COS 101

Input/output Devices and

Peripherals
 Objectives

At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:

 Describe at least 15 input device
 Describe at least 10 output device
 Understand peripheral devices
 Differentiate between input devices and output
devices.
 Categorize different input devices as - Pointing devices,
Keyboard devices, Speech or voice input devices, Draw
devices, Recognition devices.
 Input Devices
 Inputdevices convert raw data from users into the
appropriate format or language that can be easily
understood by a computer
 In other words, the computer accepts raw input
from users and translates the received input into
machine language with the help of input devices.
 Several types of input devices are available and
are divided into different categories, such as:
pointing devices, Keyboard devices, Speech or voice
input devices, Draw devices, Recognition devices, etc.
 The keyboard

 The keyboard is one of the

primary input devices
 They can be connected to a
computer using USB (for a
wired keyboard) or Bluetooth
(for a wireless keyboard).
 A normal keyboard usually
has a variety of keys, such as
alphabetic character keys,
function keys, number keys,
arrow keys, and control keys.
 The keyboard Cont…
 Laptops come with inbuilt, more compact keyboards,
which help make the laptop smaller and lighter.
 Besides, most modern devices (such as smartphones,
tablets, and convertible touch screen laptops) come
with on-screen virtual keyboards.
 Most English language keyboards have a QWERTY
layout.
 Before the keyboard, punch cards and paper tape
were used to enter data and commands into
computers.
 The Mouse
 A mouse is the most common and very
popular pointing device that helps interact
with a computer through a process called
'point and click'.
 The left button helps select items while the
right button helps display menus
 The scroll wheel mainly helps to move the
scrollbar up and down while surfing the web
or reading documents
 can be both wired and wireless.
 Mechanical/Optical Mouse
 Previously, the mouse used an integrated ball
and roller, known as a mechanical mouse, to
track the cursor move.
 The modern mouse uses optical technology
(laser) to control or track the movements of
the cursor;
 such a mouse is called an optical mouse.
 Joystick
 Essentially, a joystick is a handle that has
a spherical ball at both ends (upper and
lower).
 It can be moved in all four directions, and
its angle or moving direction is sent to the
computer as data.
 Joysticks are widely used to play games
on a computer as they help control the
characters and vehicles of the game.
 It is classified as a pointing device like a
mouse.
 Touchpad

