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Computer fundamental full notes

Bachelor of Computer Applications (Mahatma Gandhi University)

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MODULE 1

Module 1: Introduction: Functional units of a computer system, Different types of computers,

Computer Software and Hardware, Types of software-System software and Application
programme. Characteristic of computers. Input Devices – Keyboard, Mouse, Optical input devices,
Output devices – Monitors and Printers.

A computer is known as an information processing machine. It takes in raw data from input
devices. After it takes data, it processes the data according to the given instruction using
processing unit. Finally, the result is displayed to the user and stored in secondary storage
devices.

FUNCTIONAL UNITS OF A COMPUTER

Below is the list of different units of a functional diagram of computer that connects to form a
full functioning computer system.
 Input unit

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 Processing unit
 Storage unit
 Output unit

Input unit:

The input unit consists of different input devices. The role of an input unit is to give data to the
computer. A Computer takes input from input devices in the form of clicks, drags and drops,
pointing, alphanumeric characters etc depending upon the device used. Input can be either a
data or an instruction. The Keyboard is a type of input device that gives data as input to the
computer whereas mouse usually gives instructions through clicks.

Processing Unit:

Processing unit consists of various parts like CU, ALU, Registers and is often referred to as an
electronic brain of a computer system. This unit is responsible for performing overall operations
of a computer system. After the input device provides raw data to the computer system, CPU
performs specific operations like, addition, subtraction, division etc and produces a result which
we call an output. CPU can also access data from secondary storage of computer via primary
memory. To carry out any operations the CPU assigns tasks to its component

Components of a processing unit.

 Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU):

ALU is a logical unit of CPU. This unit is responsible for the processing of the data and
instructions. When the CU encounters instructions which are related to performing logical or
arithmetic operation on data, it passes that instruction to ALU. It carries out arithmetic
operations like additions, multiplication, divisions etc. The comparison operations that
arithmetic logical unit performs are comparison like less than, greater than, less than or equal
to, greater than or equal to, not equal to etc. Logical operations includes OR, AND, NOT etc. The
data on which ALU performs operations are fetched from memory unit. After the processing
completes, the information or result is sent back to the storage or an output device.

 Control Unit (CU):

Control unit is another part of CPU. It supervises the overall operations of other units of the
computer. The CU acts as the central nervous system and controls the processing of data
according to the instruction given to the computer. It fetches instructions and data from the
memory unit and executes the instructions one at a time using time signal. Control unit also
determines the sequences of program and instruction’s execution

Output Unit:

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The output unit of a computer system are the collections of hardware components that
show output to the user either in hardcopy or a softcopy format. After CPU completes the
processing on the data, the outcome of processing also known as output or a result is passed to
this unit. The output unit is responsible for translating the result in human understandable
format and displaying it.

Memory Unit

A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to store data and instructions. Computer
memory is the storage space in the computer, where data is to be processed and instructions
required for processing are stored. The memory is divided into large number of small parts
called cells. Each location or cell has a unique address, which varies from zero to memory size
minus one.

There are two types of storage memories:

1. Primary memory
2. Secondary memory

Primary Memory (Main Memory)

Primary memory holds only those data and instructions on which the computer is currently
working. It has a limited capacity and data is lost when power is switched off. It is generally
made up of semiconductor device. These memories are not as fast as registers. The data and
instruction required to be processed resides in the main memory. It is divided into two
subcategories RAM and ROM.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
ROM (Read Only Memory)

RAM: It performs both read and writes operations on memory. It stores data for temporally. If
power failures happened in systems during memory access then you will lose your data
permanently. So, RAM is a volatile memory

ROM: ROM stands for read-only memory, stores information that can only be read. Modifying
the data is difficult. ROM is also a type of non-volatile storage, which means that the
information is stored even if the component loses power.

Characteristics of Main Memory

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 These are semiconductor memories.

 It is known as the main memory.
 Usually volatile memory.
 Data is lost in case power is switched off.
 It is the working memory of the computer.
 Faster than secondary memories.
 A computer cannot run without the primary memory.

Secondary Memory
This type of memory is also known as external memory or non-volatile. It is slower than the
main memory. These are used for storing data/information permanently. CPU directly does
not access these memories, instead they are accessed via input-output routines. The contents
of secondary memories are first transferred to the main memory, and then the CPU can access
it. For example, disk, CD-ROM, DVD, etc.

CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS

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On the basis of purpose, the computer can be of two types:

1. General-Purpose Computers :-
General-Purpose Computers is one that can work on different types of programs input to it and
thus be used in countless applications. The programs are not permanently stored but are input
at the time of execution. These computers are very versatile.

2. Special-Purpose Computers :-
Special-Purpose Computers is the one that is designed to perform specific task.
The instructions (programs) to carry out the task are permanently stored in the machine. For
the specific task, this type of computer works efficiently but such computers are not versatile.
Eg: traffic-light control systems, weather-forecasting simulators, oil-exploration systems and
traffic-control computers, Super computers

On the basis of size, the computer can be of five types:

1) Supercomputer

Supercomputers are the biggest and fastest computers. They are designed to process huge
amount of data. A supercomputer can process trillions of instructions in a second. It has
thousands of interconnected processors.

Supercomputers are particularly used in scientific and engineering applications such as

weather forecasting, scientific simulations and nuclear energy research. The first
supercomputer was developed by Roger Cray in 1976.

Characteristics or applications of supercomputers:

o It has the ability to decrypt your password to enhance protection for security reasons.

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o It produces excellent results in animations.

o It is used for virtual testing of nuclear weapons and critical medical tests.
o It can study and understand climate patterns and forecast weather conditions.
o It helps in designing the flight simulators for pilots at the beginner level for their
training.
o It helps in extracting useful information from data storage centres or cloud system. For
example, in insurance companies.
o It helps in the diagnosis of various critical diseases and in producing accurate results in
brain injuries, strokes, etc.
o It helps in scientific research areas by accurately analysing data obtained from exploring
the solar system, satellites, and movement of Earth.

2) Mainframe computer

Mainframe computers are designed to support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.

They can support multiple programs at the same time. It means they can execute different
processes simultaneously. These features of mainframe computers make them ideal for big
organizations like banking and telecom sectors, which need to manage and process high
volume of data.

Mainframe computers are designed to support hundreds or thousands of users

simultaneously. They can support multiple programs at the same time. It means they can
execute different processes simultaneously. These features of mainframe computers make
them ideal for big organizations like banking and telecom sectors, which need to manage and
process a high volume of data that requires integer operations such as indexing, comparisons,
etc.

Characteristics of Mainframe Computers:

o It can process huge amount of data, e.g. millions of transactions in a second in the
banking sector.
o It has a very long life. It can run smoothly for up to 50 years after proper installation.

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o It gives excellent performance with large scale memory management.

o It has the ability to share or distribute its workload among other processors and
input/output terminals.
o There are fewer chances of error or bugs during processing in mainframe computers. If
any error occurs it can fix it quickly without affecting the performance.
o It has the ability to protect the stored data and other ongoing exchange of information
and data.

Applications of mainframe computers:

o In health care, it enabled hospitals to maintain a record of their millions of patients in

order to contact them for treatment or related to their appointment, medicine updates
or disease updates.
o In the field of defence, it allows the defence departments to share a large amount of
sensitive information with other branches of defence.
o In the field of education, it helps big universities to store, manage and retrieve data
related to their courses, admissions, students, teachers, employees and affiliated
schools and colleges.

3) Minicomputer

It is a midsize multiprocessing computer. It consists of two or more processors and can

support 4 to 200 users at one time. Miniframe computers are used in institutes and
departments for tasks such as billing, accounting and inventory management. A
minicomputer lies between the mainframe and microcomputer as it is smaller than mainframe
but larger than a microcomputer.

Characteristics of miniframe or minicomputer:

o It is light weight that makes it easy to carry and fit anywhere.

o It is less expensive than mainframe computers.
o It is very fast compared to its size.
o It remains charged for a long time.
o It does not require a controlled operational environment.

Applications of minicomputers:

A minicomputer is mainly used to perform three primary functions, which are as follows:

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o Process control: It was used for process control in manufacturing. It mainly performs
two primary functions that are collecting data and feedback. If any abnormality occurs
in the process, it is detected by the minicomputer and necessary adjustments are made
accordingly.
o Data management: It is an excellent device for small organizations to collect, store and
share data. Local hospitals and hotels can use it to maintain the records of their patients
and customers respectively.
o Communications Portal: It can also play the role of a communication device in larger
systems by serving as a portal between a human operator and a central processor or
computer.

