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Input and Output Devices_240922_115438

The document provides an overview of input and output devices in computer systems, detailing their functions and types. It explains various input devices such as keyboards, mice, scanners, and microphones, as well as output devices like monitors, printers, and speakers. Additionally, it describes the role of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) as the brain of the computer that processes commands and calculations.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
26 views11 pages

Input and Output Devices_240922_115438

The document provides an overview of input and output devices in computer systems, detailing their functions and types. It explains various input devices such as keyboards, mice, scanners, and microphones, as well as output devices like monitors, printers, and speakers. Additionally, it describes the role of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) as the brain of the computer that processes commands and calculations.

Uploaded by

rupalinavale34
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit 2: Input and Output Devices

We have learnt in the previous chapter that how a computer works in three stages i.e., Input,
Process, and Output. It accepts input, processes the data according to a set of instructions then
stores it and gives a meaningful output. Thus, a computer system has four main components:
Input unit, Central Processing unit, Output unit, and Secondary Storage unit.

Input Unit:
Input refers to the data or instructions which we feed into a computer. Input devices are used to
enter data and information into a computer. The Input unit converts the incoming data and
instructions into a pattern of binary codes which is understood by a computer. Then it further
supplies the converted data to the processor for processing.

1) Keyboard:
Keyboard is one of the most important input devices used to input data and instructions
into a computer. There are mainly five types of keys on a keyboard:
Typing keys, Control Keys, Navigation Keys, Function Keys, Numeric Keypad.

2) Mouse:
Mouse is the most commonly used input and pointing device that lets you select and
move items on the screen.
The left mouse button is used more frequently than the right button. A single left-click
selects an item while double-clicking on an item activates the application.
The right-click often displays a list of commands on the screen. We can also gain access
to 'Property' settings, with the right-click. Dragging and dropping makes it easy to move
an item on the screen. With this simple technique, one can delete, copy, and move files in
a file manager. Mouse is also used in drawing packages to draw free-hand lines, circles,
boxes, and other complicated graphic images.
Types of Mouse:
Mechanical Mouse: This type of mouse has a metal or rubber ball on its lower side that
can roll in all the directions. The screen pointer moves according to the movement of
the ball which is detected by the mechanical sensors within the mouse.
Opto-Mechanical Mouse: This type of mouse uses a mechanism similar to the
mechanical mouse. The only difference is that it uses Opto-Mechanical Mouse optical
sensors to detect the movement of the ball.
Optical Mouse: An optical mouse does not have any mechanical moving parts. The laser
technology is used to detect the movement of the mouse. It is more efficient and
expensive than the Mechanical and Opto-Mechanical mouse.

3) Stylus :
A stylus (or stylus pen) is a small instrument shaped like a pen that is used to provide
input to mobile devices, computer screens, and tablets. It can be used to draw or make
selections on touchscreen devices directly on the screen. Using stylus instead of a mouse
or a trackball is also called pen computing. Stylus is used on game consoles like
Nintendo.

4) Scanner:
It is an input device that scans text, images, and objects optically. The scanned data is
then converted into a digital image and displayed on the computer screen.
Types of Scanner
1. Drum Scanner: This is the most efficient and expensive scanner. It uses a rotating
glass drum to scan. In a drum scanner, the light from the object that is to be scanned is
split into separate red, blue, and green beams optically, making the image precise. This
mechanism is called the Photo Multiplier Tubes (PMT) technology. Drum scanners are
used mainly in the publishing industry to print high quality images in books and
magazines.
2. Flatbed Scanner: This is a popular desktop scanner. It looks like a miniature printer
with a flip-up cover protecting the glass window. In a flatbed scanner, the object to be
scanned is placed face down on the glass window which is then illuminated with a bright
light. It uses Charged Coupled Device(CCD) technology to read the entire area optically.
Depending on its size, a flatbed scanner can fit standard or legal-sized documents and its
flexible cover allows you to scan books, newspapers, articles, photographs, etc. The
flatbed scanners are used in homes, schools, and medium sized offices.
3. Handheld Scanner: This is a small manual device which is dragged over the surface
of the image to be scanned. These scanners are operated by hand. It is difficult to operate
these scanners as they need a steady hand to scan objects in order to avoid distorted
images. Bar code scanner is one of the most utilized handheld scanner used in shopping
malls.

