The primary input devices for smartphones include touch-screen interfaces, microphones, Bluetooth modules, cameras, and fingerprint scanners. All of these devices are located inside of the smartphone and are used to provide input into the phone in order to receive specific output from the device. Touch-screen interface provides the majority of input, including text-typing, selection of various programs and menus, as well as other input data typically associated with a keyboard and a mouse. Microphones and cameras provide visual and audio data necessary for the functionality of various applications. Typically, these are used to upload images and voice recordings into the device, where they could be formatted and displayed as part of the device’s output.
Bluetooth stands for wireless technology that establishes connections between fixed and mobile devices, enabling a smartphone to receive input and output from other systems. It is crucial in performing functions as part of a network and as a mini-computer. Lastly, there are fingerprint scanners. Although their part in the overall input data flow is relatively small, they are crucial in smartphone security, as they provide the phone with information that the person using it is indeed the owner. Without that input, the majority of the device’s functions would remain locked.