4) Workstation

Workstation is a single user computer that is designed for technical or scientific applications. It
has a faster microprocessor, a large amount of RAM and high speed graphic adapters. It
generally performs a specific job with great expertise; accordingly, they are of different types
such as graphics workstation, music workstation and engineering design workstation.

Characteristics of workstation computer:

o It is a high-performance computer system designed for a single user for business or

professional use.
o It has larger storage capacity, better graphics, and more powerful CPU than a personal
computer.
o It can handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio and video creation and editing.

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5) Microcomputer

Microcomputer is also known as a personal computer. It is a general-purpose computer that is

designed for individual use. It has a microprocessor as a central processing unit, memory,
storage area, input unit and output unit. Laptops and desktop computers are examples of
microcomputers. They are suitable for personal work that may be making an assignment,
watching a movie, or at office for office work.

Characteristics of a microcomputer:

o It is the smallest in size among all types of computers.

o A limited number of software can be used.
o It is designed for personal work and applications. Only one user can work at a time.
o It is less expansive and easy to use.
o It does not require the user to have special skills or training to use it.
o Generally, comes with single semiconductor chip.
o It is capable of multitasking such as printing, scanning, browsing, watching videos, etc.

We can categorize computer in two ways: on the basis of data handling capabilities and
size.

On the basis of data handling capabilities, the computer is of three types:

o Analogue Computer
o Digital Computer
o Hybrid Computer

1) Analogue Computer

Analogue computers are designed to process analogue data. Analogue data is continuous data
that changes continuously and cannot have discrete values. We can say that analogue
computers are used where we don't need exact values always such as speed, temperature,
pressure and current.

Analogue computers directly accept the data from the measuring device without first
converting it into numbers and codes. They measure the continuous changes in physical
quantity and generally render output as a reading on a dial or scale. Speedometer and mercury
thermometer are examples of analogue computers.

2) Digital Computer

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Digital computer is designed to perform calculations and logical operations at high speed. It
accepts the raw data as input in the form of digits or binary numbers (0 and 1) and processes it
with programs stored in its memory to produce the output. All modern computers like laptops,
desktops including smartphones that we use at home or office are digital computers.

Some advantages of digital computers:

o It allows you to store a large amount of information and to retrieve it easily whenever
you need it.
o You can easily add new features to digital systems more easily.
o Different applications can be used in digital systems just by changing the program
without making any changes in hardware
o The cost of hardware is less due to the advancement in the IC technology.
o It offers high speed as the data is processed digitally.
o It is highly reliable as it uses error correction codes.
o Reproducibility of results is higher as the output is not affected by noise, temperature,
humidity, and other properties of its components.

3) Hybrid Computer

Hybrid computer has features of both analogue and digital computer. It is fast like an
analogue computer and has memory and accuracy like digital computers. It can process both
continuous and discrete data. It accepts analogue signals and convert them into digital form
before processing. So, it is widely used in specialized applications where both analogue and
digital data is processed.

For example, a processor is used in petrol pumps that converts the measurements of fuel flow
into quantity and price. Similarly, they are used in airplanes, hospitals, and scientific
applications.

Types of Micro Computer

Notebook computers

Notebook computers, also called laptop computers, are light weight portable computers with
built-in-monitor, keyboard, hard disk drive, battery, and AC adapter that can be plugged into an
electrical outlet. They weigh anywhere from 720 gms to 3.6 Kgs.

Desktop

Desktops are personal computers and bigger than notebooks and laptops. These
microcomputers consist of the system unit, keyboard and monitor. Desktop microcomputers

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are cheaper than laptops or notebooks. Unlike a notebook,which is ultra-mobile, a

desktop micro computeris stay at one location. The desktop microcomputers are more reliable
than notebooks and laptops and easy to repair.

Handheld computers

Personal digital assistants (PDAs), also called handheld computers or palmtops, combine
personal organization tools- schedule planers, address books, to-do lists- with the ability in
some cases to send e-mail and faxes. Some PDAs have touch sensitive screens. Some also
connect to desktop computers for sending or receiving information.

Smartphones

Smartphones are forms of hand-held computing devices. Most computers in this category can
easily slip into a pocket or purse. Smartphones are multi-purpose devices providing phone service
and Internet connectivity over wireless channels, bringing connectivity to an entirely new level.
Tablet P C

A tablet is a type of notebook computer that has an LCD screen on which the user can write
using finger and swipe actions or by using a special-purpose pen, or stylus. All user input is
directly via the LCD screen and not a keyboard or mouse. On a tablet computer, handwriting is
digitized and can be converted to standard text through handwriting recognition, or it can
remain as handwritten text.

COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

Every computer is composed of two basic components: hardware and software.

Hardware, which is abbreviated as HW, refers to all physical components of a computer

system, including the devices connected to it. You cannot create a computer or use software
without using hardware. The screen on which you are reading this information is also a
hardware.
Examples of Hardware are the following −
 Input devices − keyboard, mouse, etc.
 Output devices − printer, monitor, etc.
 Secondary storage devices − Hard disk, CD, DVD, etc.
 Internal components − CPU, motherboard, RAM, etc.

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Software, which is abbreviated as SW or S/W, is a set of programs that enables the

hardware to perform a specific task. All the programs that run the computer are software.

The software can be of two types: system software, application software

1) System Software

The system software is the main software that runs the computer. When you turn on the
computer, it activates the hardware and controls and coordinates their functioning. The
application programs are also controlled by system software. An operating system is an
example of system software.

i) Operating System:

An operating system is the system software that works as an interface to enable the user to
communicate with the computer. It manages and coordinates the functioning of hardware and
software of the computer. The commonly used operating systems are Microsoft
Windows, Linux, and Apple Mac OS X.

2) Application Software:

Application software is a set of programs designed to perform a specific task. It does not control
the working of a computer as it is designed for end-users. A computer can run without
application software. Application software can be easily installed or uninstalled as required. It
can be a single program or a collection of small programs. Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe
Photoshop, and any other software like payroll software or income tax software are application
software. As we know, they are designed to perform specific tasks. Accordingly, they can be of
different types such as:

o Word Processing Software: This software allows users to create, edit, format, and
manipulate the text and more. It offers lots of options for writing documents, creating
images, and more. For example, MS Word, WordPad, Notepad, etc.
o Spreadsheet Software: It is designed to perform calculations, store data, create charts,
etc. It has rows and columns, and the data is entered in the cell, which is an intersection
of a row and column, e.g., Microsoft Excel.
o Multimedia Software: These software are developed to perform editing of video, audio,
and text. It allows you to combine texts, videos, audio, and images. Thus, you can
improve a text document by adding photos, animations, graphics, and charts through
multimedia software. For example, VLC player, Window Media Player, etc.

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Characteristics of Computer System

Speed
A computer works with much higher speed and accuracy compared to humans while
performing mathematical calculations. Computers can process millions (1,000,000) of

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instructions per second. The time taken by computers for their operations is microseconds and
nanoseconds.

Accuracy
Computers perform calculations with 100% accuracy. Errors may occur due to data
inconsistency or inaccuracy.

Diligence
A computer can perform millions of tasks or calculations with the same consistency and
accuracy. It doesn’t feel any fatigue or lack of concentration. Its memory also makes it superior
to that of human beings.

Versatility
Versatility refers to the capability of a computer to perform different kinds of works with same
accuracy and efficiency.

Reliability
A computer is reliable as it gives consistent result for similar set of data i.e., if we give same set
of input any number of times, we will get the same result.
Automation
Computer performs all the tasks automatically i.e. it performs tasks without manual
intervention.

Memory
A computer has built-in memory called primary memory where it stores data.
Secondary storage are removable devices such as CDs, pen drives, etc., which are also used to
store data.

Input devices
Input devices enable you to enter information and commands into the computer. Input can
be categorised into a few methods such as bar codes, speech that enters the computer
through a microphone, and data entered by means of a device that converts motions to on-
screen action. There are many different types of input devices such as keyboard, mouse,
trackball, touch pad and joystick. We will explore more on these devices in the following
sections.

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Keyboard
Keyboard is the most common and very popular input device which helps to input data to the
computer. The layout of the keyboard is like that of traditional typewriter, although there are
some additional keys provided for performing additional functions
The keys on the keyboard are as follows –

Typing Keys
These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (09) which generally give the same
layout as that of typewriters
Numeric Keypad
It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement. Generally, it consists of a set of 17
keys that are laid out in the same configuration used by most adding machines and calculators
Function Keys
The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which are arranged in a row at the top
of the keyboard. Each function key has a unique meaning and is used for some specific
purpose.
Control keys
These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four directional arrow keys. Control
keys also include Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl), Alternate(Alt),
Escape(Esc).
Special Purpose Keys
Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Num Lock,
Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.

