The following image shows, at high level, haw the Ink Collection API (Pen API) ,Ink Data Management API (Ink API) , and Ink Recognition API (Recognition API) work together in the Tablet PC platform.

Some users opt for alternative pointing devices other than a mouse, such as trackball. Where a mechanical mouse has ball mechanism on the bottom, a trackball is a station- aryl pointing device with a ball mechanism on its top .The ball mechanism in a larger trackball is about the size of a Ping-Pong ball; some mouse devices also have a small trackball about the size of a marble.

To move the pointer using a trackball, you rotate the ball mechanism with your thumb, fingers, or the palm of your hand. Around the ball mechanism, usually a trackball also has one more buttons that work just like mouse buttons.

Although it shares characteristic with a mouse, a trackball is not as accurate as a mouse .A trackballs ball mechanism also requires frequent cleaning because it picks up oils from your fingers and dust from the environment. If you have limited desk space, however, a trackball is a good alternative to a mouse because you do not have to move the entire device pointer, has advantage that cursor stays in position when device put down.

CAMERA

Digital camera allows you to take pictures and store the photographed images digitally instead of on traditional film. With some digital cameras, you down load, or transfer a copy of, the stored pictures to your computer by connecting a cable between the digital camera and your computer and using special software included with the camera. With other digital cameras, the pictures are stored directly on a floppy disk or on PC card.

You then copy the pictures to your computer by inserting the floppy disk into a disk drive or the PC Card into a PC Card slot. Once the pictures are on your computer, they can be edited with photo-editing software, printed, faxed, sent via electronic mail, included in another document, or posted to a Web site for everyone to see.

The three basic types of digital cameras are studio cameras, field cameras, and point-and shoot- cameras. The most expensive and highest quality of the three, studio camera

ii) Often used by photojournalist, a field camera is a portable camera that has many lenses and other attachment; like the studio camera, a field camera can be quite expensive

iii) A point-and-shoot camera is more affordable and lightweight and provides acceptable quality photographic images for the home or small business user..

iv) You can use a point-and-shoot camera to add pictures to personalized greeting cards, a computerized photo album, a family newsletter, certificates, awards, or your own web site.

v) The point-and-shoot camera also is ideal for mobile users such as real estate agents, insurance agents, and general contractors.

Ranging from 640x 480 to 1024x 960. Other features of digital cameras are As with a scanner, the quality of a digital camera is measured by the number of bits it stores in a dot and the number of dots per inch, or resolution. The higher each number, the better quality, but the more expensive the camera. Most of today’s point-and-shoot digital camera are at least 24-bit with a resolution discussed in chapter 13.

The mouse is the most widely used pointing device because it takes full advantage of a graphical user interface. Designer to fit comfortably under the palm of your hand, a mouse is an input device that is used to control the movement of the pointer on the screen and to make selections from the screen. She top of the mouse has one to four buttons. Some also have a small wheel. The bottom of a mouse is flat and contains a multidirectional mechanism and usually a small ball. The mouse often rests on a mouse pad, which usually is a rectangular rubber or foam pad that provides better traction for the mouse than the top of a desk. The mouse pad also protects the ball mechanism from a build up of dust and dirt, which could cause it to malfunction.

As you move the mouse across a flat surface such as a desktop, the pointer on the screen also moves. For example, when you move the mouse to the right, the pointer moves right on the screen. When you move the mouse to the left, the pointer moves left on the screen, and so on. If you have never worked with a mouse, you might find it a little awkward at first, with a little practice, however, you will discover that a mouse is quite easy to use.

Generally, you use the mouse to move the pointer on the screen to an object such as a button, a menu, an icon, a link, or text and then press one of the mouse buttons to perform a certain action on that object. In windows98, for example, if you point to the start button on the taskbar and then press, or click, the primary mouse button, the start menu displays on the screen.

For a right-handed user, the primary mouse button typically is the left button, and the secondary mouse button typically is the right mouse button. The function of these buttons, however, can be reversed to accommodate left-handed people.

You can perform other operations using the mouse in addition to clicking. These operations include point, right-click, double-click, drag, and right-drag. Some mouse devices also have a wheel located between two buttons that can be used with certain programs. You often rotate or press the wheel to move text and objects on the screen. The function of the mouse buttons and the wheel varies depending on the program. Some programs also use keys in combination with the mouse to perform certain actions.

A mouse that has a rubber or metal ball on its underside is called a mechanical mouse. When the ball rolls in a certain direction, electronic circuits in the mouse translate the movement of the mouse into signals that are sent to the computer. Another type of mouse, called an optical mouse, has no moving mechanical parts inside; instead it uses devices that emit light to detect the mouse’s movement.

