computer science

Human interface device

Human interface device is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Human interface device rather than just read about it. In short: A human interface device (HID) is a type of computer device usually used by humans that takes input from or provides output to humans. The term "HID" most commonly refers to the USB HID specification.

Key takeaways

Human interface device belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Human interface device to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Human interface device from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

A human interface device (HID) is a type of computer device usually used by humans that takes input from or provides output to humans. The term "HID" most commonly refers to the USB HID specification. The term was coined by Mike Van Flandern of Microsoft when he proposed that the USB committee create a Human Input Device class working group. The working group was renamed as the Human Interface Device class at the suggestion of Tom Schmidt of DEC because the proposed standard supported bidirectional communication.

HID standard

A working committee with representatives from several prominent companies developed the HID standard. The list of participants appears in the "Device Class Definition for Human Interface Devices (HID)" document. The concept of a self-describing extensible protocol initially came from Mike Van Flandern and Manolito Adan while working on a project named "Raptor" at Microsoft, and independently from Steve McGowan, who worked on a "SIM" project that defined a device protocol for the VFX1 VR Headset and its peripherals based on ACCESS.bus while at Forte Technologies. SIM was also self-describing and extensible, however it was more focused on SIMulation devices used for VR and motion capture. After comparing notes at a Consumer Game Developer Conference, Steve and Mike agreed to collaborate on a new standard for the emerging Universal Serial Bus (USB).

Other protocols using HID Since HID's original definition over USB, HID is now also used in other computer communication buses. This enables HID devices that traditionally were only found on USB to also be used on alternative buses. This is done since existing support for USB HID devices can typically be adapted much faster than having to invent an entirely new protocol to support mouse, touchpad, keyboards, and the like. Known buses that use HID are:

Bluetooth HID – Used for mouse and keyboards that are connected via Bluetooth Serial HID – Used in Microsoft's Windows Media Center PC remote control receivers. Zigbee input device – Zigbee (RF4CE) supports HID devices through the Zigbee input device profile. HID over I²C – Used for embedded devices in Microsoft Windows 8 HID over SPI – Developed by Microsoft for faster, lower latency fixed-device communications HID over GPIO – Used for embedded devices in Microsoft Windows 10 HOGP (HID over GATT) – Used for HID devices connected using Bluetooth Low Energy technology

See also Human interface guidelines Human–computer interaction USB human interface device class Graphical user interface builder Linux on the desktop Peripheral Tangible user interface

References

External links HID developers forum, USB.org HID Device Class Definition 1.11 Specification, USB.org HID Usage Tables 1.4 Specification, USB.org HID Integrated Usage Table Documents, USB.org HID Descriptor Tool, USB.org

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Human interface device

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Human interface device claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Human interface device before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Human interface device ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Human interface device

In research: Human interface device appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Human interface device in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Human interface device is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Human–computer interaction, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Human interface device outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Human interface device in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Human interface device means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Human interface device out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Human interface device in simple terms?

Why does Human interface device matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Human interface device?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Human interface device.