5) OCR (Optical Character Reader / Recognition) :


It is used to read characters from a printed paper into the computer. The shape of the
character is recognized by OCR through a light source in conjunction with photoelectric
cells. When a text page is scanned, it is converted into a computer readable form and
reproduced in a form that looks similar to a page that has been typed. The software then
places the text into a document that can be edited using any word processor or text editor.

6) OMR (OPTICAL MARK READER/RECOGNITION):


OMR is a device for capturing data formed by dark and light marks on specific positions
of the paper. It is a special device that can detect marks made with ink or pencil. OMR
requires a special printed paper that contains boxes or circles for shading. The shaded
marks are translated into electrical signals based on the presence or absence of shaded
marks. This format is used by various entrance examinations for marking objective type
questions. The answer sheets are inserted into OMR for calculating the scores. It has a
great speed and the marking is error free.
7) MICR(MAGNETICINK CHARACTER READER/ RECOGNITION):
MICR is primarily used by the banking industry to facilitate the processing of cheques.
This technology allows computers to read information (such as account numbers) from
the printed documents. MICR characters are printed in special typefaces with a magnetic
ink or toner, usually containing iron oxide. As a machine decodes the MICR text, it first
magnetizes the characters in the plane surface of the paper. Then, the characters are
passed over an MICR read head, a device similar to the playback head of a tape recorder.
As each character passes over the head, it produces a unique wave form that can easily be
identified by the system. Unlike barcodes or similar technologies, MICR codes can easily
be read by humans.

8) BARCODE READER:
It is an input device used for reading bar codes present on various products. A bar code is
a combination of dark and light stripes. It is a computer readable representation of
information, present in visual format. A bar code reader consists of a light source, a lens,
and a light sensor for translating the optical impulses into electrical signals. It is a very
useful device for billing and inventory applications.

9) JOYSTICK:
A joystick is an input device which allows the user to move an object on the screen. It is
normally used in Gaming Centres for playing games. It has a moving stick (which rests
on a base) with some push buttons on it. In fact, the stick movements are similar to the
gear of a car. The physical movements of the stick are sent to the computer as input, to
move the cursor or the object at different positions on the screen. This creates simulations
in the game making it exciting for the user.

10)MICROPHONE:
It is an input device used to record and store voice or any other sound into a computer,
generally as a .wav file. It is also used for recording a narration in a PowerPoint
presentation. Generally, it is used as a separate component for desktops but can be seen as
an integrated component in some laptops. You can notice a special port in these computers
where a microphone can be connected. Microphone is commonly used in video
conferencing, speech recognition programs, radio broadcasting, recording, and sound
amplifying systems.

11) LIGHT PEN:


It is a light-sensitive pointing device, commonly used to select or modify data on the
screen. It allows the user to point on displayed objects or draw on the screen. Its
operation is similar to a touch screen but has greater positional accuracy. It is easy to use
and helpful for programs like Computer Aided Design (CAD).
12) Web Camera:
A webcam is the short form of the web camera. It is a device used to share a live image in
real time to or through a computer in a network. Generally, a webcam is connected to our
computer by a USB cable or built into computer hardware, such as laptops. When sent to
a remote location, the videos can be recorded, viewed, saved on hard drive or live-
streamed over the internet. A webcam is widely used in organizations for video
conferencing.

Output Unit:
The output unit is used for displaying or printing the processed data in a user readable
form. A computer can have several output devices attached to it. Some of the common
output devices are listed below:

