• AR/VR Controllers: Motion controllers for immersive environments.
• Touchless Interfaces: Use infrared and depth sensors for contact-free input.