Hi, young learners! Welcome back to Primary 3 Basic Science & Technology. In our previous lesson, we learned about History of Computer – Napier, Pascaline & Charles Babbage. Today, we’re going to learn about Input Devices.
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- Define input devices.
- Identify and list six input devices.
- Identify ten parts of the computer.
Input Devices
What are Input Devices?
Input devices are tools that allow us to give information to a computer. They help the computer understand what we want to do. Think of them as the computer’s ears and eyes, allowing it to receive information from us.
Some of the most common input devices include:
- Keyboard: Used for typing text, numbers, and symbols.
- Mouse: Used for navigating the computer screen, clicking on icons, and selecting items.
- Microphone: Used for recording sound and speaking to the computer.
- Touchpad: Found on laptops, used for navigating the screen with your fingers.
- Scanner: Used to convert physical documents into digital images.
- Camera: Used to capture images and videos.
- Joystick: Used for controlling games and other applications.
- Light Pen: Used for drawing and selecting items on a touch-sensitive screen.
- Touchscreen: Allows you to interact with the computer by touching the screen directly.
Parts of the Computer
Computers have many parts, and some of them are input devices. Here are some of the major parts:
- Monitor: The screen that displays information.
- Keyboard: Used for typing text, numbers, and symbols.
- Mouse: Used for navigating the computer screen, clicking on icons, and selecting items.
- System Unit (SU): The main part of the computer that houses the motherboard, CPU, and other components.
- Hard Drive: Stores the computer’s data and programs.
- Speakers: Produce sound.
- Microphone: Used for recording sound and speaking to the computer.
- Webcam: Used for capturing images and videos.
- Memory (RAM): Temporary storage for data that the computer is currently using.
- Power Supply Unit (PSU): Provides power to the computer.
Evaluation Questions
Now that you’ve learned about input devices, let’s see if you can answer these questions:
- What are input devices?
- Can you name three input devices?
- How many computer parts can you identify?
- List five computer parts.
- What is the difference between an input device and an output device?
Conclusion
Remember, input devices are essential for interacting with computers. They allow us to give instructions and information to the computer. Keep exploring computers and notice the different input devices you encounter in your daily life. See you in the next lesson!