 MONITOR
Monitor is the most common output device. It is also called Visual Display Unit(VDU), an
electronic visual display for computers. Just like a television, a monitor also displays the output
on the screen. The picture on a monitor is made up of thousands of small coloured dots called
pixels. Monitor resolution is measured in pixels, width by height. For example,1920x1030 means
width is 1920 pixels and height is 1080 pixels. The output displayed on the monitor is called
Softcopy. The most common types of monitors are:
1. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors
2. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)or Thin Film Transistor(TFT)monitors
3. Light-Emitting Diode Monitors
1. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors
CRT monitors were the most common monitors until flat panel screens became affordable. They
consist of an electron gun. In these monitors, a beam of electrons lights up the pixels/phosphor
dots, which form the inner coating of the screen. Colour is achieved by combining Red, Green,
and Blue (RGB) shades of different intensities.
CRT monitors are bulky and occupy a lot of space. They are available in various sizes, like 14
inches, 15 inches, 17 inches, and 21 inches. A CRT monitor still has better contrast ratios and
viewing angles than any other type of computer monitor.
2. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Monitors
LCD monitors are relatively thinner and lighter than CRT monitors. They use the light
modulating properties of Liquid Crystals (LCs). Liquid Crystals do not emit light directly.They
save a lot of space and can be mounted on walls. They provide a wide viewing angle and come in
various sizes ranging from 17 inches to 60 inches. They display sharp images and require less
power to run. They are used in a wide range of applications including computer monitors,
television, instrumental panels, aircraft cockpit displays, etc. They are also used in devices, such
as clocks, watches, calculators, gaming devices, and telephones.
3. LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE(LED) MONITOR
LED display is the latest development in this field. These monitors are light emitting diodes that
act as performance boosters in them. LED monitors offer better colour quality, clarity, and
display than the LCD monitors. These monitors are flat, thinner,and lighter in weight. The
biggest advantage of LED display is its efficient and low energy consumption, which is
especially needed for handled and chargeable devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and
laptops. These monitors are in maximum use nowadays.
TOUCH SCREEN MONITOR
A touch screen is a special monitor that allows the user to input information by touching the
icons or graphical buttons present on the screen. One can enter only a limited amount of data by
using touch screen technology. It is also used in ATM machines, offices, and cineplexes to
retrieve the desired information. Touch screen monitors are used in many supermarkets and
museums to give information about products and objects of historical importance respectively.

 PRINTERS
A printer is a peripheral device used for printing the output on a paper or any other
printable media. The printed information on the paper is called a Hard Copy. Printers are of two
types:
1.Impact Printer
2.Non-Impact Printer
1. Impact Printers

Impact printers allow physical contact between the printer head and paper i.e., they print by the
impact of dot wires on paper. They are also called character printers
Impact printers are classified as follows:
Daisy Wheel Printers: These printers have good letter formation capability but cannot produce
graphics. They produce letter-quality documents. The speed of these printers varies from 60 cps
to 120 cps (character per second). They are not in use anymore since they were very slow and
noisy.
Dot -Matrix Printers: These are the only Impact printers in use nowadays and can be seen
rarely in offices, factories or schools. They are noisy and do not have good printing quality. As a
result, they are losing popularity. Besides text, they are capable of printing charts and graphics.
They are relatively economical. These printers have either 9 or 24 pins on the print head. They
use a matrix of small pins to create precise dots on paper to form characters the speed of dot
matrix ranges from 50 (characters per second) to 500 (characters per second, As they are robust
in nature, they can be used in rough conditions.
2. Non-impact Printers
Non-Impact printers do not allow physical contact between the printing heads and paper i.e., they
do not strike against the inked ribbon or the paper which is being printed. Only the ink used for
printing, touches the paper. Non-Impact printers have gained popularity because they are
comparatively quieter than Impact printers and have better quality. Thermal Printer addition,
they can also produce coloured graphics. The Non-Impact printers are categorized as thermal,
inkjet, and laser printer
Thermal Printers: Thermal printers use a special heat sensitive paper. Characters are formed
when heated elements come in contact with the heat sensitive paper, thus forming darkened dots.
The standard of print produced is poor. Thermal printers are widely used in battery powered
equipments, such as portable calculators.
Ink-jet Printers: They produce images by spraying tiny droplets of ink onto the paper. They
have very high quality output and can also produce coloured graphics. These printers are less
noisy. The average quality of inkjet printers is 300 dpi (dots per inch) although few latest models
offer higher resolutions. Inkjet printers use coloured cartridges which combine magenta, yellow,
and cyan inks to create colour tones. A black cartridge is also used for crisp monochrome output.
They are cheap and ideal for home/office. The cartridge is quite costly and needs to be replaced
more frequently than a laser printer.
Laser Printers: These printers use photocopy technology to print. Laser printers use a laser
beam and dry powdered ink to produce a fine dot matrix pattern. The quality of output on paper
is very good. They can also produce very high quality images. They are mostly used for DTP
(Desktop Publishing) purpose. They can print about 6 to 10 pages per minute. They have a very
high resolution ranging from 600-1200 dpi (dots per inch).
3D Printers: 3D printers are remarkable machines that can make everyday things in different
materials, in all forms. Objects are created in 3D using additive processes. In this process, an
object is created by laying down successive layers of material until an object is entirely made. In
comparison, 3D printers are much costlier than the impact and non-impact printers.
SPEAKERS
Speakers are the output devices which are used to play sound. A speaker converts an alternating
electrical current into sound. It may be built into the system unit or connected with cables. We
can listen to music and various sound effects through them.
PLOTTERS
A plotter is a vector graphic printing device which interprets commands from a computer to
make line drawings on paper with one or more automated pens. Plotters are different from
printers as they can draw continuous point-to-point lines directly from vector graphics files or
commands. Vector based refers to a series of points to be connected as compared to the normal
pixel based system. Vector based printing produces better lines and graphics. Plotters are
basically used for graphical applications, like Computer Aided Designing(CAD) for printing
maps and drawings.
There are two types of plotters: Flatbed Plotters and Drum Plotters.
PROJECTOR:
A projector is an output device that can be connected to a computer. It is a device that allows us
to display image, videos or other content on a large screen or surface. It works by projecting light
through a lens, which magnifies and focuses the image onto the desired surface, creating a larger
representation of the content being displayed.

