# reader

> data input device that reads from a storage medium

**Wikidata**: [Q28771959](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28771959)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/reader-q28771959

## Summary
A reader is a data input device that reads from a storage medium. It is a peripheral that provides data and signals to an information processing system. Readers are classified as a subclass of input devices.

## Key Facts
- Reader is a subclass of input device, which is a peripheral that provides data and signals to an information processing system
- The wikidata_description for reader is "data input device that reads from a storage medium"
- Reader has a dictionary_of_archives_terminology_id with value "reader" and qualifier P958:3
- The entity has 47 sitelink_count, indicating its presence across multiple language Wikipedias
- In academic contexts, "reader" is an academic rank held by computer scientists like Stefan Weigert, Leandro Soares Indrusiak, and Jacques Fleuriot

## FAQs
### Q: What is a reader in computing?
A: A reader is a data input device that reads from a storage medium. It functions as a peripheral that provides data and signals to an information processing system.

### Q: How is a reader classified in technology?
A: A reader is classified as a subclass of input device. Input devices are peripherals that provide data and signals to information processing systems.

### Q: What are some examples of readers?
A: Examples include optical readers, magnetic card readers, and academic readers who are senior faculty members in universities, particularly in the UK and Commonwealth systems.

## Why It Matters
Readers play a crucial role in data input and processing systems by serving as the bridge between physical storage media and digital information processing. Without readers, computers and other information systems would be unable to access data stored on various media formats, from magnetic cards to optical discs. In academic contexts, the title of "reader" represents an important faculty position that bridges the gap between lecturers and professors, contributing to research and education. The versatility of readers, both as technological devices and academic positions, demonstrates their fundamental importance in both information technology and higher education systems.

## Notable For
- Being a fundamental component in data input systems that enables computers to read from storage media
- Serving as an academic rank in UK and Commonwealth universities, positioned between senior lecturer and professor
- Having a standardized classification as a subclass of input devices in technology taxonomies
- Supporting multiple languages and contexts with 47 sitelink_count across different language Wikipedias
- Being recognized in specialized terminology systems like the dictionary_of_archives_terminology

## Body
### Technical Classification
Readers are formally classified as input devices in computing systems. As peripherals, they serve the essential function of converting physical data stored on various media into digital signals that can be processed by computers and other information systems.

### Academic Context
In higher education, particularly in the UK and Commonwealth countries, "reader" is an academic rank that represents a senior faculty position. This usage is distinct from the technological meaning but shares the common theme of "reading" or processing information.

### Data Relationships
The entity has established relationships with other concepts in knowledge bases. It is connected to the broader category of input devices and has specific identifiers in specialized terminology systems, including the dictionary_of_archives_terminology.

### Usage Across Systems
Readers appear in multiple contexts and systems, as evidenced by their presence across 47 different language Wikipedias. This widespread representation indicates the fundamental nature of the concept across different cultures and technological implementations.