Input and output devices

Following are some of the important input devices which are used in a
computer −

• Keyboard

• Mouse

• Joy Stick

• Light pen

• Track Ball

• Scanner

• camera/web camera

• punch card reader

• Graphic Tablet

• Microphone

• Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR)

• Optical Character Reader(OCR)

• Bar Code Reader

• Optical Mark Reader(OMR)

Keyboard

Keyboard is the most common and very popular input device which
helps to input data to the computer. The layout of the keyboard is like
that of traditional typewriter, although there are some additional keys
provided for performing additional functions.
It is a peripheral device that is the most basic way for the user to
communicate with a computer. It consists of multiple buttons, which

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 create numbers, symbols, and letters, and special keys like the
Windows and Alt key, including performing other functions.
Keyboards are of two sizes 84 keys or 101/102 keys, but now
keyboards with 104 keys or 108 keys are also available for Windows
and Internet.
The keys on the keyboard are as follows −

S.No Keys & Description

Typing Keys
1 These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (09) which
generally give the same layout as that of typewriters.

Numeric Keypad

It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement.

2 Generally, it consists of a set of 17 keys that are laid out in the
same configuration used by most adding machines and
calculators.

Function Keys

3 The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which are
arranged in a row at the top of the keyboard. Each function key
has a unique meaning and is used for some specific purpose.

Control keys

These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four

4 directional arrow keys. Control keys also include Home, End,
Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl), Alternate(Alt),
Escape(Esc).

Special Purpose Keys

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Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as
Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print

2
 Screen.

Types of keyboards

Most computer users use the standard keyboard, which connects to the
computer. Although there are many types of a computer keyboard, such
are as follows:

1. Flexible keyboard: It is a type of keyboard that is made of soft silicone

with highly portable. It is water and dust-resistant and does not require
constant cleaning. It acts the same as a standard keyboard and connects
to the computer via a USB

2. Ergonomic Keyboard: This type of keyboard is beneficial for your body

posture. Instead of adjusting yourself to fit the keyboard, it is designed to fit
you easily, ease of use, and reduce strain. It is designed in that way;
instead of bending their hands, it allows users to straight their hands.
Generally, the space-bar is bigger as compared to a regular keyboard,
which allows for fast typing.

3. Wireless Keyboard: It is a computer keyboard that is connected to

computers, laptops, or tablets without any cables. It uses radio frequency
(RF), infrared (IR), or Bluetooth
technology to connect with devices.

it provides portability and flexibility to the users.

4. Mechanical Keyboard: It is made with high quality. It is designed for long

life with high durability and responsiveness. Can be used in both home and
office. Mostly used in gaming.

5. Virtual Keyboard: It is a software-based keyboard that enables users to

type without the need for physical keys. The devices that contained virtual
keyboard are tablets, smartphones, and other portable devices, because
these devices do not require the constant use of a physical keyboard.

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6. Projection Keyboard: It is a form of computer input device that can be
connected via Bluetooth to the mini PC, tablet computer, or even
smartphone. In projection keyboard, the image of a virtual keyboard is
projected onto a surface. The device records the corresponding keystroke
when a user touches any key from the shown keyboard on the surface.
Some devices are connected via Bluetooth devices such as tablets,
smartphones, mini-PC with Android
, Windows operating system

7. Gaming Keyboard: A keyboard that contains a few specific keys used for
gamers is known as a gaming keyboard. The W, S, D, A, and arrow keys
are widely used for games

Advantages:

• Keyboards are primary input devices that enable us to create data

entry.
• The keyboards are inexpensive
• They are compact in size.
• They are highly portable.
• The keyboards can be easily connected to computer system with the
help of USB, Wireless, Bluetooth, etc.
Disadvantages:
• It is not possible to make diagrams or charts with the keyboard.
• If not properly used they get damaged easily.
• Some keys which are often used get damaged soon.
• Mathematical equations are hard to enter.
• Keyboards are slow in operating compared to mouse.
• Built in keyboards gets damaged easily.
• Keyboard of laptops are hard to replace, as it is in compact design
therefore need professional guidance and help.

Mouse

Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-

control device having a small palm size box with a round ball at its base,
which senses the movement of the mouse and sends corresponding
signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.

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A mouse is capable of performing various functions on a computer, which
are as follows:

Pointing

This process of hovering occurs whenever the user’s cursor goes over any
item on the screen and a box appears. This is also referred to as pointing.

