Keyboard vs Mouse

In today's fast-paced world, we are heavily reliant on technology, and telecommunications is an industry that is constantly evolving. With new technologies come innovative ways to access such devices, and this has led to the invention of more convenient input devices like a keyboard and a mouse.

The Keyboard

A keyboard is an essential tool in telecommunication, allowing you to input letters, numbers, and symbols to communicate with the device. It also possesses function keys for executing specific commands, as well as shortcut keys like CTRL+C for copying and CTRL+P for pasting.

Typing speed is one of the major advantages that a keyboard provides, typing at an average speed of 50 to 60 words per minute (WPM) with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Some individuals can type at speeds up to 80 to 100 WPM, making it a more efficient input tool than a mouse.

An alternative to traditional keyboards is the virtual keyboard, which is an on-screen keyboard that appears on the device's screen. Virtual keyboards are ideal for mobile and touchscreen devices, and they offer more flexibility in terms of design and functionality.

The Mouse

A mouse, on the other hand, is a handheld pointing device that allows you to control the movement of the cursor on the screen. It comprises of two or three buttons, a scroll wheel, and a tracking sensor underneath that detects movement.

The major advantage of using a mouse is its ease of use, particularly when navigating graphical user interfaces (GUI). Pointing and clicking on icons, selecting text, and scrolling through web pages is much easier and faster with a mouse than a keyboard.

However, a person's typing skill can be affected by the excessive use of the mouse, leading to the development of repetitive strain injury (RSI), which can have a long-term effect on their health.

Comparison

Comparing the two input devices, it is essential to note that the choice of the input tool is dependent on what task you want to carry out on the telecommunication device.

If you need to type lengthy texts, then a keyboard is the best input device, providing speed and accuracy. Similarly, if you are working with a GUI or graphical applications that require more hand-eye coordination, then a mouse would serve you better.

However, if you are working with spreadsheets, data entry, or gaming, a combination of the two input devices would yield the best results.

References

• Why Typing Is Faster Than Pointing
• A guide to keyboards
• A guide to mouse