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Mouse
Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control device having a
small palm size box with a round ball at its base, which senses the movement of the mouse
and sends corresponding signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.
Generally, it has two buttons called the left and the right button and a wheel is present
between the buttons. A mouse can be used to control the position of the cursor on the screen,
but it cannot be used to enter text into the computer.

Trackball
You may have used trackball to play a video game. The trackball is like an upsidedown
mechanical mouse, where you roll the ball directly with your hand. Buttons are mounted
along the side or below the ball. It requires less space than a mouse. This device gained
popularity with the advent of laptop computers, which typically are used on laps or on small
work surfaces that have no room for a mouse. It comes in different models and sizes.

Touchpad
It is a rectangular pressure sensitive pad. You can slide your finger across the touchpad’s
surface and corresponding pointer movements are made on the screen. The touch sensitive
surface may be only 1.5 or 2 inches square, so the finger never had to move far. Most of
the notebook models feature a built-in touchpad rather than a mouse or trackball. The
touchpad include two or three buttons that perform the same function as mouse buttons.

Joystick

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This device has been around for a long time and can be used with applications other than
games. Joysticks enable the user to fly or drive through a game, directing a vehicle or
character. It is a short lever with a handgrip that resembles the floor mounted gearshift in a
sports car. The distance and speed of movement control the screen pointer’s position. By
pressing triggers and buttons on the lever, it causes various actions to take place,
depending on the software in use

Light Pen
Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is used to select a displayed menu item or
draw pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of a photocell and an optical system placed in
a small tube.

When the tip of a light pen is moved over the monitor screen and the pen button is pressed,
its photocell sensing element detects the screen location and sends the corresponding signal
to the CPU.

Digitizer
Digitizer is an input device which converts analog information into digital form. Digitizer can
convert a signal from the television or camera into a series of numbers that could be stored in
a computer. They can be used by the computer to create a picture of whatever the camera
had been pointed at.

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Digitizer is also known as Tablet or Graphics Tablet as it converts graphics and pictorial data
into binary inputs. A graphic tablet as digitizer is used for fine works of drawing and image
manipulation applications.
Touch screens

This device accepts input by allowing the user to place a fingertip directly on the computer
screen, usually to make a selection from a menu of choices.

Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition (MICR)

It uses a machine to read characters made of magnetised particles. The largest industry
that uses MICR equipment would be the banking industry. Banks use the numbers encoded
across the bottom of your personal cheque to direct your cheque from the bank cashing the
cheque to the bank where you have your account. Most magnetic-ink characters are pre-
printed on your cheque. These characters were added by a person at the bank where the
cheque was deposited by using a MICR inscriber.

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Figure 2.11 Magnetic-ink numbers and symbols run along the bottom of a cheque

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

It uses a light source to read special characters and convert them into electrical signals to be
sent to the central processing unit. OCR is an input device used to read a printed text.

OCR scans the text optically, character by character, converts them into a machine readable
code, and stores the text on the system memory.

Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)

Another name for optical mark recognition is called mark sensing because a machine senses
marks on a piece of paper. You have used these papers during your school days where you
need to use a pencil to mark in a specified box, circle or space that corresponds to what you

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think is the answer. The answer sheet is then graded by an optical device that recognises
the locations of the marks and converts them to computer-recognisable electrical signals.

Figure 2.13 Optical Mark Reader

Bar code readers

One of the most widely used input devices is the bar code readers. This device comes in a
flatbed model, which is commonly found in supermarkets and department stores. The
workers for delivery services, such as FedEx, also use handheld bar code readers in the field
to identify packages. Now each product on the supermarket shelf has its own unique
number, which is part of the Universal Product Code (UPC). This code number is
represented on the product label by a pattern of vertical marks, or bars called bar codes.
What is UPC? UPC is an agreed-on standard within the supermarket industry; many other
kinds of bar codes exist. The bar code reader will sense and read the stripes, a photoelectric
device that reads the code by means of reflected light.

Digital cameras
It works as the PC video camera, but it is a portable and handheld device that captures still
images. This camera digitises the image, compresses it and stores it on a special memory
card. You can then copy the information to a PC, where the image can be edited, copied,

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printed, embedded in a document, or transmitted to another user. It can store dozens of

high-resolution images at a time, and most cameras accept additional memory that
increases their capacity even further.

