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A computer accepts data that are provided by means of
an input device. Peripherals used to transfer data from
the outside world into a computer system are called Input
devices.
Input
devices let users enter commands or data into the computer.
Most familiar is the keyboard. Information typed at the
keyboard is manipulated by the computer program to perform
a specific action or to enter text into a document. The
mouse is another input device based on either a rolling
mechanical ball or some optical device in its base and
usually two buttons on top.
Other input devices include joysticks and trackballs.
For clinical applications, input devices can also include
various sensors that enable monitoring of pressure, temperature,
or gas concentration. Speech input to the computer will
become commonplace once the voice recognition algorithms
make fewer errors and do not require training by the speaker.
You
will learn in detail about the different input devices
and their functions in the next page. Be sure to look
at the graphics provided for the examples.
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