INPUT DEVICES

An input device for a computer is anything that sends information to the CPU to perform a specific function. A computer has
the ability to use many different types of input devices to provide a unique experience to each user. Computer input devices
include many types of hardware such as a keyboard, mouse, webcam, scanner as well as a microphone. An input device is a
peripheral device that converts symbols that people understand into bits that computer can process. Types of Input devices
An input device includes a keyboard, a terminal, a touch screen, a mouse, a scanner etc. They are discussed below: Keyboards
A keyboard is a device used to encode data by key depression, which enters information into a system. The keyboard is one of
the most common type of input devices that are used with a computer. A keyboard consists of letters, numbers and other
types of keys that perform different types of functions when used with a computer system. A keyboard can connect to the
computer through a cord as well as through wireless connection.

These are the hardware devices that are used for entering data and instructions into the computer system. The input devices
allow human to interact with the computer system. The following are some examples of Input devices:

Keyboard: Most important input device. The keyboard is very much like a typewriter keyboard with a few additional keys. The
keys when pressed send an input signal into the computer.

Keyboard Function Keys: A function key is a key on a computer or on the computer keyboard which can be
programmed so as to cause an operating system program to perform certain actio ns.
The func tion keys are arranged at the top of your keyboard numbered across from F1 to F12 and are commonly
referred to as F keys or FN keys.
The keys provide some interesti ng shortcuts for common computer functions that can be useful tools in everyday
computi ng.
The keys are frequently used in combination wi th o ther keys such as the CTRL key, the ALT key, and the SHIF T key.
F1
F1 is mostly used as the help key. Almost every program will open the he lp screen when this key is pressed.
Windows Key + F1 would open the Microsoft Windo ws help and support centre.
Opens the Task Pane .
Note: The W indows key has the Microsoft fl ag logo on it and is located between the CTRL and ALT ke ys on the
keyboard.
F2
In Windows commonly used to rename a highl ighted icon or file.
Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens a new document in Microsoft Word.
Ctrl + F2 displays the pri nt preview window in Mic rosoft Word.
F3
Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft Window s.
Shift + F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital le tter at the beginning of
every word.
F4
Opens find window.
Repeat the las t action performed - for Word 2000+
Alt + F4 will close the open Window that you are currently working on.
Ctrl + F4 will close the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows.
Keyboard Function Keys - F5
Pressing F5 will refresh or reload th e page or document window - This can b e a handy shortcut
Open the find, replace , and go to window in Microsoft Word.
Starts a sl ideshow in Pow erPoint.
F6
This key is often used to move the cursor to the Address bar Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer.
Ctrl + Shift + F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
F7
Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word,
Outlook, etc .
Shift + F7 runs a Thesaur us check on the word highlighted .
Turns on Caret browsing in Mozi lla Firefox.
F8
The F8 key can be used to access Safe Mode if pressed during the computer 's boot up process.
F9
Opens the Measureme nts tool bar in Quark 5.0.
F10
F10 is the key that is use d to activate the menu bar in many programs. F10 can be used to highlig ht the first menu
choice, and then use the arrow keys to move around the menus .
Shift + F10 is the same as right -c lick ing on a highlighted icon, file , or Internet link.
Keyboard Function Keys - F11
Full -screen mode in al l modern I nternet browsers - Pressing F11 when you are working in Internet Explorer will open
the window to ful l screen mode. All the tool bars disappears making it possible to see more information on the
screen. Pressing F11 when you are in full screen m ode will toggle you back to your normal view.
F12
Open a new document in Microsoft Word
Open the Save as dialog box in Microsoft Word.
Shift + F12 save the Micr osoft Word document.
Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints a document i n Microsoft Word .
Shortcut Keys and their Functions
Shortcut Keys and their Functions: Some commonly used computer short cut keys are documented below.
Short -cut Keys and thei r Descriptions
Alt + F: File menu options in current program.
Alt + E: Edit options in c urrent pr ogram
F1: Universal Help i n alm ost every Windows program.
Ctrl + A: Select all text.
Ctrl + X: Cut
Shift + Del: Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C: Copy selected i tem.
Ctrl + Ins: Copy selected item.
Ctrl + V: Paste selec ted i tem.
Shift + Ins: Paste.
Home: Goes to beginni ng of current line.
Ctrl + Home: Goes to beginning of document.
End: Goes to end of current l ine .
Ctrl + End: Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home: Highlig hts from current position to beginning of line.
Shift + End: Highlig hts from current position to e nd of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow: Moves one word to the left at a time .
Ctrl + Right arrow: Mov es one word to the right at a time.
