This device is commonly found on notebook computers and by moving your finger across the pad the movement of the cursor or clicking which is positioned next to the touchpad. It has the same uses, advantages

Tracker Ball

This device is like an upside down mouse because the ball normally located on the underside of the mouse device is located on top of the tracker ball. The user rolls the ball with the finger to control the cursor movement. Sometimes we see small tracker balls on notebooks. They take up less space than a hand held mouse device but have same uses, advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

Some people find it much easier to select items and start tasks by clicking icons choosing from menus rather than typing commands.

It is more often a faster method of getting to the tasks you want to start.

It is quicker to use a mouse to help you move around a document than to use the arrows on the keyboard.

Disadvantages

People new to computers often find it difficult to control the movement of the pointer on the computer screen by moving the mouse around the desk. They also have difficulty when double clicking the mouse button.

Mouse balls can become very dirty and stop functioning correctly unless cleaned regularly.

Touchpad

This device is commonly found on notebook computers and by moving your finger across the pad the movement of the cursor or clicking which is positioned next to the touchpad. It has the same uses, advantages and disadvantages as the normal mouse and tracker ball, but does not have the disadvantage of getting dirty. Sometimes it is difficult for new users to get used to a touchpad when they have used a hand held mouse.

Advantages

Some people find ...

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Mouse balls can become very dirty and stop functioning correctly unless cleaned regularly.

Touchpad

Advantages

Some people find it much easier to select items and start tasks by clicking icons choosing from menus rather than typing commands.

It is more often a faster method of getting to the tasks you want to start.

It is quicker to use a mouse to help you move around a document than to use the arrows on the keyboard.

Disadvantages

People new to computers often find it difficult to control the movement of the pointer on the computer screen by moving the mouse around the desk. They also have difficulty when double clicking the mouse button.

Joystick

Game Software often takes input from a joystick.

Advantages

There is an immediate feel of direction due to the movement of the stick

Disadvantages

Some people find the joystick difficult to control rather than the other point and click devices. This is probably because more aim and wrist movement is required to control the pointer than with a mouse or trackerball.

Joysticks are not particularly strong and can break easily when used with games software.

Keyboard

Keyboards are found on everyday general purpose computers like desktops and note books the usual layout of the keys on the keyboard is rather like the layout of the keys on a typewriter. The top row of letters start with ‘QWERTY’ this is why they are called QWERTY keyboards. Keyboards come in many shapes and sizes depending on the design of the computer. In recent years a lot of work has been done to design ergonomic keyboards that are more comfortable.

Advantages

Most computers have this device attached to it and skilled typist can enter data very quickly.

Disadvantages

It is very easy to make mistakes when typing data

It can be very time consuming to enter data this way, especially if you have not had much practice at typing.

It is very difficult to enter some data, for example details of diagrams and pictures

Mouse

This is a hand held input device which allows the user to communicate with the computer using a pointer on the screen. A cursor is a flashing vertical line indicating the location of the next typed character when a key on the keyboard is pressed. The mouse has buttons that you click to select a new location or item on the computer screen, some mice have more than one button, sometimes there are two or even three. Usually double clicking the left most button whilst pointing to an item on the screen starts a new process or task such as the word processor. The right most buttons is often used to display a menu of choices you can make about an item on the screen. Underneath the mouse is a moving ball which allows the mouse to be manipulated in such a way that as the ball rolls and the mouse moves, so does the cursor on the screen.

Advantages

Some people find it much easier to select items and start tasks by clicking icons choosing from menus rather than typing commands.

It is more often a faster method of getting to the tasks you want to start.

It is quicker to use a mouse to help you move around a document than to use the arrows on the keyboard.

Disadvantages

People new to computers often find it difficult to control the movement of the pointer on the computer screen by moving the mouse around the desk. They also have difficulty when double clicking the mouse button.