I is for Input
Without some means of input, your computer might as well be just another piece of furniture. “Input” is how you update your status from “in a relationship” to “engaged.” It’s how you save the world by finally defeating the Zorgon Witch-King. It’s how you enter contact information into a database so you can build your small business into a thriving enterprise.Computer input devices come in many different types, but they are all used for sending data and control signals to the processing system. The user’s input affects what is shown on the computer’s output devices.Perhaps the most necessary computer input device is the computer mouse. Almost everyone is familiar with the action of this deviceit detects two-dimensional motion and translates it to a cursor on the screen. Buttons are added to allow for further input, such as selecting a particular on-screen icon, and wheels can be used for scrolling and other tasks. Even without a computer keyboard, a mouse can be used to control an on-screen keyboard, making it an almost indispensable input device.However, the keyboard remains the most common input device. Although it’s difficult to replicate all the actions of a mouse with a keyboard, the keyboard makes inputting any text and numbers significantly easier. Keyboards were the only way to enter commands in the early command-line interfaces, first seen on early computers in the 1950s. Besides entering text, modern keyboards can also be used to directly command the operating system of a computer. For example, pressing the keys “Control,” “Alt,” and “Delete” in conjunction will bring up a task window or initiate a shutdown, depending on the system.Input devices have grown and changed over the years. Speech recognition, done through a microphone, can now be used to enter text and interpret commands, and is commonly used in transcription, journalism, and writing pursuits. Some game controllers, similar to those found on video game consoles, have been developed for use with computer games in certain genres. Many of them can also be programmed to emulate keys and even macros.Visual input devices have also been developed, letting you conference with clients across the world, or video-chat with your grandmother across the country. Digital cameras and webcams are examples of this technology. Fingerprint scanners and 3D scanners are examples of more specialized devices. The first is often used for verifying identity, while 3D scanners can create models of real-world objects.As input devices continue to change, will we change with them, or will old standards like the keyboard and mouse continue to rule the day? There’s only one way to find out.