Shortcut Keys and their Functions: Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Word.
Shortcut Ke ys and their Descriptions
Ctrl + A: Selec t al l conte nts of the page.
Ctrl + B: Bold highl ighte d selection.
Ctrl + C: Copy selected text.
Ctrl + X: Cut selected te xt.
Ctrl + P: Open the print window.
Ctrl + F: Open find box.
Ctrl + I: I tal ic hig hl ighte d selection.
Ctrl + K: I nsert li nk (Shortcut Keys and their Functions ).
Ctrl + U: U nderli ne hig hl ighted selec tion.
Ctrl + V: Paste .
Ctrl + Y: Redo the las t action performed.
Ctrl + Z: U ndo last ac tio n.
Ctrl + L: Alig ns the li ne or selected text to the lef t o f the screen.
Ctrl + E: Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen.
Ctrl + R: A ligns the l ine or selected text to the right of the screen.
Ctrl + M: I ndent the par agraph.
Ctrl + Shift + F: Change the font.
Ctrl + Shift + >: I ncrease selec ted font +1pts up to 12pt and then increas es font +2pts.
Ctrl + ]: I ncrease selec ted font +1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + <: Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if above 12 decreases font by +2pt.
Ctrl + [: Decrease selected font -1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + *: View or hide non printing charac ters.
Ctrl + L: Moves one word to the left.
Ctrl + R: Moves one word to the right.
Ctrl + : Moves to the beginning of the l ine or paragraph.
Ctrl + : Moves to the end of the paragraph.
Ctrl + Del: Deletes word to right of cu rsor.
Ctrl + Backspace: Deletes word to left of cursor.
Ctrl + End: Moves the cursor to the end of the document.
Ctrl + Home: Moves the cursor to the beginni ng of the document.
Ctrl + Spacebar: Reset highlig hted text to the default font.
Ctrl + 1: Sing le-space l i nes.
Ctrl + 2: Double-space l i nes.
Ctrl + 5: 1.5-l ine spac ing.
Ctrl + Alt + 1: Changes text to headi ng 1.
Ctrl + Alt + 2: Changes text to headi ng 2.
Ctrl + Alt + 3: Changes text to headi ng 3.
Alt + Shift + D: I nsert the current date .
Alt + Shift + T : I nsert the current time.
In addition to the above shortcut keys users can also use their mouse as a method of quickly do something
commonly performed.
Below some are examples of mouse shortcuts.
Mouse shortcuts and their Descriptions
Click, hold, and drag: S elects text from where you click and ho ld to the point you drag and let go.
Double -click: I f double -click a word, selects the complete word.
Double -click: Double-cl i cking on the left, center , or right of a blank line will make the alignment of the t ext left,
center, or right al igned.
Double -click: Double-cl i cking anywhere after text on a line will set a tab stop.
Triple -click: Selec ts the li ne or paragraph of the text the mouse trip le -c lick ed.
Ctrl + Mouse wheel: Zooms in and out of document (Shortc ut Keys and their Functions ).
100 Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10
A list of 100+ keyboard short -cuts for Windows 10, inc luding shortcuts for copy, paste, and more.
Here's the full list of keyboard short -cuts for Windows 10 - all the Windows 10 keyb oard shortcuts you
need to know
Keyboard shortcut → Action
Windows key → Open or close Start Menu.
Windows key + A → Open Action center.
Windows key + C → Open Cortana i n lis tening m ode.
Windows key + D → Display or hide the desktop.
Windows key + E → Open File Explorer.
Windows key + G → Open Game bar when a game is open.
Windows key + H → Open the Share charm .
Windows key + I → Open Settings.
Windows key + K → Open the Connec t quick action.
Windows key + L → Lock your PC or switch accounts.
Windows key + M → Minim ize al l windows.
Windows key + R → Open Run dialog box.
Windows key + S → Open Search.
Windows key + U → Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows key + X → Open Quick Li nk menu.
Windows key + Number → Open the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indic ated by the num ber.
Windows key + Left arrow key → Snap app windows left.
Windows key + Right arrow key → Snap app windows right.
Windows key + Up arrow key → Maximize app windows.
Windows key + Down arrow key → Minim ize ap p windows.
Windows key + Comma → Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + D → Add a virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + Left or Right arrow → Switch between vir tual desktops.
Windows key + Ctrl + F4 → Close current virtual desktop.
Windows key + Enter → Open Narrato r.
Windows key + Home → Minimi ze al l but the ac tive desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke).
Windows key + PrtScn → Capture a screenshot and save in Screenshots folder.
Windows key + Shift + Up arrow → Stretch the desktop window to the top a nd bottom of the screen.
Windows key + Tab → Open Task view.
Windows key + "+" key → Zoom in usi ng the m agnifier.
Windows key + " -" key → Zoom out using the m agnifier.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager.
Alt + Tab → Switch betw een open apps.
Alt + Left arrow key → Go back.
Alt + Right arrow key → Go forward.
Alt + Page Up → Move up one screen.
Alt + Page down → Move down one screen.
Ctrl + Alt +Tab → View open apps
Ctrl + C → Copy selected items to cl ipboard.
Ctrl + X → Cut selec ted i tems.
Ctrl + V → Pas te content from clipboard.
Ctrl + A → Select all content.
Ctrl + Z → Undo an ac tio n.
Ctrl + Y → Redo an actio n.
Ctrl + D → Delete the se lected i tem and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + Esc → Open the Start Me nu.
Ctrl + Shift → Switch the keyboard layout.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + F4 → Close the active window .

