An input device lets you communicate with a computer.  You can use input devices to enter information and issue commands.  A keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera, touch pads and joystick are examples of input devices.

Some Common Computer Input Devices:

Pointing Devices

• Pointing devices move some object on the screen and can do some action
• Common pointing devices
  • Mouse - most common pointing device 

  
  
  

• Track ball - basically an upside down mouse 
  
  
  
  
• Joystick 
  
  
  
  
• Game controller 
  
  
  

A scanner allows you to scan documents, pictures, or graphics and view them on the computer.  You can also use software to edit the items you scan.

• Used to put printed pictures and text into a computer
• Converts an image into dots that the computer can understand
• To scan text, optical character recognition (OCR) software is needed

• Used to take electronic pictures of an object
• The pictures taken by a digital camera can be used directly by a computer

• Used to put sound into a computer
• Need sound recording software

• Can be used to put both sound and images into a computer
• Use a laser to read a Compact Disk (CD) or a DVD disk
  
  
  

• Usually place inside the computer's case
• Use to put video into a computer
• Need a video source, either a video camera or video recorder