OPERATIONS OF OUTPUT DEVICE IN COMPUTER SYSTEM

Common output devices in computer system are:

Monitor
Printers
Sound system
MONITOR
A monitor is an electronic output device used to display information being entered and processed
on a computer. The primary use of a monitor is to display images, text, video and graphics
information generated by the computer via a computer’s video cards.
The main three types of computer monitors are:
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
LED (Light Emitting Diode)
• CRT (Cathode Ray Tube): These were the first type of monitor, using a vacuum tube to
create images on a screen, and are now largely obsolete.
• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): LCD monitors are flat-screen displays that use liquid
crystals to create images, and are known for being lighter and more energy-efficient than
CRT monitors.
• LED (Light Emitting Diode): LED monitors are a type of LCD that uses LEDs for
backlighting, offering better brightness and color accuracy than traditional LCDs.
A computer monitor’s primary function is to serve as an output device, displaying visual
information such as text, images and video, generated by the computer.
• Visual Output: Monitors display the output from a computer, allowing users to see what
the computer is processing and displaying.
• Text and Graphics: They show text, images, graphics and video enabling users to
interact with the computer and see the results of their actions.
• User Interface: Monitors are a crucial part of the user interface allowing users to see and
interact with the operating system and application.
• Output device: Monitors are considered an output device because they translate the
computers data into a visual form that humans can understand.
• Different Types: Monitors come in various types, including LCD, LED and OLED each
with its own advantages and disadvantages.
PRINTER
A printer is a device that takes electronic data from a computer and produces a physical, or hard
copy, typically on page, but can also be on other materials like film or labels.
Function of Printers:
Printers are output devices, meaning they allow users to see the results of their computer work in
a tangible format.
Type of printers:
There are various types of printers, including inkjet, laser, thermal and 3D printers, each with its
own printing technology and capabilities.
Common use of printers:
Printers are used for a wide range of purposes, including printing documents, photos, labels and
even 3D objects.
Examples of printers:
INKJET PRINTER: Use ink cartridges to spray ink onto paper.
LASERJET PRINTER: Use a laser beam and toner powder to create images on paper.
THERMAL PRINTER: Use heat to print images onto heat-sensitive paper.
3D PRINTER: create three-dimensional objects from digital designs.
SOUND SYSTEM
In the context of computers, a sound system refers to the hardware and software components that
enables a computer to generate, process and output audio, including sound cards, speakers, and
related software drivers.
Key components of Sound system:
Sound cards (Integrated Audio Chips):
This is the hardware components responsible for converting digital audio data from the computer
into analog signals that can be played through speakers or headphones and vice versa for
recording audio.
Speakers:
These are the output devices that convert the analog signals from the sound card into sound
waves that humans can hear.
Microphone (Optional):
This is an input device that converts sound waves into electrical signal that can be recorded and
processed by the computer.
Software driver:
These are software programs that allows the operating system to communicate with the sound
card and other audio devices.
Operating system:
The operating system manages the audio input and output, including setting default audio
devices and handling system sounds.
HOW SOUND SYSTEM WORK
• Digital Audio: Audio on a computer is stored and processed as digital data often in
formats like MP3 or MAV.
• Sound card processing: The sound card receives this digital data and uses a digital-to-
analog converter (DAC) to convert it into an analog signal.
• Output to Speakers: The analog signal is then sent to the speakers, which convert it
back into sound waves.
• Input from Microphone: If a microphone is connected, the sound card uses an analog-
to-digital convert (ADC) to convert the analog signal from the microphone into digital
data that the computer can process.
POPULER VIDEO SYSTEM INTERFACES
• HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface):
✓ A digital audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and
compressed or uncompressed digital audio data.
✓ Supports high-definition video and audio transmission over a single cable.
✓ Offers high data rates (up to 18Gbps) and supports resolutions up to 4K.
✓ Commonly used for connecting TVs, monitors and other devices to PCs.
✓ HDMI 2.1 supports even higher resolutions and refresh rates, including 8K/60Hz
and 10K/30Hz.
