An input device is any hardware device that sends data to a computer, allowing you to interact with and control it. Examples of input devices include keyboards, mouse, scanners, cameras, joysticks, and microphones. Input devices can be categorized based on the modality of input (e.g., mechanical motion, audio, visual, etc.) and whether the input is discrete (e.g., pressing of key) or continuous (e.g., a mouses position) .
Input devices are essential because they allow the user to use the computer and interact with it. Without input devices, there would be no way to change computer settings, fix errors, or perform other various user interactions. Additionally, input devices allow information to be entered into the computer in different formats, such as audio, image, text, etc. .
Some common input devices include the keyboard, mouse, and touch screen. Other input devices include microphones to capture sound waves, scanners to capture image data, and virtual reality devices to capture body movements. Some devices can be considered both input and output devices, such as headsets that combine an output device (the speaker) and an input device (the microphone) .