Selecting

Pressing the left button on the mouse to choose that particular item on your
computer screen is the process of selecting.

Clicking

Clicking gives too many options, from the right-click to access an item’s
properties to the left click to open the article. Left-click can be used in two
ways: to select a document by double-clicking on it and opening it.

Drag and Drop:

Any object can be moved to an alternative location using the drag and drop
process by just clicking any item on the computer screen, pressing the left
button, scrolling it anywhere you want, and leaving that button.

Scrolling

In scrolling the mouse wheel, we can scroll in an upward direction and a

downward direction and through any document webpage or document.

Parts of a Computer Mouse

Buttons

almost every mouse has two buttons, left and right. These buttons are used
for manipulating any objects and text as well.

Ball, laser, or LED

A mouse, if it is a mechanical mouse, uses a ball and rollers, and an optical

mouse uses a laser or LED

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. These parts allow the mouse to track the movement on an x-axis and y-
axis directions and move the mouse cursor on the screen.
Circuit board

A circuit board is located inside of mouse chasses, This board includes all
electronic components such as a diode, register, capacitor, and more.

Cable/Wireless Receiver

The corded mouse has a cable with a plug that connects to the computer. If
the mouse is wireless, it requires a USB

receiver to get the wireless signal, such as (Bluetooth, Infrared, Radio

signals), and input it into the computer.

Types of Mouse

o Optical

o Joystick

o Mechanical

o Cordless (Wireless)

o Footmouse

o Touchpad (Glidepoint)

o Trackball

o TrackPoint

o J-Mouse

o Wheel mouse)

o Laser Mouse

Joystick: It is an input device that moves in all directions and controls a

machine or a symbol in a computer program. It is much like a mouse,
except that if you stop to move the mouse, the cursor will also stop. But

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with the joystick, the pointer does not stop and moves continuously in the
direction the joystick has pointed. You must need to return the joystick to its
upright position for stopping the pointer. Although most of the joysticks
have two buttons, which are known as triggers.

It is mainly used in Computer Aided Designing (CAD) and playing computer

games.

Uses of Joystick:

1. To control characters or objects in video games.

2. To control industrial machinery such as cranes.

3. They are used in simulators.(eg.) Trainee pilots use joysticks to control

the simulate plane.

Advantages of joystick:

1. They give a better gaming experience for racing or flying styles of

computer games

2. Easier to control an on screen cursor or move an in-game character.

Disadvantages of joysticks:

1. Difficult to input text with joystick than with keyboard.

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2. Not as easy to control an on screen cursor when compared to using a
mouse.

3. People with hand/wrist issues can find them painful to use.

Light Pen

Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is used to select a

displayed menu item or draw pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of
a photocell and an optical system placed in a small tube.

When the tip of a light pen is moved over the monitor screen and the pen
button is pressed, its photocell sensing element detects the screen location
and sends the corresponding signal to the CPU.

Touchpad: It is a flat control surface, also known as a glide point, glide pad,
trackpad, or pressure-sensitive tablet. It is used to move the cursor by
using fingers. It is primarily found on laptops and used in place of an
external mouse. It is designed to be operated with your finger. By dragging
your fingertip across the touchpad's flat surface, you can move the mouse
cursor in the desired direction on the screen. It also includes two buttons
under the touch surface like the most computer mouse, which correspond
to the left and right-click buttons

Track Ball

Track ball is an input device that is mostly used in notebook or laptop

computer, instead of a mouse. This is a ball which is half inserted and by
moving fingers on the ball, the pointer can be moved.

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Since the whole device is not moved, a track ball requires less space than
a mouse. A track ball comes in various shapes like a ball, a button, or a
square.

ADVANTAGES of mouse

1. It is easier to use and handle a mouse as compared to the keyboard.

2. It is quicker to work with a mouse
3. It takes less time to learn how to use a mouse
4. Mouse requires less space
5. Mouse can be used to draw graphics
6. Mouse is light to carry. Therefore it is portable

DISADVANTAGES of mouse

1. Mouse cannot enter text data into the computer.

2. A computer can still be fully operational with the absence of a mouse.
3. Mouse cannot be used to edit specific parts of a document, thus its
use is limited.
4. A mouse has so many alternatives such as touch screen, light pen,
stylus, joystick and trackball
5. A mouse cannot be used with all operating systems. Systems with
command-line interface only requires the keyboard. E.g. MS Dos,
Linus and Unix

Voice Input

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Voice input computer systems (or speech recognition systems) learn how a
particular user pronounces words and uses information about these speech
patterns to guess what words are being spoken. Voice input systems are
useful for the following problems: Trouble physically using the keyboard -
Voice input systems can allow a person to operate a computer without
using a keyboard or mouse.