Video input

The video input device became the most popular device since the growth of multimedia and
the Internet. Applications such as videoconferencing enable people to use full motion video
images, which are captured by a personal computer video camera, and transmit them to a
limited number of recipients on a network or to the world on the Internet. Another popular
and inexpensive type of personal computer video camera would be the webcam. Webcams
can sit on top of a PC monitor or be placed on a stand, so that the user can capture images
of himself or herself while working at the computer.

Microphone

By having microphones and speakers, we can use our personal computer to make telephone
calls. Besides that, it also makes the personal computer useful for audio and
videoconferencing over the Internet. A special device inside the personal computer is the
sound card, where it translates analogue audio signals from the microphone into digital
codes which the computer can store and process.

Output devices

The output device displays the result of the processing of raw data that is entered in the
computer through an input device. There are a number of output devices that display output in
different ways such as text, images, hard copies, and audio or video.

Some of the popular output devices are:

1. Monitor
o CRT Monitor
o LCD Monitor
o LED Monitor
o Plasma Monitor
2. Printer
o Impact Printers

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A. Character Printers
i. Dot Matrix printers
ii. Daisy Wheel printers
B. Line printers
i. Drum printers
ii. Chain printers
o Non-impact printers
A. Laser printers
B. Inkjet printers
3. Projector
4. Speaker

Monitor
Monitors, commonly called as Visual Display Unit (VDU), are the main output device of a
computer. It forms images from tiny dots, called pixels that are arranged in a rectangular form.
The sharpness of the image depends upon the number of pixels.
There are two kinds of viewing screen used for monitors.

 Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT)

 Flat-Panel Display

i) CRT Monitor

CRT monitors are based on the cathode ray tubes. They are like vacuum tubes which
produce images in the form of video signals. Cathode rays tube produces a beam of
electrons through electron guns that strike on the inner phosphorescent surface of the
screen to produce images on the screen. The monitor contains millions of phosphorus dots
of red, green and blue color. These dots start to glow when struck by electron beams.

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The main components of a CRT monitor include the electron gun assembly, deflection plate
assembly, fluorescent screen, glass envelope, and base.The front (outer surface) of the
screen onto which images are produced is called the face plate. It is made up of fiber optics.

There are three electron beams that strike the screen: red, green, and blue. So, the colors
which you see on the screen are the blends of red, blue and green lights. The magnetic field
guides the beams of electrons. Although LCDs have replaced the CRT monitors, the CRT
monitors are still used by graphics professionals because of their color quality.

Flat-Panel Display Monitor

The flat-panel display refers to a class of video devices that have reduced volume, weight and
power requirement in comparison to the CRT. You can hang them on walls or wear them on
your wrists. Current uses of flat-panel displays include calculators, video games, monitors,
laptop computer, and graphics display.

The flat-panel display is divided into two categories −

 Emissive Displays − Emissive displays are devices that convert electrical energy into
light. For example, plasma panel and LED (Light-Emitting Diodes).
 Non-Emissive Displays − Non-emissive displays use optical effects to convert sunlight or
light from some other source into graphics patterns. For example, LCD (Liquid-Crystal
Device).

2) Printer

A printer produces hard copies of the processed data. It enables the user, to print images, text
or any other information onto the paper.

Based on the printing mechanism, the printers are of two types: Impact Printers and Non-
impact Printers.

o Impact Printers: They are of two types:

A. Character Printers

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i. Dot Matrix printers

ii. Daisy Wheel printers
B. Line printers
i. Drum printers
ii. Chain printers
o Non-impact printers: They are of two types:
A. Laser printers
B. Inkjet printers

Impact Printer

The impact printer uses a hammer or print head to print the character or images onto the
paper. The hammer or print head strikes or presses an ink ribbon against the paper to print
characters and images.

Impact printers are further divided into two types.

