The commonest input device that comes with all computers is the keyboard.
A mouse is used to move a pointer or cursor around the screen and to make selections.
Where space is restricted, such as on a laptop, a touch pad is used instead of a mouse.
A joystick is used primarily with games software.
With a voice recognition system a microphone is used as the input device.
The input device used to scan in text and images is called a scanner.
Cameras that can transfer an image directly to a computer are called digital cameras.
A pen-like device used to draw or write on a tablet is called a digitiser
Quantities such as temperature and pressure can be detected and measured using sensors.
Printers and plotters are examples of output devices.
The type of printer that produces the highest print quality print and uses a toner cartridge is called a laser printer.
A cheaper printer, which squirts a jet of ink at the paper is called ink-jet printer.
There are two types of memory: one retains data when the power is removed and is called ROM; the other loses data when the power is turned off and is called RAM.
ROM is classed as non-volatile whilst RAM is classed as volatile.
Dvd can store more data than a CD-ROM and is used to store films as well as data.
