Is light pen an optical or electronic input device?
Light pen is a useful input device and is it optical or electronic input device was the query Tika asked in a comment. This post is in response to that query.
There is a question in the MCQ Bank collection from Fundamentals of Computer as:
What is a light pen?
A) Mechanical Input device
B) Optical input device
C) Electronic input device
D) Optical output device
Light pen is not an output device and it is not mechanical. So option D and A are obviously irrelevant. Tika got confused with the option B and C. His question was:
I am confused only that light pen is optical input device or electronic input device? If it is optical input device Why?
I thought this might be helpful to other students and candidates as well so I present this query and solution in this post. I’ve replied him with following explanation.
Please consider the following to understand:
Mechanical Input device: The keyboard of typewriter is mechanical input because when you press a key in typewriter, it pushes the handle to hit the paper with letter engraved tip that produces print of that character. It is not produced by calculating or interpreting anything. This is purely mechanical.
Optical input device: In case of optical input there exists some light pulse codes and finding the meaning of those pulses to decide the input. In case of light pen, it produces the light signals and the screen or digital pads sense those signals to send and interpreted by computer. So light pen is optical input device.
Electronic input device: In case of electronic input device, they produce some electronic symbols to represent a certain input. For example when you press on a key in computer keyboard, it produces a series of binary digits (scan codes) and that code is interpreted by computer to determine which key was pressed. Similar happens in case of mouse and other electronic input devices as well.
I hope this clarifies your confusion.
For further information please read Light Pen on Wikipedia and download DOC file about input devices.
I welcome your views and better clarification if you can help Tika to understand the concept. Please write in the comment box below.
9 Responses to “Is light pen an optical or electronic input device?”
Tika Bdr. K.C. on January 16, 2012
Thank you sir,
i am clear. Further i need help with you to remove my confusion.
branded items on January 16, 2012
for me it’s electronic input device since it’s powered by electricity. The amount of electricity might be small but it boils down to the source it is getting. So there for it’s an electronic input device. Usually electronic input device cannot perform without the electricity as there power source.
Adrian on January 24, 2012
Just got nearby your post sir, because the light pen is always one of my favorite topic. Even I was considering it as an electronic input device but now I got it clear. By the way what should we call the modern computer mouse? electronic or Optical ? or mechanical if we consider the computer mouse of 1990′s as well! Thanks.
Overseas Employment Agencies In Pakistan on January 25, 2012
I think so it is opticle device but my mind is some what in some confusion but after reading your lines my confusion become very less.Thanks.
John Humphrey on January 30, 2012
I think light pen is both optical or electronic input device.
corporate gifts on February 5, 2012
It is an electronic pen that uses optics to get information. Just because it uses electricity doesn’t automatically make it electronic, does it? This is like asking about the chicken and the egg.
Home Tutor in Delhi on February 8, 2012
very informative blog! thanks for sharing
USA Flights on February 18, 2012
Light pen could be electric or optical device.
Mumbai uk flights on May 2, 2012
I think Light pen is not an electronic device