A. Character Printers
B. Line printers

A) Character Printers

Character printer prints a single character at a time or with a single stroke of the print head or
hammer. It does not print one line at a time. Dot Matrix printer and Daisy Wheel printer are
character printers. Today, these printers are not in much use due to their low speed and
because only the text can be printed. The character printers are of two types, which are as
follows:

i) Dot Matrix Printer

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Dot Matrix Printer is an impact printer. The characters and images printed by it are the patterns
of dots. These patterns are produced by striking the ink soaked ribbon against the paper with a
print head. The print head contains pins that produce a pattern of dots on the paper to form
the individual characters. The print head of a 24 pin dot matrix contains more pins than a 9 pin
dot matrix printer, so it produces more dots which results in better printing of characters. To
produce color output, the black ribbon can be changed with color stripes. The speed of Dot
Matrix printers is around 200-500 characters per second.

ii) Daisy Wheel Printer

It consists of a wheel or disk that has spokes or extensions and looks like a daisy, so it is named
Daisy Wheel printer. At the end of extensions, molded metal characters are mounted. To print a
character the printer rotates the wheel, and when the desired character is on the print location
the hammer hits disk and the extension hits the ink ribbon against the paper to create the
impression. It cannot be used to print graphics and is often noisy and slow, i.e., the speed is
very low around 25-50 characters per second. Due to these drawbacks,these printers have
become obsolete.

B) Line Printers:

Line printer, which is also as a bar printer, prints one line at a time. It is a high-speed impact
printer as it can print 500 to 3000 lines per minute. Drum printer and chain printer are
examples of line printers.

i) Drum Printer:

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Drum printer is a line printer that is made of a rotating drum to print characters. The drum has
circular bands of characters on its surface. It has a separate hammer for each band of
characters. When you print, the drum rotates, and when the desired character comes under the
hammer, the hammer strikes the ink ribbon against the paper to print characters. The drum
rotates at a very high speed and characters are printed by activating the appropriate hammers.
Although all the characters are not printed at a time, they are printed at a very high speed.
Furthermore, it can print only a predefined style as it has a specific set of characters. These
printers are known to be very noisy due to the use of hammering techniques.

ii) Chain Printer:

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Chain printer is a line printer that uses a rotating chain to print characters. The characters are
embossed on the surface of the chain. The chain rotates horizontally around a set of hammers,
for each print location one hammer is provided, i.e., the total number of hammers is equal to
the total number of print positions.

The chain rotates at a very high speed and when the desired character comes at the print
location, the corresponding hammer strikes the page against the ribbon and character on the
chain.They can type 500 to 3000 lines per minute. They are also noisy due to the hammering
action.

Non-Impact Printer:

Non-impact printers don't print characters or images by striking a print head or hammer on the
ink ribbon placed against the paper. They print characters and images without direct physical
contact between the paper and the printing machinery. These printers can print a complete
page at a time, so they are also known as page printers. The common types of non-impact
printers are Laser printer and Inkjet printer:

i) Laser Printer:

A laser printer is a non-impact printer that uses a laser beam to print the characters. The laser
beam hits the drum, which is a photoreceptor and draws the image on the drum by altering
electrical charges on the drum. The drum then rolls in toner, and the charged image on the
drum picks the toner. The toner is then printed on the paper using heat and pressure. Once the
document is printed, the drum loses the electric charge,and the remaining toner is collected.
The laser printers use powdered toner for printing instead of liquid ink and produce quality
print objects with a resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi) or more.

ii) Inkjet Printer:

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The inkjet printer is a non-impact printer that prints images and characters by spraying
fine,ionized drops of ink. The print head has tiny nozzles to spray the ink. The printer head
moves back and forth and sprays ionized drops of ink on the paper, which is fed through the
printer. These drops pass through an electric field that guides the ink onto the paper to print
correct images and characters.

An inkjet printer has cartridges that contain ink. Modern inkjet printers are color printers that
have four cartridges containing different colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. It is capable
of printing high-quality images with different colors. It can produce print objects with a
resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (dpi).

3) Projector

A projector is an output device that enables the user to project the output onto a large surface
such as a big screen or wall. It can be connected to a computer and similar devices to project
their output onto a screen. It uses light and lenses to produce magnified texts, images, and
videos. So, it is an ideal output device to give presentations or to teach a large number of
people.

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Speakers

Speakers are one of the most common output devices used with computer systems. Some
speakers are designed to work specifically with computers, while others can be hooked up to
any type of sound system. Regardless of their design, the purpose of speakers is to produce
audio output that can be heard by the listener.

The speakers receive audio input from a device such as a computer or an audio receiver. This
input may be either in analog or digital form. Analog speakers simply amplify the analog
electromagnetic waves into sound waves

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