Input Devices
Computer Science: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 1.3.7
Input Devices
Input devices provide signals and data to a computer system to be processed.
Input devices
- Input devices take data using sensors, buttons, or movements.
- Input devices send signals containing the data to a computer system.
- The signal can be sent through a wired connection or wirelessly.
Types of input devices
- There are different categories of input devices.
- One such category is the type of input.
- For example, audio, movement or visual.
Discrete or continuous
- An input device can also be classified by whether or not the input is discrete or continuous.
- A discrete input has one of a limited range of exact values, which is often either 'on' or 'off'.
- Examples of discrete inputs are pressing a button or flipping a switch.
- A continuous input can take on a continuous range of values.
- Drawing on a tablet with a stylus is an example of continuous input.
Degrees of freedom
- The degrees of freedom of an input device refers to the number of pieces of data associated with one input value.
- For example, the position of a computer mouse is specified by a two-dimensional coordinate.
- A 3D scanner in an airport has a three-dimensional input.
Test yourself on Input Devices
What type of input device is flipping a computer switch?