CPU (Central Processing Unit):


The CPU is simply called the “processor”. It is considered as the brain of computer where most of the
calculations take place. The CPU is the primary device which interprets and runs the commands given to
the computer. It controls all the internal and external devices of a computer.
The CPU consists of three basic sections:
1) ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
2) Control Unit
3) Registers
These three sections of the microprocessor work together to control the operations of the system. These
are connected to other crucial components like Input Unit, Output Unit and Secondary Memory
Via special connecting wires called the system bus.
ALU (Arithmetic and Logic Unit):
This unit performs the computing functions as given below involving numbers.
1) Arithmetic operations which include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
2) All Logic operations which involve comparisons such as less than, greater than, or equal to
The results of these operations are stored in the registers or in memory or sent to output devices.
Registers:
All data is temporarily stored in registers during the execution of programs. Registers offer very
fast memory but very limited in size.
Control Unit (CU):
The control unit of the CPU directs the entire computer system to carry out, or execute, stored
program instructions.
The CPU performs following four steps in executing an instruction:
1) The control unit gets the instruction from memory.
2) The control unit decides what the instruction means and directs the necessary data to be moved
from the memory to the ALU
3) The ALU performs the actual operation on the data
4) The result of the operation is stored in memory or a register.
MU (Memory Unit) :
The MU stores both data and instructions. The data and instructions can also stored permanently in
this unit so that they are available whenever required. The MU is linked with other parts of the
computer and sends them the data when needed.
Computer Memory is classified into two categories:
1) Internal Memory 2) External Memory
1) Internal Memory:
Every computer has a certain amount of memory. Usually referred to as the main memory. This is
also called internal memory or primary memory. Primary memory is a place where data and
programs are stored temporarily as long as they are being executed. It is very fast and expensive
but has limited storage capacity. It is of two types:
RAM and ROM
Point Name RAM ROM
Full Name Random Access Memory Read Only Memory
Definition RAM is a form of data storage that can be ROM is also a form of data storage that
accessed randomly at any time, in any order generally stores hardwired instructions for
by CPU. the computer to start initially.
Alterations RAM contents can be changed or altered as ROM cannot be easily altered or
and when required. reprogrammed.
Use RAM allows the computer to read data ROM stores the program required to initially
quickly to run applications. boot the computer or reboot the computer.
Operations supported It allows reading and writing. It only allows reading.
Volatility RAM is volatile i.e. its contents are lost It is Non-volatile i.e. its contents are
when the device is powered off. retained even when the device is powered
off.
Size Larger than ROM; can be up to some Giga Smaller but large enough to hold basic
Bytes (GBs) instructions; is up to some Mega Bytes
(MBs)
Speed RAM chips can read data faster than ROM ROM is slower as compared to RAM.

2) External Memory: It is also known as Auxiliary memory or secondary memory. It is needed


since the main memory is temporary, expensive and insufficient to store a huge amount of data.
Whenever required, the data for processing gets transferred from the secondary memory to the
primary memory. The speed of external memory is much slower than that of the internal memory.

Cache Memory: The CPU uses cache memory to store instructions that are repeatedly required to run
programs, improving the overall system speed. The advantage of Cache memory is that it makes the
processing speed much faster. Cache is much more expensive than RAM.