Artificial intelligence, deep learning, and machine learning are the forces
behind speech recognition.

voice recognition can do so much more, Alexa, for example. This clever
home helper can answer questions, play music, and turn off the lights in
your home all through the power of your voice.

Examples of where you might have used voice recognition

As voice recognition improves, it is being implemented in more places and
its very likely you have already used it. Below are examples of where you
might encounter voice recognition.

• Automated phone systems - Many companies today use phone

systems that help direct the caller to the correct department. If you
have ever been asked something like "Say or press number 2 for
support" and you say "two," you used voice recognition.
• Google Voice - Google voice is a service that lets you search and ask
questions on your computer, tablet, and phone.
• Digital assistant - Amazon Echo, Apple's Siri, and Google
Assistant use voice recognition to interact with digital assistants that
helps answer questions.
• Car Bluetooth - For cars with Bluetooth or Handsfree phone pairing,
you can use voice recognition to make commands, such as "call my
wife" to make calls without taking your eyes off the road.
• Applying audio signatures for digital documents.
• In entertainment and emergency services.
• In online education systems

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Advantages

• It can help to increase productivity in many businesses, such as in

healthcare industries.
• It can capture speech much faster than you can type
• You can use text-to-speech in real-time.
• The software can spell the same ability as any other writing tool.
• Helps those who have problems with speech or sight

Disadvantages:

1.Voice recognition software won't always put your words on the screen
completely accurately.

2.You'll also have to learn how to use the system. For example, you
must find the right pace and tone -- if you talk too fast or indistinctly,
you'll increase spelling and grammar errors.

3.Voice recognition systems can have problems with accents. you

have to learn to talk consistently and clearly at all times to minimize
errors.

4. Background Noise Interference , you need a quiet environment. Systems

don't work so well if there is a lot of background noise.

MICR

The full form of MICR is Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. MICR is a

technology that was invented to identify the authenticity and individuality of
a document using special ink and characters. The MICR is a convenient
and human-friendly pattern recognition system. MICR readers can directly
scan and read the information into a data collection device. Hence, the use

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of MICR technology ensured a more well-organized way of document
processing.

Generally, the banking industry uses the MICR technology to identify the
originality of the documents and disburden the processing and clearance of
the cheques and documents. The MICR code is printed on the bottom of
cheques and contains the following:

o The first three digits represent the city code

o The next three digits represent the bank code

o The last three digits denote the branch code

MICR works on two fonts:

MICR font- This is used to read documents and is printed with the magnetic
ink prepared by iron oxide.

1. E- 13B - It is a set of 14 characters, which includes ten decimal digits

and some special symbols.

2. CMC-7 - It contains a barcode format and is a set synchronized of 15

characters

Characteristics of MICR cheques/ documents

1. Paper standards- The paper used to print MICR cheque must be the
CBSI (Clearing Bank Specification 1 or Clearing Bank Standard 1).

2. Chemical Sensitivity- It helps to recognize forgery in cheques and

documents.

3. Security Standards- Various extraordinary features are added to the

MICR cheques to raise security measures.

4. Magnetic Ink- To avoid falsification, magnetic ink is used.

5. Microprints- To increase the security standards, microprints are used.

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 6. Invisible UV Florescent- It is used as a complementary step to avoid
falsifying the documents.

Features of MICR

Following are the main features of the MICR Code:

o The reader can read the MICR codes, even if there is a sign or stamp
over it.

o It provides error-free work.

o The MICR codes with errors are straight away rejected, and the ink
used in the MICR code is of the best quality and expensive, which
assures us that the codes are not fake or false.

o It guarantees high-security standards.

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Advantages:

1. It is highly accurate to recognize numerals and symbols even if they are

overprinted by visible marks.

2. MICR is difficult to forge.

3. Documents can still be read when folded or written on.

Disadvantages:

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of MICR:

1.It can recognize only 10 digits & 4 special characters.
2.Alphanumeric characters are not used in MICR. Only certain characters
can be read.
3.It is more expensive method of data entry.

