List of Input – Output Devices of Computer with examples

Christopher Latham Sholes an American inventor invented the QWERTY keyboard layout in 1868. He designed it for the typewriter.

E. Remington and Sons manufactured and sold sholes typewriter.

Most common input device used to type text, numbers and commands.

A standard keyboard usually has 101,104 or 108 keys (Windows keyboard)

Types of Keyboards: –

Wired Keyboard – Connected through USB.

Wireless Keyboard – Uses with Bluetooth or RF technology.

Mechanical Keyboard – Durable and faster typing keyboard and have physical switches under keys.

Membrane keyboard – Uses with pressure pads and they are quieter and cheaper.

Virtual Keyboard – On screen keyboard and used in touch device.

Bee Raider Keyboard –Advanced technology keyboard. Mostly used for Gaming purpose. 

Different types of keys: –

Alphabetic keys Numeric Keys used two types of text and numbers

A-Z (letters) → Press A to type “a” (small letter) and Press Shift +A to type “A” (capital letter).

0-9 (Numbers)→ Located above alphabet keys (Press 1 to type 1 or Press shift +any numbers to type different  symbols to type symbol !, @, #, $, %, &)

Numeric keypads→ Located on the right side. it is used for fast calculations and works with NumLocks. Contains numbers 0-9 and arithmetic keys (+, -, *, /)

Function Keys (F1-F12)-Located at the top. Each key performs special functions: –

F1 → Opens the Help screen for almost every program.

F2 → allows you to Rename a selected file or folder.

F3 →Opens a search feature for an application that is active at the moment.

F4 → Alt+F4 closes the active window.

F5 → Allows you to refresh or reload the page or document windows.

F6 → Moves the cursor to the address bar in most internet browsers.

F7 → Used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft application such as MS Word.

F8 → Used to access the boot menu in windows when turning on computer.

F9 → Refreshes a document in MS Word and sends and receives e-mails in MS outlook.

F10 → Activated the menu Bar of an open application, shift+F10 is the same as right click.

F11 → Enters and exists full screen mode in internet browsers.

F12 → Opens the Save As  in MS Word.

Control Keys/ Modifier keys

Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Esc, Windows key – used with other key to perform shortcuts

For Example : –

Ctrl +C – Copy

Ctrl + V – Paste

Ctrl + S – Save

Ctrl+ X – Cut

Ctrl+ Z – Undo

Ctrl +A – Select all

Alt key is used with other keys for shortcuts.

For example: –

Alt +Tab -Switch between programs

Alt + F4 –  Close program

Shift key used to type capital letters and to use to type upper symbols

Windows Key used to open start menu

For example: –

Win + E – Open File explorer

Win + L – Lock computer

Esc Key (Escape Key) to cancel current action and exit full screen.

Arrow Keys/Navigation Keys

Arrow keys – to move cursor up, down, left, right. ↑↓ ←→

Home key – to move cursor to beginning of line.

End key – move cursor to end of line.

Page Up (PgUp)- to move page up and Page Down (PgDn)- to move page down.

Insert – toggle between insert and overwrite mode.

Delete – used to delete text the right of the cursor.

Backspace key – to delete text the left of cursor.

Used to move cursor and navigate document

Toggle Keys Keys that switch a function On or OFF each time you press them.

When pressed once – Function turns ON

When pressed again – Function turns OFF

Main toggle keys are: –

Caps Lock used to turns capital letters ON or OFF

When ON- all letters type in CAPITAL

When OFF- Letters Type in small case

Num Lock used to control the numeric keypad

When ON – Numeric keypad types numbers

When OFF – Numeric keypad works as arrow/ navigation keys

Scroll Lock used to controls screen scrolling (in some programs like MS Excel) Rarely used in modern computers.

Special keys: –

Enter key – Used to move cursor to next line and to confirm command.

Spacebar – Insert space between words.

Tab key – To move cursor to next tab space and to indent paragraph

Caps Lock – Type capital letters continuously.

Num Lock – To activate Numeric keypad.

Scroll Lock– To change Scrolling Behaviour (rarely used)

Print Screen (PrtSc) – Take screenshot.

Pause/ Break – Pause screen output (rarely used).

Numeric keypad located on the right side and used for fast number typing.

Includes Numbers (0-9)

Add (+)

Subtract (-)

Multiply (x)

Divide (/)

Enter (↵)

Multimedia keys (in some keyboards)

Volume up / down

Mute

Paly/ Pause

Next/ Previous Track

Open Email

Open Browser

Douglas Engelbart invented the computer mouse in 1964, an American engineer and inventor. He worked at Stanford Research Institute. The first mouse was made of wood and had two metal wheels.

In 1968, Douglas Engelbart publicly demonstrated the mouse in a famous event at “The Mothers of All Demos” at the Stanford Research Institute”.

Pointing device used to move the cursor.

Functions: – click, double click, right click, drag and drop.

Types of Mouses: –

Mechanical Mouse (Ball Mouse) – Old type of mouse, contain a rubber ball at the bottom, Movement is detected by rolling the ball. 

