Input and Output Devices
Input and Output Devices
Devices
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Examples
Keyboard: one of the most common manual input devices.
Examples
Mouse: also one of the most common manual input
devices.
The most common pointing input device. It sends positional
information to the computer my clicking or scrolling of the mouse
buttons.
Has two buttons: the left is usually used to select items and the
right to access menus.
There are two types of mice: mechanical and optical.
Examples
Joystick
Similar in appearance to a vehicle hear shift, but has buttons
which carry out different commands.
Generally used for playing video games and in virtual reality
simulations and robot control.
Examples
Touch screen
Allows the user to press parts of the screen with their fingers or a
stylus in order to activate commands
There is no need for a keyboard or mouse with a touchscreen
Examples
Scanner
Allows the transfer of pictures, graphics and text to the computer by
scanning the image from top to bottom, one line at a time, and
transfers it to the computer.
Examples
Microphone
Data is input in audio form
Commonly used in voice recognition software: users can dictate or
give commands directly to the computer without the need for
typing or clicking.
Can be connected to the computer via USB or through the
microphone port. Some computers come with microphones built
in, as do most webcams.
Examples
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
Reads data printed in special magnetic ink and converts it into a
computer readable form.
Commonly used by banks on cheques.
Connect to the computer via PS2 Y port.
Hardcopy Output
Hardcopy output refers to physical output from the
computer: recording letters, graphics or pictures on a
permanent medium such as paper or film.
Modern output devices are fairly fast, the fastest printer
being able to print up to 500 pages in just over 7 minutes.
The quality of the output varies depending on the type of
device; the highest quality device on the market are film
recorders, outputting at least 4,000dpi (dots per inch)
versus a standard ink jet printer which outputs about
600dpi.
Printers
Printers are the most common type of hardcopy output
devices. They print information from the computer onto
paper. There are two types of printers: impact and nonimpact.
Impact Printers
Impact printers work by striking a carbon/inked ribbon
onto paper. They have very low resolutions and are
incapable of printing graphics. They are slow and very
noisy, as the process is purely mechanical.
However, some line printers are very fast, capable of
printing 1500 lines per minute, hence their usage in
printing mass bills, address labels, etc.
Non-Impact Printers
Most printers used today are non-impact printers. These
printers do not strike the paper, but instead spray ink or
toner powder onto it. Heat is then used to fix the
characters onto the paper.
Three types of non-impact printers are ink jet printers,
laser printers, and thermal printers.
Laser Printers
Laser printers work by producing charges on the paper
that attract dry ink powder. The pattern is then heated to
fix it on the page.
Resolutions tend to call between 300 and 1200 dpi.
Speeds of 4 to 20 pages per minute are common.
Thermal Printers
Thermal printers use heat on chemically treated paper to
make characters. These are common in ATM machines to
print receipts and in some ultrasound machine printouts.
Plotters
Plotters are specialized type of printer. They are used by
designers, engineers, and architechs to print accurate
charts, 3D drawings, blueprints, etc. The use coloured
pens or toner to draw the images on the paper.
They can print up to 500 sq ft/hour.
They have a standard resolution of 1200x600dpi.
Specialized Devices
These are not typical input/output devices. They are used
by people who are disabled, or have special occupations.