OCR: Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

software’s are intelligent programs which can convert a scanned page

of text into editable text either into a plain text file, a Word document or
even an Excel spreadsheet which can be easily edited. OCR can also be
used to scan and recognize printed, typewritten or even handwritten text.

An OCR device is made up of hardware and software combination

The software can also make use of artificial intelligence so can identify
language or style of handwriting.

Advantages of OCR readers include

• Written data and printed data can be read at the same time.

• Hard copies of documents can be read directly into a computer without

retyping.

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• The characters converted can later be edited by word processing
software.

• It is quicker to extract text from a document and to use it via word

processor.

• It is useful for people with visual impairments because after extracting text
from document, a text-to-speech software can be used to read it aloud.

Disadvantages of OCR readers include

• OCR readers often do not work well with handwritten characters or those
in unusual fonts.

• The text recognized by OCR software is not always accurate.

Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to recognize the type of

mark made by pen or pencil. It is used where one out of a few alternatives
is to be selected and marked.

It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of examinations having

multiple choice questions.

The OMR sheet is scanned using an OMR device with a scanner that
focuses a light beam on the form paper and identifies areas of minimal light
transmission, i.e., marked areas reflecting less light than blank zones. It
provides an error of less than 1 per cent.

Applications of OMR

Some of the applications of OMR are listed below:

• Surveys
• Insurance and Banking applications
• Examinations
• Election

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 • Evaluation & Feedback form

Advantages of OMR

• Previously, a special type of paper, ink and input reader were needed
for the OMR systems, which limiting the questions being answered.
• Now, OMR sheets can be created in any format based on the
requirement.
• It takes less than five milliseconds on average for testing.
• Users may use marks like circles, squares, and and ellipses in OMR
form to enter the responses.

Limitations of OMR

• Users can not gather large volumes of text as it complicates the

results.
• Data might be lost in case of large text.
• Only MCQs (multiple choice questions) are favourable.

Bar Code Readers

Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded data (data in
the form of light and dark lines).

A barcode reader, also called a price scanner or point-of-sale (POS)

scanner, is a hand-held or stationary input device used to capture
and read information contained in a barcode.

A barcode reader works by directing a beam of light across the barcode

and measuring the amount and pattern of the light that is reflected.

The scanner converts the light energy into electrical energy, which is then
converted into data by the decoder and forwarded to a computer.

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here are two types of barcode readers: handheld and fixed position.

• Handheld barcode readers are used in a wide variety of settings,

including retail stores, warehouses and office buildings.

• Fixed-position barcode readers are generally used in manufacturing

and logistics applications to track inventory or products as they move
through the production process.

Barcode readers offer several advantages

• reduced pricing errors

• increased accuracy and efficiency

• improved customer service

• reduced inventory levels

Scanner

A scanner is an electrical device that reads and converts documents

such as photos and pages of text into a digital signal.

There are numerous kinds of scanners available in the market that

have different resolutions.

Most scanners have a flat scanning surface as they are flatbed

devices, which are mainly used for scanning magazines,
photographs, and numerous documents. Furthermore, because
most flatbed scanners have a cover that lifts up, they can scan
books and other heavy things.

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 Most of the scanners contain basic scanning software that makes
users capable of configuring, initiating, and importing scans.
Scanners are also able to import scanned images directly through
various software.

some programs like OmniPage and Acrobat can identify scanned

text, the scanned images can also be edited by Photoshop. It is
done by a technology, which is known as optical character
recognition (OCR). Scanning software that includes optical
character recognition has the ability to convert scanned text
documents into digital text in a form that can be viewed and
modified with the help of a word processor.

Types of Scanner
There are various types of scanners that are used with a computer
for different functions. Such are as follows:

Flatbed Scanners

The most popular type of optical scanner is a flatbed scanner, which

scans documents on a flat surface. These scanners do not require
the document to be moved and are capable of capturing all of the
document's elements.

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These scanners are also effective for scanning books, articles,
newspapers. If you have purchased a high-resolution scanner, they
are also better for scanning photos as well.

Sheetfed Scanners

A scanner that allows the only paper to be scanned, known as

sheetfed scanners. These scanners are a little smaller than regular
flatbed scanners, and they feature a lesser image resolution. They
are great for scanning enormous amounts of paper.

Sheetfed scanners allow you to scan multiple documents at once

instead of turning pages manually after each scan.

Handheld Scanner

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A portable scanner is a compact manual scanning device that
functions similarly to a flatbed scanner. It is positioned above the
thing to be scanned.

