Chapter 2: Input And Output Devices

Learning Objective
•Understand different types of
Pointing devices
• Mouse
• Touchpad
• Trackerball
• There are two buttons which have different
function.
❖ Left button – Used to select items by double
clicking
❖ Right button – Brings up drop down menus.

• Also have scroll button, which speeds up the

process of moving through a document.
The advantage of an optical mouse is it has
no moving parts and it also does not pick up
any dirt.
Uses of a mouse
» opening, closing and minimising software
» grouping, moving and deleting files
» image editing
» controlling the position of a pointer on the screen

Advantages of a mouse
» Faster method for choosing an option rather than using
a keyboard.
» Very quick way of navigating through applications and
the internet.
» Does not need a large desk area when compared to a
keyboard.
Disadvantages of a mouse
» Can be more difficult for people with restricted
hand/wrist movement than using a keyboard for data
entry.
» Easy to damage, and the older type of mouse quickly
becomes clogged up with dirt.
» Difficult to use if no flat surface readily available (for
example, on an aeroplane).
Use of a touchpad
Their uses are the same as those of a mouse.

Advantages of a touchpad
» Same as the mouse
» No need for a separate mouse

Disadvantages of a touchpad
» People with limited hand/wrist movement find the
device difficult to use.
» Can be more difficult to control the pointer when
compared to a normal mouse.
» More difficult to use when doing certain operations
such as drag and drop.
 • Similar to a mouse, except that a
ball is on the top or the side of
the device
• the user controls the pointer on
Trackerball
the screen by rotating the ball
with their hand.
• It is easier to use for people with
limited hand/wrist movement.
• Some trackerballs have two buttons, which have the
same function as the left and right-hand mouse
buttons.
• If they have a third button, it is equivalent to a double
click.
• No need for a large amount of desk space.
Uses of a trackerball
» Can be a good alternative to a mouse for people with
conditions such as RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury).
» Used in an industrial environment where
it is faster than a mouse to navigate through process
screens.
» Used in some luxury cars to select functions such as
radio, telephone, music, satnav and so on

Satnav – Satellite Navigation

Advantages of a trackerball
» Does not need the same fine control as a mouse.
» Easier to use than a mouse if the operator has RSI.
» More accurate positioning of the pointer on screen
than a mouse.
» They are more robust/strong than a mouse.
» Needs less desk space than a mouse or keyboard.

Disadvantages of a trackerball
» Not supplied with the computer as standard, therefore
more costly.
» User may need training because it is not standard
equipment.
 Quiz
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5001d8813e0/pointing-devices