COMPUTER OUTPUT

To view what the computer has processed for us we use what we call OUTPUT
DEVICES. Visual devices (including Visual Display Units [VDUs], screens, OR
monitors) Hard copy devices (including ink jet printer, laser printers, dot-matrix
printers, and plotters), Sound devices AND Computer controlled devices
(including robots) These devices show us information in various forms that is as
softcopy, or hardcopy as well as sound or light. These output devices are
actually peripherals that receives data from a computer, usually for display,
projection, or physical reproduction. Below are the most common output
devices.

1. MONITOR OR SCREEN OR VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT

Features of a monitor include monitor Size, Color, Resolution and Video
Display Adapter type.

Liquid Crystal Cathode Ray Plasma Thin film

Display (LCD) Tube (CRT) transistor (TFT)
Monitor Monitor screen

LCD SCREEN
 LCD screens are most often seen on portable or laptop computers
 Most are touch screens
 These are used in these applications because they are small and light.
 Also used where space is at the premium.
 The molecules this substances line up in such a way that the light
behind the screens and creates an image.
 Use in banks and Multinational companies

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 CRT MONITOR
 Creates the image on the screen through electronic beam
 This is same type that is use in Television
 It consists of one or more guns
 These guns generate red, green and blue (RGB) colors.
 Some allow light pen use
 Not tough sensitive

A Monitor is the most commonly used output device used to display results
of processing. Pictures on a monitor are formed with picture elements
called PIXEL. Monitors may be Monochrome that will display results in Black
& White. Color Monitors are also available. They display results in multi
colors. The latest type monitor screen is the plasma type for TV sets. Monitor
produces soft copy output.

TFT (Thin Film Transistor) SCREENS

Used with newer desktops. Screen made of thousands of tiny pixels. Each
pixel is made up of three transistors RED, GREEN, BLUE. Image colour is
made up of the intensity of each of the combination of colours.

ADVANTAGES OF TFT SCRENNS DISADVANTAGES OF TFT SCRENNS

-They are lighter than CRT -not easy to repair
-take up less desk space -Brightness may not be adequate
-consume less power in some circumstances
-less eye damage(less radiation) -resolution not suitable for
-do not produce lots of heat professional application
-there can be a mix up of colours.
-they are not touch screens

2. PRINTERS
 A printer prints character, symbols and graphics on paper.

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  Printers are used to produce hard copy output.
 Print resolution is commonly measured in dots per inch (dpi)
 They have vast differences and are for different uses
 Two major categories or types of printers are:
Impact Printer and Non Impact Printer

IMPACT PRINTER
-act like a typewriter
It prints characters or images by striking a print hammer or wheel against
an inked ribbon. Examples of impact printers include Dot matrix printer,
Line printer, Daisy wheel Printer, chain printer and drum printer.

NON IMPACT PRINTERS

 Prints characters and graphics on a piece of paper without striking the
paper.
 These printers are faster than impact printers
 Examples are Inkjet printer, Laser printer and Thermal printer

Which category does each of the following printers fall?

Dot Matrix LaserJet Ink jet printers Braille printer
Printer printers

……………… ……………… …………………

…………………

The Braille is mainly used by the blind. The most common printer types are the
once given above though the matrix printer is also finding its way out of the
system.

The INK JET printer

It prints characters and graphics by spraying tiny drops of liquid ink on paper
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 The print head of an inkjet printer consists of nozzles
It has two cartridges black and colour
These printers can produce quality text and graphics in both black and color
slower than laser printer but faster than dot matrix printer
They can print 1 to 6 pages per minute
Cheaper to purchase and expensive to run
Satisfactory in color
Ink smudges, ink is expensive, and ink does not last long.

The LASERJET printer

o Creates image on the paper by the laser beam
o Also called page printer because they print complete page at a time
o It contain toner
o Throws magnetic powder on paper in the form of microscopic dots
o Printer supplies last longer
o More reliable than dot-matric and inkjet
o No wet pages as with inkjet
o Lower maintenance cost
o Produce very high quality print

The THERMAL printer

 Is a printer that uses heat process to transfer colored dyes or inks to the paper
 Is the best color printers currently available but it is very expensive

3. Speaker

Multimedia desktop headphones

speakers

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 Speaker produces sound output. We can listen to recorded voices, sounds or
music with the help of speaker. Computer Speaker produces sound output
with the help of sound card fixed on a computer motherboard.

4. Plotter

Plotters are used to draw different designs of buildings or internal structure of

machines. Mostly Engineers and Architects use plotters. They are in different
types, shapes and sizes. They use large sized paper, produces high quality
printouts, are slower and they are expensive to buy.

5. Multimedia Projector.

Multimedia projector is used to produce computer output on a big screen for

larger audience or viewers to see. These are used in meeting rooms or in
classrooms, training rooms, lecture rooms, advertising places. They can also
project from a DVD player or TV.

ADVANTAGES OF A MULTIMEDIA ADVANTAGES OF A MULTIMEDIA

PROJECTOR PROJECTOR
-many people can view (shared -image quality may get poor
screen) -projector produces heat that
-people need not to be very close requires cooling
-Makes explanations easier -projector has limited operating
time
-a dark room is always needed.

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 1. CONTROL DEVICES

actuators motor buzzer lights heaters

An actuator is device for moving or controlling something, motors are

used to rotate machinery, e.g. house fans. A buzzer or beeper is
an audio signaling device, typical uses of buzzers and beepers include alarm
devices, timers and confirmation of user input such as a mouse click or
keystroke. Light output light like security light or street light after certain input
or certain action. A heater converts electrical energy into heat.

7. Global Positioning System, GPS

Short for Global Positioning System, GPS is a network of satellites that helps users
determines a location of an object on Earth.

GPS is a system of 30 or more navigation satellites circling Earth. These satellites

constantly send out signals. A GPS receiver e.g. the one in your phone listens for
these signals. Once the receiver calculates its distance from four or more GPS
satellites, it can figure out where an object is located. So for a device to be located
on the earth it should have a receiver.

GPS system. Is made up of three parts:

satellites, ground stations, and receivers.
The ground stations use radar system.
Radar is a detection system that uses
radio waves to determine the range,
angle, or velocity of objects. It can be
used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft,
guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather
formations, and terrain.

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