 The touchpad, also known as a trackpad, is an

input device that is primarily integrated with a
laptop that helps to perform mouse functions.
 It is a pointing device like a surface that can
detect the movements of fingers and move the
pointer accordingly.
 It is an alternative to a mouse that helps to
make computer devices compact, small, and
lightweight.
 Light Pen
 A light pen is another pointing device that has the same
structure as a pen.
 It is a light-sensitive device consisting of a photocell and
an optical system placed in a small tube.
 It is mainly used to select on-screen items, draw pictures,
and write independently in document files using a
computer screen.
 When the tip of the light pen is moved on the computer
screen and the button on the pen is pressed, the photocell
sensing element detects the screen location and sends the
corresponding signal to the CPU.
 This helps the CPU detect pointer movements and clicks.
 Track Ball
 The trackball is a pointing device that is used to
perform similar tasks as a mouse but its mechanical
structure is slightly different from that of the mouse.
 Unlike a mouse, the trackball does not need to be
moved around the surface. Instead, the user is
required to rotate a ball by turning the fingers,
which moves the pointer accordingly.
 The ball is inserted halfway into an instrument and
may contain various shapes, such as a ball, square,
or button.
 A trackball also has buttons to perform certain
functions like a mouse.
 Scanner
 A scanner is an essential input device that allows
us to convert a hard copy document into a digital
file (.jpeg, .png, .pdf, etc.).
 It basically uses optical technology that reads
characters or pictures from a paper and transfers
them to a computer's drive for further
manipulation.
 Like other images, the scanned image can also be
saved, edited, emailed, and printed whenever we
want.
 Scanners can be of different types, depending on
the different functionality.
 Graphic Tablet
 A graphic tablet, also known as a digitizer, is primarily
used to digitally transform hand-drawn artwork (.png,
.jpeg, etc.).
 It is an input device with a flat surface and comes
with a stylus.
 Users can use a stylus to draw graphics on a surface
like we draw something on paper using a pen or
pencil.
 The digitizer reads the signals and converts graphics
to binary input. The same drawing is displayed on a
computer screen in real-time and can be saved,
edited, emailed, or printed.
 Besides, digitizers can also be used to signatures
 Stylus
 A stylus is an input device used to draw or write
on the surface of digitizers and touch-screens.
 It was mainly introduced for digitizers and PDAs;
however, nowadays people are using a stylus with
smartphones and tablets instead of fingers.
 This is because it can result in better accuracy,
and prevent oil and scratches on the surface of
the device from the user's fingers.
 Touchscreen
 A touch screen is nothing but a touch-
sensitive surface or monitor screen that reads
the signals of movement of the user's fingers
and performs certain tasks accordingly. This
can be seen nowadays in most devices, such
as smartphones, cameras, smartwatches,
laptops, etc.
 With touch screens, users can perform tasks
using only their fingers or stylus.
 Microphone
 A microphone, also known as a mic, is a type of
voice input device that allows users to input voice
into a computer system.
 Mics typically read sounds from the surroundings
and convert analog sound waves into electrical
signals. These signals are further converted into
digital form and stored in the computer
 They can be of different types, depending on the
quality and specific functionality.
 Some common types of microphones include a
dynamic mic, ribbon mic, condenser mic, etc.
 Digital Camera
 A digital camera is an input device that is used to
capture images and video in digital form.
 This allows users to store the captured media files
in a memory card and transfer them to the
computer.
 Digital cameras use an image sensor chip to
capture images rather than the film used by
traditional cameras.
 Many advanced digital cameras also come with a
screen that displays captured media as well as
allows for many other options, such as preview,
zoom, delete, send, and more.
 Webcam
 Webcam can capture images and videos and
convert them into a digital form. A webcam
however is slightly different from a digital
cameras.
 Unlike digital cameras, webcams cannot operate
independently. They should be connected to a
computer.
 Also, webcams have no inbuilt memory; they use
the computer's storage to save captured data.
 Webcams are most commonly used for video
chatting and live-streaming videos.
 Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)
 MICR is a device that typically reads characters or
texts that are printed on paper using ink that
contains particles of magnetic material.
 This device is mainly used in banks to read the
cheque number and bank code and to send a signal
to the computer to process a valid cheque.
 This reading process is known as magnetic ink
character recognition.
 They are very helpful in processing a large number
of cheques within a short duration with almost
100% accuracy.
 Optical Character Reader (OCR)
 OCR is an input device used to read the
handwritten or printed text and convert them to
digital text.
 This device reads text optically, character by
character, and converts the text into digital form
to be stored in a computer.
 It is mostly used in libraries and offices to copy
texts from books and save them digitally.
 OCR scans the documents like a scanner and then
converts them into two coloured bitmap versions
(usually black and white).
 Bar Code Reader
 A bar code reader, also known as a barcode
scanner, is an input device used to read bar
codes.
 Barcodes are data written as dark and light lines
printed on various items for labeling details.
 The bar code reader scans the bar code image on
a product, decodes and stores the information
therein in a computer connected to a barcode
reader.
 This ultimately helps in identifying product details
and prices from the database.
 QR Code Reader
 The QR code reader, also known as the QR
code scanner, is an input device used to read
QR codes.
 QR codes are computer-generated patterns
that store or hold a modest amount of data.
 They do not require a database to store
information separately.
 QR code readers are almost identical in
functionalities to bar code readers.
 Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

 The OMR is a type of input device that

optically scans the paper and identifies
the mark created using a pencil and
pen.
 It is mainly used to verify answers from
answer sheets, which include answers
to multiple-choice questions.
 Biometric Devices
 Biometric devices are used to input a
person's scanned data based on biological
characteristics, such as facial structures,
fingerprints, eye corneas, etc.
 Most modern smartphones come with the
feature of Face Unlock and Fingerprint
Unlock, making them a biometric device.
 However, they can also be standalone
devices.
Motion Capturing Devices
 These are the devices used to detect human
movements and send them as input to the
computer.
 Such devices are mostly used in advanced
gaming setups, which allow players to play
a game by moving their body parts
accordingly.
 This technique is also beneficial in
animation and robotics.
 Output Device
 An output device is typically a computer hardware
component that is responsible for presenting the
data or information generated by a computer
system in a format that can be easily understood
by humans.
 These devices take electronic data from the
computer and convert it into various forms, such
as text, visual, audio and hard copy (paper print).
 Monitor
 The most common example of an output
device is a monitor.
 It is also known as VDU (Visual Display
Unit).
 The monitor provides output from a
computer on a screen so that users can
interact with or view data digitally.
 Monitors are broadly classified into two
types, such as cathode-ray tubes and flat-
panel displays:

 Printer
 The printer is another most common example of
output devices that can be easily found.
 The printer receives electronic data from the
computer and produces a hard copy of the processed
data.
 Earlier printers were only able to make black and
white prints; however, today's printers can produce
monochrome and color prints with high quality.
 There are also wireless printers,
 Printers are broadly classified into two types, such
as impact printers and non-impact printers:
Impact Printer
 Impact printers typically use a type of hammer or
print head that is pushed onto the ink ribbon, which
then jointly strikes on a paper and draws the
characters.
 Although these printers come at a low cost, they
make a lot of noise and are therefore not in
widespread use nowadays.
 However, they can be the best choice for bulk
printing due to their reasonable cost.
 Impact printers are divided into two types, such
as character printers and line printers.
 Non-Impact Printer
 Non-impact printers do not use print head to strike the ink
ribbon.
 Unlike impact printers, the internal machinery of non-
impact printers does not make direct physical contact with
the paper.
 These types of printers usually print the entire page at
once, and therefore, are also called page printers.
 Non-impact printers are divided into two types, such
as laser printers and inkjet printers.
 Among all printers, these are the two most common types
of printers.
 Laser printers and Inkjet printers
Laser printers uses toner to Inkjet printers usually print
prints the on the paper with the characters or pictures by
the help of some heat and spraying small drops of ink on
pressure the paper.
 Projector
 A projector is a display output device
because it receives images from a
computer and transfers those computer
images to a wall, surface, or projection
screen.
 Specifically, the computer first sends the
signal to the video card, which then
transmits the signal to the projector to
project the images on the surface.
 Speakers
 Speakers are one of the most common output
devices used on computers to achieve audio
output.
 Computer speakers usually receive signals from
the sound card and then convert them to
audio.
 Most monitors and laptops come with inbuilt
speakers.
 We can also connect external speakers to the
computer via both wired and wirelessly.
 Headphones
 Headphones, also known as earphones, are
output devices that allow users to listen to
audio from a computer.
 These devices are mainly used to listen to audio
privately or without disturbing others around.
 Headphones come in a variety of sizes and
designs and can connect with supported devices
via both wired or wirelessly.
 Many headphones come with a microphone.
 Braille Reader
 A Braille reader is an output device that primarily
helps blind people read content (texts only) from
a computer screen.
 The computer sends signals to the Braille reader,
which converts them into Braille letters in the
form of pins embossed on a flat surface.
 Blindness persons can touch these pins and
interpret the letters accordingly.
 Plotter
 A plotter is an output device that is almost
identical to a printer.
 Unlike a printer, a plotter has various advanced
features and can also print on cardboard, film,
fabric, and many other synthetic surfaces.
 The plotter helps to produce large-size hardcopies
of graphics or designs.
 A plotter usually uses color pens to draw multiple
lines between different points to create the
entire design.
 Plotters are expensive compared to printers.
 Peripherals
 Peripherals are hardware components that are
connected to the computer system to expand its
capabilities or functionality.
 They are not considered core components of the
computer since it does not contribute to the
computer’s primary function.
 It helps end users access and use the
functionalities of a computer.
 Since it’s not a core device for the system, the
computer can still function without the
peripheral, which simply provides extra functions.
 Peripherals Cont…
 There are several types of peripherals, although
they’re commonly divided into three broad categories:
input, output, and storage devices.
 Depending on whether the peripheral is located inside
or outside the computer system case, it can be further
classified as an internal or integrated peripheral (e.g
optical disc drive) or external peripheral device
 An external peripheral can be connected via many
different types of cables and connections
 Today, the most common connection for external
peripherals is the USB connection.
 Summary
 This lecture - Input/output devices and peripherals
discussed many examples of input and output devices used
in computing.
 The primary function of an input device is to convert raw
data given by users to machine language because
computers only understand machine language and not raw
input.
 An output devices take electronic data from the computer
and convert it into various forms in a format that can be
easily understood by humans, such as text, visual, audio
and hard copy (paper print).
 Peripherals are hardware components that are connected
to the computer system to expand its capabilities or
functionality.
 Review Questions
 Describe at least 15 input device
 Describe at least 10 output device
 Discuss peripheral devices
 Differentiate between input devices and output
devices.
 Categorize different input devices as - Pointing
devices, Keyboard devices, Speech or voice input
devices, Draw devices, Recognition devices.
Thanks for Participating Actively
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