Light Pen Sometimes, the pen is Light pens enable Because of the

mightier than the mouse -- you to interact with interaction with the
the light pen, that is. Using the screen with screen, light pens
a specialized pen and pinpoint accuracy. require somewhat
screen, light pen awkward positioning to
interfaces remove the be used efficiently. In
traditional mouse from the most cases, even with
equation and enable you the monitor tilted, you'll
to interact directly with the have to lean over slightly
computer desktop from to maximize your
your monitor precision.
OMR: Use: Optical mark recognition Advantage: It is a very fast way of
(OMR) is a system which can read inputting the results of a survey, etc.
marks written in pen or pencil. – the documents are fed in
automatically and there is no user
input.
OCR: Use: One of the most recent uses is Advantage: It is a much faster
in the processing of passports and data entry system than manually
identity cards keying in data.

MICR: Use: t is primarily used to process Advantage: MICR offers greater

cheques in banking operations. security than OCR since the printed
When a cheque is presented its value characters cannot be altered.
is then printed on the cheque in the
special ink
Keyboard: Disadvantage of Using a Keyboard to input data over the direct data
input devices?
Users with limited arm/wrist use can find keyboards hard to use. ● Entering
data using a keyboard is slow when compared to direct data entry (e.g.
optical mark recognition).

Magnetic Strip AdvantagesData entry is faster DisadvantagesIf the magnetic

Readers compared with keying in using a stripe gets damaged (e.g. due to
keyboard or keypad. exposure to a strong magnetic field
or excessive use) the data is lost

Use: Credit and debit cards have magnetic stripes that are used by ATMs or EFTPOS (electronic funds
transfer point of sale) terminals

Chip and Pin Readers AdvantagesChip and PIN readers DisadvantagesSince the
provide a more secure payment customer types in the PIN, they need
system than requiring a signature or to be careful that it isn’t read by
using a magnetic stripe, since the PIN somebody else, thus giving an
typed in must match up with PIN opportunity for fraud
stored on chip
Use: Chip and PIN readers are used where payments are made using cards (restaurants, supermarkets,
travel agents, etc.).
Contactless Cards Advantages DisadvantagesAcceptance. Co
Better security: It's far more ntactless cards are accepted at
secure than mag stripe far fewer locations than mag-
data. Messages are single use, stripe.
so reading them is useless.
Use: Contactless payment systems are credit cards and debit cards, key fobs, smart cards, or
other devices, including smartphones and other mobile devices

RFID (Radio AdvantagesRFID systems can DisadvantagesAlthough RFID

Frequency scan multiple items technology has been around
Identification) simultaneously. For example, you since the 1970s, its initial high
could scan incoming goods in costs restricted usage to larger
your warehouse in the box, businesses, many of whom
allowing you to check all contents developed proprietary systems.
at once without having to run Although costs are falling
individual barcode scans on each
item.
Use: Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to
automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. The tags contain
electronically stored information
Type of Printer: Use Advantages Disadvantages
Dot Matrix: They can be used in noisy Dot matrix printers can They are very noisy
environments (e.g. be used in and so not good in an
garage workshops) and in environments which office environment
applications where print would be a problem for
quality is not very laser or inkjet printers
important. (e.g. dusty, dirty or
moist atmospheres).
Inkjet Printer: Inkjet printers are used The output is of high The output is slow if
where low output quality. several copies
volumes are required needed, as there is
little buffer capacity
to store the pages.

Laser Printer: Laser printers are used
where noise levels need
to be kept low (e.g. in an
office).
Printing is fast for high Laser printers are
volumes. If only a few expensive to buy.
pages are to be printed
they are little faster
than inkjet printers

3D Printer Inkjet printers are used to
produce prototypes
which actually work from
CAD packages,
photograph images,
stored drawings, etc.
3D inkjet printers save 3D inkjet printers are
a lot of money, since expensive to buy.
making prototypes by
other methods is very
time consuming and
expensive.
Wide Format Plotters are used to They can produce huge They are slow in
Printer/Plotter produce large drawings printouts operation
(e.g. blueprints of
buildings, factories, etc.)
and are often used with
CAD applications