Input Devices

In the olden days, people used keyboards to communicate with their computers, and were satisfied. Nowadays, things are much more interesting-or complicated, depending on your point of view-with far more input devices for computer users to choose from.

Here's a brief rundown of what's out there:

Keyboards

The basic rectangular keyboard is still ubiquitous, but the increasing prevalence of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) has led to the development of new, more ergonomic designs. Datahand Systems (www.datahand. com), Kinesis (www.kinesis.com), and Maltron (www.maltron.com) are a few of the companies that offer some of the more exotic (and pricey) designs. Or, if you're looking for a more traditional keyboard, Logitech (www.logitech.com) and Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) offer some good options. The vast majority of keyboards come in a traditional "QWERTY" layout (as I described in the June 2003 issue of BN), but some manufacturers also offer "DVORAK" versions, which some RSI sufferers find easier to use.

Some people prefer a keyboard that produces a noticeable "click" when they press the keys, while others prefer a spongier feel. Different methods of keyboard manufacture will give a different feel as the keyboard is pressed, so if you're fussy about your keyboard, be sure to test drive it before purchasing.

Making the connection: On a newer PC, you'll usually connect your keyboard to a PS/2 or USB* connection. On a newer Apple computer, you'll usually connect to the USB port. Wireless keyboards have a base station that connects to a USB port.

Mice, trackballs, and touchpads

Since the Apple and Microsoft Windows programs were introduced, pointing devices such as mice, trackballs, and touchpads have become much more important. While most people prefer mice, some prefer trackballs and touchpads because they require less arm movement.

Mice are available in mechanical or optical models. A mechanical mouse translates the movement of a rolling ball inside the device to the screen, while an optical mouse uses an LED (a light-emitting diode, in case you ever wondered) and a camera to track its movement. An optical mouse has a smoother response since it doesn't pick up dust and dirt the way a rolling ball does, but there's a limit to the kinds of surfaces on which you can use them. For instance, clear glass tables and textured surfaces will give you problems.

Here are some mouse manufacturers you might want to check out: Logitech (www. logitech.com), Microsoft (www.microsoft. com), and Kensington (www.kensington.com).

Making the connection: On a newer PC, you'll usually connect your mouse to a PS/2 or USB connection. On a newer Apple computer, you'll usually connect to the USB port. A wireless mouse usually works in concert with a wireless keyboard, sharing a base station that connects to a USB port on your system.

Voice recognition software

Voice recognition software isn't perfect, but depending on what you're using it for, you may find it a useful alternative to typing. Voice recognition software is still timeconsuming in terms of set-up, but it's also easier to use and more accurate than in the past. According to some online reviews, Dragon Naturally Speaking (www.nuance. com) has an accuracy rate of about 95%. Its competitor, ViaVoice by IBM (www.ibm. com), is cheaper, but reviews give it a much lower accuracy rate. Dragon Naturally Speaking and ViaVoice are both Windows-only products. On an Apple computer, you could try iListen by MacSpeech (www. macspeech.com), though many say it's not nearly as accurate as Dragon.

Scanners

A scanner allows you to input hard copy information into your computer. Some scanners also include printer and copier functions.

Before digital cameras became ubiquitous, scanners were what you used to load pictures onto your computer. They still perform this function; in fact, today, in addition to regular 8.5'' x 11'' scanners, you can also buy scanners specifically designed to scan photographs and negatives.

A home scanner will cost you about $100 and up, while a high-quality professional scanner will cost you several thousand. Note, however, that certain print and imaging shops offer high-quality scanning services so you don't actually need to go out and buy your own professional quality scanner.

If you're looking to buy a basic scanner, Epson (www.epson.com), Canon (www. canon.com), and Hewlett Packard (www. hp.com) are a few of the companies whose products you might want to take a look at.

Making the connection: Newer scanners usually connect to your compurer via a USB or Firewire** connection. Some older scanners connected to parallel ports (PC only, and very slow) or SCSI ports (fast, but expensive).

Digital cameras

When digital cameras first emerged in the early 1990s, they produced tiny, grainy images at a very high price. By contrast, today you can buy a decent digital camera for a few hundred dollars or a very high-quality one (sophisticated enough to rival a regular mechanical camera) for far more. You can also take your digital pictures to a photo lab for printing or simply email them to friends and family. Canon (www.canon.com), Sony (www.sony.com), Olympus (www.olympus. com), and Nikon (www.nikon.com) are just a few of the many companies that make digital cameras.

Making the connection: Newer digital cameras will connect to your computer via a USB or Firewire port.

Tablet PCs

A tablet PC is a notebook computer with an LCD display (liquid crystal display) you can "write" on instead of typing on a keyboard. Some tablet PCs come with a permanent keyboard attached that you can fold out of the way, and some come with a detachable keyboard. Manufacturers of tablet PCs include Hewlett Packard (www.hp.com) and Toshiba (www.toshiba.com).

Choosing the right option for you

Once you've decided on a product, you'll probably want to run it past your nearest available tech guru to make sure it will work with your system. And if you're looking for something especially exotic, you might want to seek out user reviews to see what people like and don't like, and why.

*USB ports come in two "flavours": regular USB and USB2.0 (or "fast" USB). USB2.0 is backwards compatible, so any device that requires USB should work on USB2.0; however, any device that requires USB2.0 won't work on USB. Occasionally, you'll see references to a "powered USB" connection. The USB connections on your computer should be "powered," but the connections on a USB hub (a box with a bunch of USB ports) may or may not be.

**Most of the newer Apple computers come with Firewire ports. Most PCs do not, but you can add a Firewire port to a desktop/ tower model using an internal adaptor card.

[Author Affiliation]

By Rita Mikusch, Webmaster