Input and Output Devices

Learning Objectives

Identify several types of input and output devices and explain their functions. Describe the characteristics of the input equipment that most users encounter regularlynamely, keyboards and pointing devices. Explain what source data automation is and discuss how scanners and other devices can be used to accomplish it. List several types of multimedia input devices and discuss their purposes.

Learning Objectives, contd.

Describe the characteristics of the output equipment that most users encounter regularlynamely, display devices and printers. Discuss several types of multimedia output equipment. Explain what a multifunction device is and list some advantages and disadvantages of using such a device.

Input and Output

Input devices convert data and programs that people can understand into a form comprehensible to the CPU. Output devices convert the strings of bits used by the computer back into a form that people can understand.

Keyboards

Keyboards can differ in number of keys, key arrangement, types of special keys, and touch.

Function keys enable software packages to be

customized to meet a user's applications needs.

The numeric keypad makes it easy to enter numbers quickly.

Pointing Devices: Mouse

Older mechanical mice move a ball on the bottom of the mouse. Newer optical mice are completely sealed and dont require cleaning. Common mouse operations are clicking, scrolling, and dragging and dropping.

Pointing Devices: Electronic Pens

Electronic pen: an alternative to the mouse to select objects or to write or draw on the screen Devices that use pen input: Graphics tablets Signature capture devices Pen-based computers

Pointing Devices: Touch Screens

Touch screens are used:

When other input devices are impractical When consumer input is required, as in consumer kiosks

Other Pointing Devices

Joystick Trackball Pointing stick Touch pad

Scanners and Related Devices

Source data automation involves collecting data in

Source data automation is used to convert source documents into digital form and commonly utilizes some type of scanner.

Optical Scanners

Optical scanner: converts hard-copy images of text pages, photographs, and drawings into digital form Types of image scanners: Flatbed Sheet-fed Hand-held Drum Three-dimensional

Optical Readers

Optical marks
Optical characters Optical codes

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Reader

Magnetic ink character recognition is used primarily with processing checks. Readers can read the special magnetic characters, as well as sort documents by their codes.

Multimedia Input: Digital Cameras

Digital cameras record data onto digital media instead of film. The camera is either connected to a port on the PC or media is inserted into a reader attached to the PC. Software that comes with the camera then allows you to transfer images to the PC and erase media so more photos can be taken.

Multimedia Input: Video Cameras

Video cameras can be used to either record or send

Video input can also be obtained by using special hardware to transfer conventional video images to the computer.

Multimedia Input: Audio Input Devices

Voice-input systems convert spoken words to digital data. Music-input systems can record musical input for use with a multimedia presentation or to be edited or combined with other input.

Telephony is the process of performing telephoneoriented tasks using a computer.

Display Devices

Display devices are the most common type of output device. PC displays are commonly called monitors. The cursor, or insertion point, indicates where editing or typing will appear on the display screen.

Size

Most monitors today are about 17 inches wide, measured diagonally. The actual viewing area is typically less than the stated size.

Resolution

Resolution refers to the sharpness of the screen

Images are formed by lighting up tiny dots on the screen called pixels.

Graphics Standards

Computer graphics standards specify such characteristics as the possible resolutions and number of colors that can be used.

Video cards connect the monitor to the PC and

support a particular graphics standard, such as SVGA.

Video cards typically contain video RAM to support the number of colors and resolutions allowed, as well as to help speed up image display.

Color vs. Monochrome Displays

Most color displays are of the RGB type. RGB displays combinations of red, blue, and green light to form other colors.

CRT vs. Flat-Panel Displays

Most desktop display devices use CRT technology, similar to conventional television technology. Flat-panel displays are compact, lightweight, and consume little power. Ideal for notebook computers Most use liquid crystal display (LCD) technology

HDTV

HDTV is a new type of television that supports highresolution digital broadcasts.

All broadcasting is expected to eventually be high definition.

Characteristics of Printers

Print resolution is commonly measured in dots per inch (dpi).

Impact printers use metal hammers to strike a ribbon

The large majority of the printers sold today are nonimpact printers. Do not depend on the impact of metal hammers; contain fewer moving parts

Personal Printers: Laser

Laser printers often cost between $200 and $400 and print 5 to 12 pages per minute (ppm), at resolutions of at least 600 dpi. Work similarly to photocopy machines. Are usually black and white, though color laser printers are available.

Personal Printers: Ink-Jet

Ink-jet printers produce images by spraying thousands of droplets of electrically charged ink onto a page. Technology of choice for home users who want to produce affordable, hard-copy color output from desktop systems.

Network Printers

A network printer is shared by several people over a local area network. Line printers print a whole line at a time rather than just a character. Page printers can produce a page of output at a time. Network laser printers are faster and hold more paper than personal versions.

Special Purpose Printers

Photo printers Bar-code printers

Portable printers
Plotters Wide-format ink-jet printers

Label printers

Multimedia Output Devices

Speakers Data and multimedia projectors

Voice-output systems

Multifunction Devices

A multifunction device offers some combination of:

Printing

Copying
Scanning Faxing