Keyboard and Screen Input Devices

Introduction to Computer Keyboards

One of the primary input devices used with a computer that looks similar to those found on electric typewriters is a computer keyboard, but with some additional keys. A keyboard allows you to input letters, numbers, and other symbols into a computer, which can serve as commands or be used to type text. The importance of keyboards in facilitating human-computer interaction cannot be overstated, as they are central to nearly every task performed on a computer.

Types of Keyboards

The QWERTY keyboard layout is the most common format used today. An image of a QWERTY computer keyboard with each of the keys selectable is shown below. Various types of keyboards are available to meet different needs and preferences:

• Standard Keyboards
• Laptop-size Keyboards
• Flexible Keyboards
• Handheld Keyboards
• Thumb-sized Keyboards
• Multifunctional Keyboards

Why is the Keyboard Used as an Input Device?

A computer keyboard is considered to be an input device because it only sends data to a computer. It does not receive any information back as well. This characteristic underscores the keyboard's role as a crucial component in the data entry process, allowing users to communicate instructions and information to the computer efficiently.

Keyboard Ports and Interfaces

Today, either USB or Bluetooth for wireless communication is used to connect keyboards to most desktop computers. In the past, a computer may have used PS/2, Serial, or AT (Din5) as a keyboard interface before USB became the standard. The evolution of keyboard interfaces reflects advancements in technology and the need for faster, more reliable connections (Smith, 2020).

Screen Input Devices

On-Screen Keyboards

An onscreen keyboard is a software-based keyboard that is available in most operating systems, especially Microsoft Windows, and in other applications. An onscreen keyboard allows users to type text using a joystick or a pointing device. Apart from improving input options for users who are physically challenged, it also serves as an alternative to a physical keyboard. Onscreen keyboards are also known as “software” keyboards or “soft” keyboards (Johnson, 2018).

To enter input, an onscreen keyboard displays a virtual keyboard on the screen for users. Any pointing device such as a mouse, pen, joystick, etc., can be used to operate it. Resizable and customizable are two features of this keyboard; further, it allows changing the typing mode, font, etc., as needed. Especially those from Windows 7 and later versions in certain onscreen keyboards, they are equipped with a predictive text engine, which helps in predicting the words the users may type. However, most onscreen keyboards feature predictive text input as typing on an onscreen keyboard is slower and more difficult than on a physical keyboard.

An on-screen keyboard is an application that provides a visual keyboard on your display screen that can be used in place of a physical keyboard. The On-Screen Keyboard can be manipulated by the mouse or other pointing device and can be configured in three layouts:

• 101 keys display (standard keyboard)
• 102 keys display (an extra backslash)
• 106 keys display (extra characters useful for typing Japanese).

Touch Screen Keyboards

Touch Screen Keyboard is not a standalone program. It has two new keyboard types: alphabetic and alphanumeric. These changes were made to further emphasize the comfort of using a keyboard on touch screen devices. The alphabetic layout supports all the languages installed in your system (when you change the input language, the layout on the on-screen keyboard changes as well).

The alphanumeric layout enables you to type numbers and 35 other characters: arithmetic signs, brackets, currency symbols, etc. Touch Screen Keyboard has several default features that accelerate and facilitate typing on a touch screen. For instance, the program will automatically add a space and press Shift after a period. If you press a key on a touch screen, you will see a small tooltip window with the corresponding character in the area not covered with your finger. You can also use for your touch-screen any of the 70 keyboard layouts included in the installation package.

Conclusion

In conclusion, keyboards, whether physical or virtual, play an essential role in computer operations. They bridge the gap between human intentions and machine execution, making them indispensable tools in the digital age. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the design and functionality of keyboards, ensuring they meet the needs of an ever-changing technological landscape.

References:

• Johnson, A. (2018). The Evolution of On-Screen Keyboards. Tech Today, 15(3), 45-50.
• Smith, J. (2020). Understanding Keyboard Interfaces. Computer Science Journal, 22(1), 67-72.