IGCSE Theory Section 2-Input and Output Devices

Section 2: Input and output devices-

Candidates should be able to:
(a)  identify the following input devices:
   keyboards, numeric keypads, pointing devices (including mouse, touch pad and tracker ball), remote
controls, joysticks, touch screens, magnetic stripe readers, chip readers, PIN pads, scanners, digital
cameras, microphones, sensors, graphics tablet, MICR, OMR, OCR, barcode readers, video cameras,
web cams, light pens
(b) identify suitable uses of the input devices stating the advantages and disadvantages of each:

• Numeric keypad Applications where only numeric data is to be entered.  Inserting personal identification number (PIN) for Chip and PIN credit/debit cards, or when using an ATM machine to withdraw money or check a bank balance
• Pointing devices Z all All applications which require selection from a graphical user interface.  For example: the selection of data from a set list or menu
• Trackerball For use by people with limited motor skills e.g. young children or people with disabilities
• Magnetic stripe readers At POS terminals, ATMs and in security applications
• Chip readers and PIN pads Payment cards, ID cards, door control systems, public transport tickets
• Optical Mark Reader Inputting pencil marks on a form such as a school register, candidate exam answers, any application involving input of a choice of options 
• Optical Character Reader Inputting text to a computer ready for processing by another software package such as word processors, spreadsheets, databases etc.
• Light pen Where desktop space is limited, it is used instead of a mouse or for drawing applications where a graphics tablet might be too big, for more information : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pen
• CRT monitor Applications where space is not a problem.  Applications where more than one user may need to view screen simultaneously such as in design use, e.g. when several designers may need to offer suggestions on a prototype
• TFT monitor Applications where space is limited such as small offices.  Applications where only one person needs to view the screen such as individual workstations
• Laser printer Applications which require low noise and low chemical emissions, e.g. most networked systems.  Applications which require rapid, high quality and high volumes of output, e.g. most offices and schools
• Inkjet printer Applications which require portability and low volume output, where changing cartridges is not an issue e.g. small offices and stand alone systems.  Applications which require very high quality output and where speed is not an issue, e.g. digital camera applications
• Dot matrix printer Applications where noise is not an issue and copies have to be made, e.g. industrial environments (multipart forms, continuous stationery, labels etc.), car sales and repair companies, manufacturing sites
• Graph plotter CAD applications, particularly where large printouts are required such as A0