• DisplayPort:
✓ A digital display interface designed to transmit video and audio signals.
✓ Supports high refresh rates and resolutions, including 144Hz at 4K.
✓ Often used for connecting high-end monitors and graphics cards.
• DVI (Digital Visual Interface):
✓ A digital video interface designed to maximize the visual quality of digital display
devices.
✓ Transmits only video signals (no audio).
✓ DVI-D (Digital Only), DVI-A (Analog Only), and DVI-I (Digital and Analog) are
the different types.
✓ DVI is a legacy interface, but still used in some older systems
• VGA (Video Graphics Array):
✓ An analog video interface that is older and less common than digital interfaces.
✓ Supports lower resolutions and refresh rates compared to digital interfaces.
✓ Still used in some older devices and projectors.
• USB-C:
✓ A versatile interface that can transmit video, audio, and data also provide power.
 ✓ Many modern devices, including laptops and smartphones, use USB-C for video
output.
✓ Can support DisplayPort alternate mode (DP Alt Mode) for video output.
DISPLAY POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
DPMS: Is a standard developed by the video electronics standards association (VESA) that
enables monitors to manage their power consumption efficiently.
HOW DPMS WORKS:
When a computer is idle, DPMS sends signals to the monitor, which then enters a low-power
state, such as standby or off, to conserve energy.
BENEFITS OF DPMS:
• Energy Saving: DPMS helps reduce energy consumption by automatically putting
monitors into low-power states when they are not in use.
• Environmental impact: By reducing energy consumption, DPMS contributes to a smaller
carbon footprint.
• Improved User Experience: DPMS can also enhance the user experience by ensuring that
monitors are not left on unnecessarily, which can be a waste of energy and resources.
HOW IT DIFFERS FROM SCREEN SAVERS:
DPMS is an improved method of saving a computer screen compared to a screen saver. DPMS
turns off the video signal to your screen after a period of inactivity, which puts most newer
monitors into a standby mode or shuts off the monitor.
COMMON AUDIO FILE TYPES STORED AND PLAYED ON A PC.
The audio file types stored and played on a pc include WAV, MP3, WMA, and MP4, with WAV
being an uncompressed format known for high quality, MP3 a popular compressed format,
WMA a Microsoft format, and MP4 a versatile container that can store both audio and video.
Audio file types:
• WAV (Waveform Audio File Format):
✓ A standard, uncompressed audio format, known for its high quality and large file
sizes.
✓ Primarily used for storing raw audio data.
✓ Ideal for applications requiring high audio fidelity, such as music production or
sound design.
• MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3):
✓ A widely used, compressed audio format, offering a balance between file size and
audio quality.
✓ Achieves compression by discarding some audio information, which can result in
slight quality loss.
 ✓ Popular for storing and streaming music.
• WMA (Windows Media Audio):
✓ A Microsoft-developed audio format, designed for efficient compression and
streaming.
✓ Natively supported by windows media player.
✓ Offers a good balance between file size and audio quality, making it suitable for
streaming and storing music.
• MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14):
✓ A versatile multimedia container format that can store audio, video and other data.
✓ While it can store audio, it’s more commonly used for video files allowing for the
inclusion of audio tracks alongside video.
✓ Well-suited for video sharing, downloading, and streaming.
Other Audio File Formats:
• AAC (Advanced Audio Coding): A lossy audio format known for its high quality and
small file sizes.
• AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format): A Lossless audio format similar to WAV, but
often used for storing audio on apple devices.
• ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec): A lossless audio format developed by Apple
offering high quality without the large file sizes of WAV.
• FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec): An open-source lossless audio format, offering
high quality with relatively smaller file sizes than WAV or AIFF.
• OGG (Vorbis): An open-source audio format known for its high-quality sound and
efficient compression.
• M4A (MPEG-4 Audio): An audio file format from Apple that can store several audio
contents types, including songs, audiobooks, and podcasts.
• DSD (Direct Stream Digital): A high-resolution audio format that offers very high-
quality audio files.
• AC3 (Dolby Digital): An audio format used in cinema movies, DVDs, Blu-rays, and
Video games.