The handheld scanner, on the other hand, is dragged over the page
to be scanned. It scans physical documents into their digital forms,
which makes it capable of storing, modifying, forward, and emailing
digitally.

When utilising a portable scanner, the hand must remain firm at all
times, making it a difficult operation. Even a little bit of movement
of the hand can cause deformation of the scanning pictures.

the barcode scanner is one of the great advantages of a handheld

scanner. These scanners are very popular,

Drum Scanner

A scanner that uses a photomultiplier tube to capture the highest

resolution from an image

Drum scanners are vacuum tubes that are excessively sensitive to

light. A glass tube is available in the drum scanner, and the image is
mounted on that. When the scanner starts to scan the image, the
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 beam of light moves over the image, and photomultiplier tubes
(PMT) pick up its reflection and process it.

Drum scanners are noted for their high resolution, which may reach
more than 10,000 dots per inch (dpi). Furthermore, due to their cost
and large size, they are not more popular than flatbed scanners in
the market.

Photo Scanner

A type of optical scanner that is mainly used to scan photographs.

Photo scanners provide high resolution and color depth. They are
smaller as compared to general-purpose scanners. Typically, a photo
scanner has the ability to scan 3x5-inch or 4x6-inch photographs
with higher resolution.
The following are five advantages of document scanning:

• Minimize paper storage. Did you know that around 90% of information is still
in paper form? Every year and each day, more documents are being produced
or photocopied, turning document management into a substantial task. Think
about how much space you would free up if all those file cabinets full of
documents aren’t necessary anymore. With the assistance of scanning service,
you are able to make soft-copy backups, eliminating the need for paper storage.
• Increased security. The information you digitize can be kept securely online
using a document management system which requires authorized personnel to
access it. This also allows your business or law firm to be protected from theft
or damage from a fire or flood.

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• Reduced costs. For those who are renting space to store files or using a third
party company to organize them, this could result in a good amount of money
being spent to manage the information.
• Environmentally friendly. Less paper production means less paper waste
which ends up in packed landfills. Fewer trees will be used which can help
provide our city, state, and planet with cleaner air.
• Convenience. Instead of rummaging through massive loads of paperwork to
find something particular, you will be able to easily search, archive and retrieve
your documents on a computer and even your phone. Document scanning
enables users to store all their information in one place.

DisAdvantages of scanner

Scanned Output Quality Can Vary

The quality of the scanned output can vary quite a bit, depending on a
number of factors. Some of these factors include the quality of the lens
inside the scanner, how clean the scanner glass is and the condition of
the original documents.

Scanner Maintenance Can Be Expensive

To keep a high volume scanner running at peak performance,

owners will need to replace the lamps regularly and perform
maintenance on the camera and lens as well. This maintenance
can be quite costly

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Scanners are Relatively Slow

Scanners are also relatively slow, so companies and individuals users

will need to consider the time involved in scanning all of their
paperwork.

Digitizer
Digitizer is an input device which converts analog information into
digital form. Digitizer can convert a signal from the television or
camera into a series of numbers that could be stored in a computer.
They can be used by the computer to create a picture of whatever
the camera had been pointed at.

Digitizer is also known as Tablet or Graphics Tablet as it converts

graphics and pictorial data into binary inputs. A graphic tablet as
digitizer is used for fine works of drawing and image manipulation
applications.

Microphone
Microphone is an input device to input sound that is then stored in a
digital form.

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The microphone is used for various applications such as adding
sound to a multimedia presentation or for mixing music.

What is a Monitor?

A monitor is an electronic output device that is also known as

a video display terminal (VDT) or a video display unit (VDU). It is
used to display images, text, video, and graphics information
generated by a connected computer via a computer's video card.
Although it is almost like a TV, its resolution is much higher than a
TV. The first computer monitor was introduced on 1 March 1973,
which was part of the Xerox Alto computer system.

Older monitors were built by using a fluorescent screen and

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), which made them heavy and large in size
and thus causing them to cover more space on the desk. Nowadays,
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all monitors are made up by using flat-panel display technology,
commonly backlit with LEDs. These modern monitors take less space
on the desk as compared to older CRT displays.

Types of Monitors
There are several types of monitors; some are as follows:

1. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors

It is a technology used in early monitors. It uses a beam of electrons
to create an image on the screen. It comprises the guns that fire a
beam of electrons inside the screen. The electron beams repeatedly
hit the surface of the screen. These guns are responsible for
generating RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colors, and more other colors can
be generated with the help of combining these three colors. Today's
Flat Panel Monitors replace the CRT monitors.