Optical Mouse – Uses LED light to detect movement, no ball inside the mouse, more accurate and smoother than mechanical mouse, most commonly used today

Wireless Mouse – No cable connection needed, uses with Bluetooth or USB receiver and easy to carry and use.

Wired Mouse – Connected through USB cable, no battery required.

Laser Mouse – Uses laser light instead of LED, more precise and works on more surfaces.

Trackball Mouse – It has a track ball on the top and user rotates the ball with fingers.

Gaming Mouse- specially designed for gaming, highly sensitive (DPI control).

Vertical mouse- Ergonomic design with reduced wrist strain.

It converts paper documents, photos or images into digital form so they can be stored and edited on a computer. It converts physical documents into digital form.

Type of Scanner: –

Flatbed Scanner- Uses in home and offices.

Handheld Scanner-Moved manually over the document.

Drum Scanner-Used in publishing industries.

Sheet fed scanner- Used for scanning multiple pages quickly.

Barcode Scanner- Used in supermarket and malls.

A device that captures sounds or voices and converts it into digital signals so a computer can process, record or transmit it.

Used in online classes, video calls, voice recording.

Types: –

Dynamic Microphone – used in live shows and events.

Condenser Microphone– used in studios and recordings.

USB microphone – used for online classes and podcasts.

Wireless microphone- uses Bluetooth or radio signals.

Lavalier (Collar Mic) – used in interviews and news reporting.

An input device that captures live images and videos and sends them to a computer. It is mainly used for video calls, conferencing, online classes, live streaming, security monitoring and recordings.

Types –

Built-in-webcam – Already in laptops

External webcam – Connected through USB by using desktop computers

HD webcam- High-definition video quality.

Network webcam– Connected through internet (IP camera)       

An input as well as output device.

Output displays text, images and videos like a monitor.

Input allows users to give commands by touching the screen with a finger or stylus. 

Used in smartphone, ATMs, Railway ticket machines, shopping malls, hospitals and banks.

Types: –

Resistive Touch Screen- Can be used with finger or stylus.

Capacitive Touch Screen – Can be used in smartphones.

Infrared Touch Screen – Uses infrared light beams.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)– Uses ultrasonic waves.

Used to control movement in video games.

Also used in Flight Stimulators.

Direct input device.

Used to draw directly on the screen.

Mostly used in graphic design (Old technology).

Automatic input device

Scans barcode

Used in supermarkets and malls

Automatic input device.

Reads marked answers on OMR sheets.

Used for competitive exams evaluations.

Automatic input device.

It is used to analyse printed handwritten text.

It converts printed text into editable text.

It is used for digitizing books and documents.

It is used to check payments in banks.

MICR contains 9 digits: –

 City name 3 digits

 Bank name 3 digits

 Branch name 3 digits

It is developed by Denso Wave in 1994. It is created for tracking for vehicle parts.

Quick Response is a subsidiary of Toyota.

Type of 2D barcode that stores information such as text, website link, phone numbers or payment details. It can be scanned by smart phone camera or QR

This is a code in which black and white squares

Types: –

Static QR code – Fixed information available, cannot be edited.

Dynamic QR code – Editable information and trackable.

It can be used for online payments (UPI), product information, event tickets, attendance system, website links.

Automatic input device.

Capture fingerprints, iris or face data.

Used for security and attendance systems.

Used by designers to draw digitally.

Works with a stylus pen.

Softcopy output (displayed on screen)

Most common output device

Displays text, images, videos

Types of CPU/VDU

CRT- Cathode Ray Tube

LCD – Liquid Crystal Display

LED – Light Emitting Diode

OLED- Advanced display

Screen size measures in inches

Hard copy output (printed on paper)

Produces output on paper (Hard copy)

Types of Printers: –

Impact Printer

Dot Matrix printer

Daisy wheel printer

Line printer

Non-impact Printer

Inkjet printer

Laser printer

Thermal printer

Sound based audio output device.

Produces sound output.

Used for music, videos, alerts.

Sound based audio output device.

Similar to speakers.

Provide personal sound output.

Softcopy output (displayed on screen).

Displays computer output on large screen or wall.

Used in classroom and offices.

Hard copy output (printed on paper).

Used to print large drawings.

Mostly used by engineers and architects.

Types of Plotter: –

Drum Plotter

Flatbed Plotter

Creates physical 3D objects.

Used in medical, engineering and manufacturing fields.

Input- Detects touch (finger/stylus).

Output- Displays images and text.

Used in smartphones, ATMs, Kiosks.

Input – Stores data sent by the computer.

Output – Retrieves stored data when needed.

Used for permanent storage.

Input – Saves Data

Output – Transfer or reads data

Input – Receives Internet data

Output – Sends data to the internet

Used for communication

Input – Scans documents

Output – Prints documents

Input – Microphone records voice

Output – Headphone gives sound

Input – Receives data from network

Output – Sends data to network

Input – sends user commands

Output – Provides vibration feedback