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Computer Input and Output Devices

Computer input and output devices allow users to interact with computers by entering data and receiving processed information. Common input devices include keyboards for typing, mice for pointing and clicking, and scanners for digitizing documents. Output is often displayed on computer monitors and can be printed with printers. Other input devices are joysticks, microphones, and cameras while other output devices include speakers, plotters, and printers that provide both soft copy on screens and hard copy printouts.

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gabriel chinechendu
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126 views

Computer Input and Output Devices

Computer input and output devices allow users to interact with computers by entering data and receiving processed information. Common input devices include keyboards for typing, mice for pointing and clicking, and scanners for digitizing documents. Output is often displayed on computer monitors and can be printed with printers. Other input devices are joysticks, microphones, and cameras while other output devices include speakers, plotters, and printers that provide both soft copy on screens and hard copy printouts.

Uploaded by

gabriel chinechendu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Input and Output Devices

Introduction
Computer being a versatile machine can process different types of data. so to work with
these data types we need different type of devices which can help us to enter such data
types in the computer and to receive their outputs as well in this chapter we will cover
many such devices like keyboard, mouse, joystick, light pen, printer, speaker, etc. That can
be used with the computer.

What is computer?

Children you know that computer is a data processing machine and it needs user’s
instructions to perform any job. After processing the raw facts (called data), it produces
useful information for the user. But how do you give data and instructions to the computer
and how it can return the useful information to you.
To do all these, different types of input and output devices can be connected with the
computer.

Input Devices
The devices which are used to give data and instructions to the computer are called Input
Devices. Various types of input devices can be used with the computer depending upon the
type of data you want to enter in the computer, e.g., keyboard, mouse, joystick, light pen,
etc.

Keyboard : Keyboard is used in the input phase of a computer-based information system.


Keyboard is most common input device is used today. The data and instructions are input
by typing on the keyboard. The message typed on the keyboard reaches the memory unit of
a computer. It’s connected to a computer via a cable. Apart from alphabet and numeral
keys, it has other function keys for performing different functions.

Mouse : It’s a pointing device. The mouse is rolled over the mouse pad, which in turn
controls the movement of the cursor in the screen. We can click, double click or drag the
mouse. Most of the mouse’s have a ball beneath them, which rotates when the mouse in
moved. The ball has 2 wheels of the sides, which in turn mousse with the movement of the
ball. The sensor notifies the speed of its movements to the computer, which in turn moves
the cursor/pointer on the screen. 

Scanner : Scanners are used to enter information directly in to the computers memory.


This device works like a Xerox machine. The scanner converts any type of printed or
written information including photographs into digital pulses, which can be manipulated
by the computer.

Track Ball : Track ball is similar to the upside- down design of the mouse. The user moves
the ball directly, while the device itself remains stationary. The user spins the ball in
various directions to effect the screen movements.

Voice Input Systems : This devices converts spoken words to M/C language form. A micro
phone is used to convert human speech into electric signals. The signal pattern is then
transmitted to a computer when it’s compared to a dictionary of patterns that have been
previously placed in a storage unit of computer. When a close match is found, the word is
recognized.

Plotter : Plotter is an O/P device that is used to produce graphical O/P on papers. It uses
single color or multi color pens to draw pictures as blue print etc.

Digital Camera : It converts graphics directly into digital form. It looks like an ordinary
camera, but no film is used therein, instead a CCD (changed coupled Divide) Electronic chip
in used. When light falls, on the chip though the lens, it converts light waves into electrical
waves.

Output Devices
The devices which are used to display the results or information are called Output
Devices. You can view the output on the monitor or you can print it on a paper using a
printer. Monitor and the printer are the commonly used output devices.

Monitor
This is the most common output device connected with the computer to display the
processed information. It looks like a TV and is also know as VDU(Visual Display
Unit). Pictures are displayed by using a large number of very small dots on screen
called pixels. The number of pixels that a monitor can show on its screen is referred to
as the resolution of the screen.
The output produced on the screen is called Soft Copy Output because it cannot be
retained for a long time.

Nowadays LCD monitors are more popular as their sharp picture quality. They are light
weighted and flat screen monitors.

Printer
This is an important output device of the computer system. It gives a printed output of
the results that appears on the monitor screen. Printed output is also called Hard Copy
output because unlike monitor, this output can be preserved even if the computer is
switched off.

Types :

Character Printer
Character printer prints one character at a time; it prints at the speed of around 30 to
600 characters per second.
Dot Matrix printer is an example of a character printer.

Dot Matrix Printer


This type of printer works like a typewriter. It creates an impression on the paper by
pressing the end of pins fixed in its print heads, against an inked ribbon. This printer is
noisy with a low print quality. Its speed is measured in CPS(Characters Per Second).

Line Printer
This is high speed printer that prints one line at a time. It is used when large quantity of
output is required as it produces the quick output. Examples of a Line printer are Drum
printer and the Chain printer. The noise level of these printers is high and speed ranges
from 200 to 2000 LPM(Lines Per Minute).

Speaker
Speakers are categorised as output devices. These are used to listen to the music and
sounds played by the computer. Normally they come in a pair and have different shapes
and sizes.

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