SCANNERS

Scanners have become an important part of the home office over the last few years. Scanner technology is everywhere and used in many ways:

Ø Flatbed scanners, also called desktop scanners, are the most versatile and commonly used scanners. In fact, this article will focus on the technology as it relates to flatbed scanners.

Ø Sheet-fed scanners are similar to flatbed scanners except the document is moved and the scan head is immobile. A sheet-fed scanner looks a lot like a small portable printer.

Ø Handheld scanners use the same basic technology as a flatbed scanner, but rely on the user to move them instead of a motorized belt. This type of scanner typically does not provide good image quality. However, it can be useful for quickly capturing text.

Ø Drum scanners are used by the publishing industry to capture incredibly detailed images. They use a technology called a photo multiplier tube (PMT). In PMT, the document to be scanned is mounted on a glass cylinder. At the center of the cylinder is a sensor that splits light bounced from the document into three beams. Each beam is sent through a color filter into a photo multiplier tube where the light is changed into an electrical signal.

Microtel's Scan maker flatbed scanner

KEYBOARD TYPES

A standard computer keyboard sometimes is called a QWERTY keyboard because of the layout of its typing area. Pronounced KWER-tee, this keyboard layout is named after the first six leftmost letters on the top alphabetic line of the keyboard. Because of the way the keys are organized, a QWERTY keyboard might limit your typing speed. A keyboard with an alternative layout was designed to improve typing speed. Called the Dvorak keyboard (pronounced de-vor-zhak),

i) This type of keyboard places the most frequently typed letters in the middle of the typing area.

ii) Despite the more logical design of the Dvorak keyboard, the QWERTY keyboard is more widely used.

Most of today’s desktop computer keyboards are an enhanced keyboard, which means they have twelve function keys along the top, two CTRL keys, two ALT keys, and a set of arrow and additional keys between the typing area and the numeric keypad.

Although most keyboard attach to a serial port on the system unit via a cable, some keyboard-called wireless keyboard- transmit data via infrared light waves. For a wireless keyboard to transmit signals to a computer, both the computer and the wireless keyboard must have and IrDA port. These IrDA ports must be aligned so that nothing obstructs the path of the infrared light wave. On laptops and many handheld computers, the keyboard is built into the top of the system unit. To fit in this smaller computer, the keyboards usually are smaller and have fewer keys. A typical laptop computer keyboard, for example, has only 85 keys, compared to the 105 keys on most desktop computer keyboard. To provide all of the functionality of a desktop computer keyboard, manufacturer design many of the keys to serve two or three different purpose.

Regardless of size, most keyboards have a rectangular shape with the keys aligned in rows. Users who spend a significant amount of time typing on thee keyboards sometimes experience repetitive strain injuries of their writs. For these reason, some manufacturers have redesigned their keyboards to minimize the chance of these types of workplaces injuries. Keyboard such as these are called ergonomic is to incorporate comfort, efficiency, and safety into the design of items in the workplace.

MICROPHONE

The company is in its fourth quarter of shipping USB devices. As computer companies continue to stand-arise on legacy- free systems, Telex will continue to lead the way with innovate USB microphones are perfect for legacy--free systems like Apple’s iBook or Compaq iPac.

Ø This desktop microphone provides high – quality audio input without a headset.

Ø Now you can use voice application without being tethered to your computer by a

Ø That consistent audio performance is critical for accurate result with voice application.

Ø Why Telex has used its more than 60 years of experience in the audio industry to the

Ø Interference to cancel background noise and focus audio reception on the user’s voice.

Ø The Telex M-560 provides speech recognition up to two feet away in most office

JOYSTICK

Users running game software such as a driving of flight simulator may prefer to use a joystick as their pointing device. A joystick is a vertical lever mounted on a base (Figure 4-18). You move the lever in different direction to control the actions of a vehicle or player. The lever usually includes buttons called triggers that you can press to activate certain events. Some joysticks also have additional buttons that you can set to perform other actions.

INPUT DEVICES

PEN INPUT

LIGHT PEN

CAMERA

KEYBOARD TYPES

MICROPHONE

JOYSTICK

Advanced Gravy’s PC Game Peripherals Page

Avb Joystick Products

CH Joystick Products

Faqs On Joysticks

Joystick Product From HOT CD

Mac Game Product Page

Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro Joysticks Review

	Ink collection (objects that are used to collect ink from the digitizer).
	Ink data management (objects that are used to manage the collected ink)
	Ink recognition (objects that are used to convert the collected ink into other types of data, such as text).