Storage Devices:
Storage devices are used to store information until it is deleted or overwritten by the user. The commonly
used storage devices are:
1) Hard Disk: It is the most common storage device for storing a large amount of data. It is also
called HD or HDD or Winchester Disk. It was introduced in 1954 by an IBM team led by Rey
Johnson.
Hard disk is made up of a collection of disks known as platters. Each platter requires two read/
write heads one for each side. All the read/ write heads are attached to a single access arm so that
they do not move independently. Each platter has the same number of tracks to store data. A track
location that cuts across all platters is called Cylinder.
 Coated with magnetic material, it is hard and inflexible.
 It has a large storage capacity. It can store upto 8 TB of data.
 The disk rotates at a very high speed, varying from 5400 to 15000 rpm (rotations per
minute)
 It can be reused.

2) CD ROM: It stands for Compact Disk-Read Only Memory. Read only means you cannot change
the pre-recorded information stored on the disk. It is a type of optical disk capable of storing a
large amount of data, information or software etc. Most of the software like audio, video,
graphics and multimedia presentations are found on CDs. The data from a CD can be accessed
using a CD drive.
 Storage capacity varies from 650 MB to 900 MB
 It is made up of a reflective metal coating (aluminum) and enclosed between two
protective polycarbon layers. In the top layer, labels and description of disks contents are
printed. The bottom layer reads the data. This bottom layer comprises of millions of tiny
depressions and flat surfaces called pits and lands respectively. To read data from a CD-
ROM, a high power laser beam is required.
 The speed of a CD-ROM drive is called data transfer rate and is measured in Kilo bytes
per second.
CD comes in two sizes, the standard CD with 120 mm diameter and mini CD with 80mm
diameter.
Two type of CD-ROMs:
1) CD-R: Compact- Disk Recordable
2) CD- RW: Compact Disk- Rewritable
3)DVD (Digital Versatile Disk):
Invented in 1995, the DVD has become a very popular data storage device. Initially it was called Digital
Video Disk, which was later changed to Digital Versatile Disk. DVD can store high quality video, audio
and other kind of digital information. DVD’s are available in single and double sided versions.

 A DVD can store six times more data than a CD.


 The data transmission rate of a DVD is much faster than that of a CD
 A DVD can hold 4.7 GB to 17 GB of data.
 A DVD player can also play audio CDs and Video CDs.
Like a CD-ROM, a DVD is also available in many versions:
DVD-R, DVD-RW
4) Blu- Ray Disk :
It is a new optical disk format that is rapidly replacing a DVD. This format was developed to enable
recording, rewriting and playback of HD as well as for storing large amount of data. The name Blu-ray
disk is derived from the blue-violet laser which is used to read and write this type of disk. This disk has
the same dimension as that of a DVD and CD.
It has following features and advantages:
1) Largest Capacity: It can hold upto 25 GB of data on a single layer and 50 GB of data on a dual
layer disk.
2) Maximum Picture Resolution: Full 1080p HD video support
3) Uncompressed Surround Sound:
4) Backward Compatibility: It allow to watch existing DVD libraries
5) Disk Robustness: Offers the strongest resistance to scratches and fingerprints.

5)Flash Drive :
It is a small and portable flash memory data storage device, mainly used to transfer audio, video and data
files from the hard drive of one computer to another. It is removable and rewritable. It is plugged into the
computers USB port. It consists of a small PCB (Printed Circuit Board), which contains the circuit
elements and a USB connector that is electrically insulated and protected inside a plastic, metal, or
rubberized case.
Flash drive is also called Pen drive or Thumb drive and is available with storage capacity of up to 2TB of
data.
6)Memory Stick :
A Memory Stick is a removable flash memory card. It is used as a storage media for portable devices, like
digital camera, mobile phone, etc. that can easily be connected to a personal computer.
For example, digital compact cameras/mobile phones use Memory Sticks for storing image files. With
USB 2.0 based memory card reader, we can transfer the pictures taken with the digital camera/mobile
phone to a computer.
A Memory Stick is versatile, compatible, and user friendly which makes it the most popular portable
memory device used for storing/sharing/enjoying digital content anywhere, any time. It is available in 4
MB, 8 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, and 2TB storage sizes.

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