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Learning Objectives
3. Identify other areas of application for specific input and output devices.
Overview
Computer input and output devices have undergone remarkable
development since their existence. This chapter covers the different types of
computer input and output devices.
The primary function of input devices is ‘getting’ data and instruction into
the computer. Popular input devices are keyboard, mouse, scanner,
microphone and webcam. An Output device is any hardware component
that can convey information to a user. Common output devices are monitors,
printers and sound speakers
3.0 Introduction
Input devices accept user commands or data and send them to the computer
for processing. Typical input devices are keyboard, mouse, scanner and
microphone. On the other hand, output devices accept results or information
generated by the computer, and present this to the user in a variety of
means (both audio and visual e.g. textual, image, video). Typical output
devices are printers, monitors and speakers. Some special devices can be
used for both input and output, such as floppy disks and hard drives.
Computer input and output devices have undergone remarkable
development with advances in technology.
3.1.1 Keyboard
Most modern computer keyboards are based on the QWERTY layout, and
resemble a typewriter keyboard except that they have extra keys for certain
special functions, such as:
Function keys: located at the top of the keyboard with prefix F, example
F1, F2 and so on. However, these shortcuts on depends on the specific
software used.
Arrow keys or navigation keys: located between the main keypad and
the numeric keypad, are used to move the cursor up, down, left, and right.
Insert, delete, page up, page down keys: located above the arrow keys,
are used in word processing for performing insert, delete, page up, and page
down.
The trend now is wireless keyboard design that offers more freedom for the
user. Rather than being tied to a computer, forced to sit perhaps in an
uncomfortable position for hours sometimes, wireless keyboard can be
placed comfortable anywhere on the table or on the lap.
3.1.2 Mouse
A mouse is a pointing device, as shown in Figure 3-3. It is used to move an
electronic pointer called a cursor around the screen or click on an object or
option on the screen to trigger it to respond. The mouse is now present in
virtually every office environment because of the predominance of graphical
user interface (GUI).
Types of mouse
A mechanical mouse has a rubber or metal ball on its underside. When the
ball rolls in a certain direction, electronic circuits in the mouse translate the
movement into signals that are sent to the computer.
Foot mouse (also called no hands mouse) is a mouse variant for those
whose hands are injured due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or mouse overuse
fatigue. It can eliminate stress related to the wrist, elbow and shoulder.
These innovative “no hands” mouse uses two interchangeably foot pedals;
one to move the cursor and the other one to click, drag and drop objects on
the computer desktop. It is also a more productive mouse since users can
keep typing without having to jump between the keyboard to the mouse and
back.
Figure 3-5 Foot Mouse
3.1.3 Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an intuitive computer input device that works by simply
touching the display screen, either by a finger, or with a stylus, rather than
typing on a keyboard or pointing with a mouse. A stylus is a "pen" that does
not write! The stylus point is made of a firm but non-scratching plastic to
"write" on screen. Touchscreen is a pointing input device that allows the user
to select actions and commands with the finger. It consists of a special type
of visual display unit (VDU), which has a grid of light beams or fine wires
criss-crossing the screen. When the screen is touched (usually to choose an
on-screen option), the computer senses where on the screen it has been
pressed to respond. The touch-sensing mechanisms can use optical,
electrical or acoustical methods to determine the co-ordinates of the touch.
• a touchscreen sensor panel, that sits above the display and which
generates appropriate voltages according to where, precisely, it is
touched.
3.1.4 Touchpad
A touch pad feels less mechanical than a mouse or trackball because the
user simply moves a finger on the pad. A touch pad has two parts. One part
acts as a button, while the other emulates a mouse pad on which the user
traces the location of the cursor with a finger and striking over the surface.
People with carpal tunnel syndrome find touch pads and trackballs easier to
use than mice. Many portable computers have built-in trackballs or touch
pads as input devices. However, even experienced users continue to report
problems, if another finger accidentally touches the pad causing motion
detection to become confused and the cursor to jump across the screen.
Figure 3.7 Touchpad of Laptop
3.1.7 Scanner
A scanner is a device which scans documents containing text or graphics and
converts them into a bitmap (digital picture image).
Most scanners today are variations of the desktop or flatbed scanner that
allows documents to be placed on a flat scanning surface.
• A light source illuminates the paper, and light is reflected off the paper
down onto the scanning mechanism.
• Blank or white spaces reflect more light than darker areas.
