The name human interface device suggests that HIDs interact directly with people, and many HIDs do just that. A mouse detects when someone moves it or presses a key. A host may send data that translates to an effect that a user senses on a joystick. Besides keyboards, mice, and joysticks, devices with HID interfaces include remote controls; telephone keypads; game controls such as data gloves and steering wheels; barcode readers; and UPS units.

Devices with physical control panels can use a HID interface to send control-panel input to the host. Devices with virtual control panels on the host can use a HID interface to send control-panel data to the device.

A virtual control panel can be cheaper to implement than traditional physical controls on a device.A HID doesn’t have to have a human interface. The device just needs to be able to function within the limits of the HID class specification.