Pointing and Text Inputs

Pointing Input

A mouse is an input device used to point to objects on the computer. The mouse has a ball inside it that rolls around a flat surface. The flat surface represents the area in the display pane. If you move your mouse to the upper left hand corner of the flat surface, the pointer on the display screen will move to the upper left hand corner too. The mouse mimics the movements you make with your hand. A mouse usually has two click buttons. You use the buttons to select objects on display.

A trackball is an input device used to point to objects on the computer too. The different thing about the trackball is that it is like an upside down mouse. Instead of the ball being placed underneath the pointing device, it is put above the pointing device. Instead of moving the pointing device, you only move the ball, hence the name trackball. If you move the ball to towards the upper right direction then the pointer will move to the upper right hand corner of the screen.

A sensor pad is an input device that is common on portable personal computers or laptops. The sensor pad mimics the movements that are made on it, hence the name sensor. It senses the movements of the fingers and mimics it on the screen. If you move your fingers from left to right on the sensor pad then the pointer on the screen will move from left to right.

Text Input

A keyboard is the standard for inputting alphanumeric characters on a computer. The twenty six letters of the alphabet and the ten numbers are mandatory on any keyboard. Even mobile phones have a way of displaying all these alphanumeric characters. The other symbols are obtained using shift keys. There are also function keys on a keyboard that act as hot keys for certain actions. The caps lock, space bar, back space, enter, control, alternate, delete, page up, page down, home, end, insert, print screen, escape, and the cursor keys are also common on most keyboards.

www.a4tech.com, A4 Tech is a leading manufacturer for pointing and text input devices. Shown above is their wireless keyboard and mouse package. Enjoy typing and pointing on the screen without the hassles of wires .