Mouse: A mouse is a small object you can roll along a hard or flat surface. It controls the movement of the cursor on a display
screen.

Light pen: An input

device that utilizes a
light-sensitive
detector to select, create and modify object on a display screen.

A light pen is a light sensitive pen-like device used by pointing it at the

display surface. A user brings the light pen to the desired point on the
screen and presses a button, causing it to identify the current location. It
is used to select options from a menu or to draw images.

Touchpad: A touchpad is used for pointing on a computer display screen. It works by sensing the user’s finger movement and
downward pressure. It is often rectangular in shape and found mostly on laptops. It is an alternative to mouse.
,

Touch screen: It allows the user to operate / make selections by simply touching the display screen. The display screen is
sensitive to touch of a finger or stylus. Widely used on ATM machines and most mobile phones.

Microphone: A device that is used to capture and record sound.

Bar code reader: These are photoelectric scanners that read bar codes printed on product containers. They are generally used
in super markets.
Scanner: Scanner reads texts, images or illustrations printed on paper and translate the information into a form that the
computer can use. It works by digitizing an image.

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR): MICR can identify character printed with a special ink that contains particles of
magnetic material. This device is widely used in banking industry.

Optical Mark Recognition (OMR): Also called mark sense reader is a technology where an OMR device senses the presence or
absence of a mark, such as pencil mark. OMR is widely used in tests such as aptitude test.
Joystick: Is an input and pointing device used in computer games.

Digital camera: An input device used to capture images and moving pictures

Differences between Mouse and Keyboard

Keyboard Mouse

Used to enter instructions Used to point and select

Keys are pressed Buttons are clicked

Combination of keys can be pressed Left or right button is clicked

Cannot drag and drop text Drags and drops text

It has keys It has buttons

Requires no mouse pad Requires a mouse pad

Assignment
List and briefly explain ALL set of keys on the keyboard. Hint: Alphabet keys