2. Flat Panel Monitors

These types of monitors are lightweight and take less space. They
consume less power as compared to CRT monitors. These monitors
are more effective as they do not provide harmful radiation. These
monitors are more expensive than CRTs. The flat-panel monitors are
used in PDA, notebook computers, and cellular phones. These
monitors are available in various sizes like 15", 17", 18" & 19" and
more. The display of a flat-panel monitor is made with the help of
two plates of glass. These plates contain a substance, which is
activated in many ways.

Flat-panel monitor screens use two types of technologies, which

are given below:

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 o Liquid Crystal Display: LCD (Liquid crystal display) screen
contains a substance known as liquid crystal. The particles of
this substance are aligned in a way that the light located
backside on the screens, which allow to generate an image or
block. Liquid crystal display offers a clear picture as compared
to CRT display and emits less radiation. Furthermore, it
consumes less power and takes less space than a CRT display.
o Gas Plasma Display: This display uses gas plasma technology,
which uses a layer of gas between 2 plates of glass. When
voltage is applied, the gas releases ultraviolet light. By this
ultraviolet light, the pixels on the screen glow and form an
image. These displays are available in different sizes of up to
150 inches. Although it offers effective colors as compared to
the LCD monitor, it is more expensive. That's why it is less
used.

3. Touch Screen Monitors

These monitors are also known as an input device. It enables users
to interact with the computer by using a finger or stylus instead of
using a mouse or keyboard. When users touch the screen by their
finger, it occurs an event and forward it to the controller for
processing. These types of screens include pictures or words that
help users to interact with the computer. It takes input from the
users by touching menus or icons presented on the screen.

There are different types of touch screen monitors; three common

types are given below:

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 o Resistive Touch Screen: Generally, this screen includes a thin
electrically conductive and resistive layer of metal. When the
touch is pressed, a change in the electrical current occurs that
is sent to the controller. Nowadays, these screens are widely in
use. These monitors are more reliable as they cannot be
affected by liquids or dust.
o Surface Wave Touch Screens: These monitors process the
input through ultrasonic waves. When a user touches the
screen, the wave is processed and absorbed by the computer.
It is less reliable as they can be damaged by water or dust.
o Capacitive Touch Screen: This screen includes a cover with an
electrically-charged material. This material continuously flows
the current over the screen. It is mainly used by the finger
rather than a stylus. These monitors contain better clarity and
do not damage by dust. Nowadays, capacitive touch screen is
mostly used in smartphones.

4. LED Monitors
It is a flat screen computer monitor, which stands for light-emitting
diode display. It is lightweight in terms of weight and has a short
depth. As the source of light, it uses a panel of LEDs. Nowadays, a
wide number of electronic devices, both large and small devices
such as laptop screens, mobile phones, TVs, computer monitors,
tablets, and more, use LED displays.

It is believed that James P. Mitchell invented the first LED

27
display. On 18 March 1978, the first prototype of an LED display was published to the market at the SEF
(Science and Engineering Fair) in Iowa. On 8 May 1978, it was shown again in Anaheim California, at the
SEF. This prototype received awards from NASA

and General Motors.

Advantages of LED Monitor:

o It includes a broader dimming range.

o It is a more reliable monitor.
o It is often less expensive.
o It consumes less power (20 watts), and run on a lower
temperature.
o It has a more dynamic contrast ratio.
o he below table contains several differences between LCD and
LED:

LCD LED

It stands for Liquid Crystal Display. Short for Light-

Emitting Diodes.

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LCD monitors are not a subset of LED LED monitors are
monitors. subset of LCD
monitors.

It primarily uses fluorescent lights. It mainly uses light-

emitting diodes.

In LCDs, usually fluorescent lights are Usually, light-emitting

located at the backside of the screen. diodes are located
around the edges or
backside of the screen.

LCDs are less energy efficient than LEDs and LEDs are more energy-
are thicker in size. efficient and are much
thinner in size as
compared to LCDs.

Its resolution is low. Its resolution is high.

Its contrast ratio is high. Its contrast ratio is low.

Direct current can reduce the span life of Direct current does not
LCDs. have any effect on
LEDs.

LCDs display area is large. LEDs display area is

small.

The switching time of LCD is slow. The switching time of

LED is fast.

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30