input devices
How computers listen
Input devices are hardware components that send data or commands to a computer or other electronic system.
Keyboards, mice, touchscreens, microphones, and game controllers are all input devices—they translate human actions into signals the machine can process.
The term contrasts with output devices like monitors and speakers, which convey information from the machine to the user.
Small gnawing mammal
- trackpadLaptop pointing device
- touchpadTouch-sensitive cursor controller
- trackballRotatable sphere for navigation
- cursorOn-screen position indicator
pointer · scroll wheel · optical mouse · wireless mouse · left-click · right-click · double-click · drag-and-drop
Input-sensitive display panel
- stylusPointed implement for marking
- digital penScreen-based writing instrument
- graphics tabletStylus input device for artists
- pen tabletStylus-driven drawing peripheral
multi-touch · pinch · swipe · flick · tap · gesture recognition · capacitive · resistive
Handheld console interface
- controllerDevice directing a system
- joystickTilting lever for control
- arcade stickJoystick controller for fighters
- racing wheelSteering controller for games
pedals · flight stick · VR controller · motion controller · gaming mouse · gaming keyboard · dance pad · haptic feedback
Audio input device
- voice recognitionTechnology identifying spoken language
- speech-to-textAudio-to-written conversion technology
- dictationOral text for writing
- voice commandSpoken order to technology
voice control · Siri · Alexa · Google Assistant · Cortana · hands-free · voice activation · smart speaker
Array of input keys
- keysLock-operating instruments
- qwertyStandard keyboard arrangement
- touch typingTyping without watching keys
- home rowKeyboard's central letter strip
mechanical keyboard · ergonomic keyboard · backspace · enter · shift · caps lock · spacebar · keycaps
Device detecting nearby activity
- accelerometerDevice measuring motion forces
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- VR headsetWearable display for simulations
- gesture controlInterface via body movement
Kinect · eye tracking · head tracking · hand tracking · motion capture
Computer-mounted video capture device
- digital cameraElectronic imaging device
- infrared cameraDevice photographing heat emissions
- face recognitionIdentifying individuals by countenance
- image captureRecording visual data
autofocus · resolution · streaming · conferencing · computer vision · 3D camera
Device that reads data
- barcode readerOptical stripe decoder
- QR scannerDecodes matrix barcodes
- fingerprint scannerDevice reading digit patterns
- smart card readerDevice reading embedded microchips
document scanner · OCR · flatbed scanner · iris scanner · biometric scanner · badge reader · palm scanner · retinal scanner
mouse
Small gnawing mammal
- trackpadLaptop pointing device
- touchpadTouch-sensitive cursor controller
- trackballRotatable sphere for navigation
cursor · pointer · scroll wheel · optical mouse · wireless mouse · left-click · right-click · double-click · drag-and-drop · DPI
touchscreen
Input-sensitive display panel
- stylusPointed implement for marking
- digital penScreen-based writing instrument
- graphics tabletStylus input device for artists
pen tablet · multi-touch · pinch · swipe · flick · tap · gesture recognition · capacitive · resistive · pressure sensitivity
gamepad
Handheld console interface
- controllerDevice directing a system
- joystickTilting lever for control
- arcade stickJoystick controller for fighters
racing wheel · pedals · flight stick · VR controller · motion controller · gaming mouse · gaming keyboard · dance pad · haptic feedback · rumble
microphone
Audio input device
- voice recognitionTechnology identifying spoken language
- speech-to-textAudio-to-written conversion technology
- dictationOral text for writing
voice command · voice control · Siri · Alexa · Google Assistant · Cortana · hands-free · voice activation · smart speaker · wake word
keyboard
Array of input keys
- keysLock-operating instruments
- qwertyStandard keyboard arrangement
- touch typingTyping without watching keys
home row · mechanical keyboard · ergonomic keyboard · backspace · enter · shift · caps lock · spacebar · keycaps · wireless keyboard
motion sensor
Device detecting nearby activity
- accelerometerDevice measuring motion forces
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- VR headsetWearable display for simulations
gesture control · Kinect · eye tracking · head tracking · hand tracking · motion capture
webcam
Computer-mounted video capture device
- digital cameraElectronic imaging device
- infrared cameraDevice photographing heat emissions
- face recognitionIdentifying individuals by countenance
image capture · autofocus · resolution · streaming · conferencing · computer vision · 3D camera
scanner
Device that reads data
- barcode readerOptical stripe decoder
- QR scannerDecodes matrix barcodes
- fingerprint scannerDevice reading digit patterns
smart card reader · document scanner · OCR · flatbed scanner · iris scanner · biometric scanner · badge reader · palm scanner · retinal scanner · chip reader
- tech equipmentcomputers, laptops, desktops, monitors, keyboards
- ergonomicsergonomic chair, ergonomic keyboard, ergonomics, lumbar support, wrist rest
- computerscomputer, computers, desktop, desktops, laptop
- connectorscable, cables, connector, connectors, wires
- subsystemscooling system, braking system, brake system, fuel system, exhaust system
- Tech SpecsRAM, bandwidth, CPU, storage, GPU