• A motor moves the scanning head underneath the page along its
length.
• As the scan head moves down the page, it captures the reflected light
bounced off the page.
Today there are thousands of webcams that provide views of homes, offices
and other buildings as well as providing panoramic views of cities. Special
webcams are used to monitor traffic, weather and even volcanoes. The video
feeds obtained from webcams are uploaded to a computer where it can be
processed using appropriate software.
(a) (b)
Figure 3-13 (a) Bluetooth wireless headset (b) USB
microphone.
Another term used with monitors is refresh rate. This refers to the number
of times per second that the image is redrawn on the monitor screen. A
refresh rate of 60Hz means the images is redrawn 60 times a second. Higher
refresh rates are required for larger resolutions, else the viewer tend to see
the image on the screen flicker. The images on the screen have to be
refreshed at a reasonable rate (greater than 50Hz); otherwise the human eye
perceives the image as flickering.
The number of colours that a video card can display is determined by its bit
depth or colour depth. This is how many bits it uses to store the colour of
one pixel. An 8-bit card will only allow 256 colours. Most cards today are at
least 24-bit and can display 16.7 million colours.
3.2.2 Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) and Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Monitors
There exist two types of monitors: Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and Liquid
Crystal Display (LCD). Modern laptop computers use LCDs similar to those
used in calculators and watches. This type of display has also become
popular in larger formats with desktop computers because of their
compactness. They take up less space and are lighter than most CRT
monitors. LCDs can be used in many places where a larger CRT monitor
cannot fit. Other advantages of LCDs are the absence of electromagnetic
waves, lower heat emission and power savings over the CRT. LCD monitors
exist in monochrome or colour. The screen is perfectly flat, with no
distortions due to a curved screen like CRTs. Most new LCDs connect to
standard video cards, although a few require their own graphics adapters.
Disadvantages of the LCD monitor are the higher cost, image dimness, small
viewing angle and slower response times. All of these disadvantages are
being addressed as new technology is applied.
3.2.3 Printers
By far, paper is the single largest output from computers. A printer is a
device that produces a hardcopy (permanent human-readable text and
graphics, usually on paper or transparencies) from data stored in a computer
connected to it. Modern printers come in a variety of types, with many
capabilities.
Dot-matrix printer
Dot Matrix printers rely on a matrix of pins or dots and they have survived
the market changes in technology, due to their application as impact
printers. This means that they are able to print on multipart paper using
carbonless copy paper, which is used extensively in the accounting and
auditing sector, and other businesses that need to keep accurate records
and legal copies of documents. However, even for sales invoices or receipts
printing, dot-matrix printers are now rapidly being superseded by other types
of printers. Figure 3-16 shows a dot matrix printer used in office.
Figure 3-16 Dot Matrix Printer.
3.2.4 Plotters
Plotters are devices, used by artists, designers or architects for producing
multi-colour, high quality drawings such as architectural plans, charts and
maps.
Pen plotters print their output by moving a pen across the surface on paper
larger in size than used for printers. They can draw precise and complex line
art, including text, but very slowly because of the mechanical movement of
pens. Thermal and laser plotters are faster and produce high density images.
Plotters are used primarily in technical drawing and CAD (computer aided
design) applications, where they have the advantage of working on very
large paper sizes while maintaining high resolution.
3.2.6 Projectors
The function of these devices is mainly to reproduce images or video frames
on white screen. Some common types of projectors are video projectors, LCD
projectors and handheld projectors.
Figure 3-20 LCD Projector
1. A device that allows one to enter data into the computer in the form of
text is:
(a) keyboard
(b) mouse
(c) printer
(d) modem
(e) scanner
3. In situations where carbon copies are needed and the quality is not too
important, such as invoice sheets, we use:
(a) fast plotter
(b) laser printer
(c) dot matrix printer
(d) inkjet printer
(e) photocopy machine
(a) monitor
(b) digitiser
(c) printer
(d) scanner
(e) microphone
5. One advantage of the dot matrix printer over the laser printer is :
(a) keyboard
(b) touchscreen
(c) lightpen
(d) mouse
(e) touchpad
Open-Ended Questions
1. Describe the characteristics of CRT monitor and the factors that affect its
quality.
4. State two applications where touchscreen interface is used and outline the
advantages of using touchscreen.
6. What are the factors you would consider before buying a printer?
10. Discuss input and output systems that can assist physically challenged
people.