Keyboards & Mice (input devices)

Keyboards

• The Qwerty keyboard layout was designed in the era of mechanical typewriters. Although it is the most common keyboard layout, it was not designed for ease of use.
• The Dvorak keyboard layout is arranged so that the most commonly used letters are easiest to reach.
• The ABC keyboard displays the keys alphabetically.
• One-handed keyboards allow all letters to be accessed with one hand.
• Reduced size keyboards are designed for computer users with smaller hands and those requiring smaller finger movements.
• An on-screen or virtual keyboard displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen.

Pointing Devices

• The computer mouse is the standard pointing device.
• The joystick enables the mouse arrow on the computer screen to be moved by means of a stationary handheld stick.
• A trackball facilitates mouse arrow movement by means of the rotation of a stationary ball.
• A touch screen is a transparent screen placed over the computer monitor.  Items can be selected and the mouse arrow moved by the touch of a finger on the screen.
• A touch pad or track pad produces movement of the mouse arrow as a finger is run across a small flat pad.
• Head-controlled and eye-controlled devices use sensors to track a user's head or eye movements. The onscreen cursor moves accordingly.
• Voice recognition software converts one’s speech to text.
• Switches are devices that enable the user to direct computer operations by means of a single action—such as a tap of a finger (or a toe).
• Sip-puff switches are activated by sipping and puffing on a device called a straw or a wand.
• Wireless switches can be accessed remotely.
• A Switch interface device connects a switch to a computer and enables it to function.

Accessibility Tools are modifiable features provided within a computer's operating system.  For example, the mouse keys feature enables one to control the mouse arrow by using several keys on the keyboard.