Input and Output Devices

Input Devices
Input devices are the devices that are used to send signals to the computer
for performing tasks. The receiver at the end is the CPU (Central Processing
Unit), which has work to send signals to the output devices. Some of the
classifications of Input devices are:
 Keyboard Devices
 Pointing Devices
 Composite Devices
 Game Controller
 Visual Devices
 Audio Input Devices
Some of the input devices are described below

Keyboard

The keyboard is the most frequent and widely used input device for entering
data into a computer. Although there are some additional keys for performing
other operations, the keyboard layout is similar to that of a typical typewriter.
Generally, keyboards come in two sizes: 84 keys or 101/102 keys but
currently keyboards with 104 keys or 108 keys are also available for
Windows and the Internet.

Keyboard

Types of Keys
 Numeric Keys: It is used to enter numeric data or move the cursor. It usually
consists of a set of 17 keys.
 Typing Keys: The letter keys (A-Z) and number keys (09) are among these keys.
 Control Keys: These keys control the pointer and the screen. There are four
directional arrow keys on it. Home, End, Insert, Alternate(Alt), Delete,
Control(Ctrl), etc., and Escape are all control keys (Esc).
 Special Keys: Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, NumLk, Tab, etc., and Print Screen are
among the special function keys on the keyboard.
 Function Keys: The 12 keys from F1 to F12 are on the topmost row of the
keyboard.
Mouse
The most common pointing device is the mouse. The mouse is used to move a little
cursor across the screen while clicking and dragging. The cursor will stop if you let go
of the mouse. The computer is dependent on you to move the mouse; it won’t move
by itself. As a result, it’s an input device.
A mouse is an input device that lets you move the mouse on a flat surface to control
the coordinates and movement of the on-screen cursor/pointer.
The left mouse button can be used to select or move items, while the right mouse
button when clicked displays extra menus.

Mouse

Joystick

A joystick is a pointing device that is used to move the cursor on a computer screen. A
spherical ball is attached to both the bottom and top ends of the stick. In a socket, the
lower spherical ball slides. You can move the joystick in all four directions.
 Joystick

Track Ball

Track Ball is an accessory for notebooks and laptops, which works on behalf of a
mouse. It has a similar structure to a mouse. Its structure is like a half-inserted ball and
we use fingers for cursor movement. Different shapes are used for this like balls,
buttons, or squares.
Light Pen
A light pen is a type of pointing device that looks like a pen. It can be used to select a
menu item or to draw on the monitor screen. A photocell and an optical system are
enclosed in a tiny tube. When the tip of a light pen is moved across a monitor screen
while the pen button is pushed, the photocell sensor element identifies the screen
location and provides a signal to the CPU.
 Light Pen

Scanner
A scanner is an input device that functions similarly to a photocopier. It’s employed
when there’s information on paper that needs to be transferred to the computer’s hard
disc for subsequent manipulation. The scanner collects images from the source and
converts them to a digital format that may be saved on a disc. Before they are printed,
these images can be modified.

Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

An Optical Mark Reader is a device that is generally used in educational

institutions to check the answers to objective exams. It recognizes the marks
present by pencil and pen

Bar Code Reader

A bar code reader is a device that reads data that is bar-coded (data that is
represented by light and dark lines).Bar-coded data is commonly used to
mark things, number books, and so on. It could be a handheld scanner or
part of a stationary scanner. A bar code reader scans a bar code image,
converts it to an alphanumeric value, and then sends it to the computer to
which it is connected.
 Bar Code Reader

Web Camera
Because a web camera records a video image of the scene in front of it, a
webcam is an input device. It is either built inside the computer (for example,
a laptop) or attached through a USB connection. A webcam is a computer-
connected tiny digital video camera. It’s also known as a web camera
because it can take images and record video. These cameras come with
software that must be installed on the computer in order to broadcast video
in real-time over the Internet. It can shoot images and HD videos, however,
the video quality isn’t as good as other cameras (In Mobiles or other devices
or normal cameras).

Web Camera
Output Devices
Output Devices are the devices that show us the result after giving the input
to a computer system. Output can be of many different forms like image,
graphic audio, video, etc. Some of the output devices are described below.
Monitor
Monitors, also known as Visual Display Units (VDUs) , are a computer’s
primary output device. It creates images by arranging small dots, known as
pixels, in a rectangular pattern. The amount of pixels determines the image’s
sharpness

Monitor

Television

Television is one of the common output devices which is present in each and
every house. It portrays video and audio files on the screen as the user
handles the television. Nowadays, we are using plasma displays as
compared to CRT screens which we used earlier.

Printer
Printers are output devices that allow you to print information on paper.
There are certain types of printers which are described below.
 Impact Printers
 Character Printers
 Line Printers
 Non-Impact Printers
 Laser Printers
 Inkjet Printers

Printer

Impact Printer
Characters are printed on the ribbon, which is subsequently crushed against
the paper, in impact printers. The following are the characteristics of impact
printers:
 Exceptionally low consumable cost.
 Quite noisy
 Because of its low cost, it is ideal for large-scale printing.
 To create an image, there is physical contact with the paper.
Character Printers
Character Printer has the capability to print only one character at a time. It is
of two types.
 Dot Matrix Printer
 Daisy Wheel
Line Printers
Line Printers are printers that have the capability to print one line at a time. It
is of two types.
 Drum Printer
 Chain Printer
Non-Impact Printers
Characters are printed without the need for a ribbon in non-impact printers.
Because these printers print a full page at a time, they’re also known as
Page Printers. The following are the characteristics of non-impact printers:
 Faster
 They don’t make a lot of noise.
 Excellent quality
 Supports a variety of typefaces and character sizes
Laser Printers
Laser Printers use laser lights for producing dots which will produce
characters on the page.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are printers that use spray technology for printing papers.
High-quality papers are produced in an Inkjet printer. They also do color
printing.

Speakers

Speakers are devices that produce sound after getting a command from a
computer. Nowadays, speakers come with wireless technology also like
Bluetooth speakers.

Projector

Projectors are optical devices that have the work to show visuals on both
types of screens, stationary and moving both. It helps in displaying images
on a big screen. Projectors are generally used in theatres, auditoriums, etc.

Plotter

Plotter is a device that helps in making graphics or other images to give a

real view. A graphic card is mandatorily required to use these devices. These
are the pen-like devices that help in generating exact designs on the
computer.

Headphones

Headphones are just like a speaker, which is generally used by a single

person or it is a single-person usable device and is not commonly used in
large areas. These are also called headsets having a lower sound frequency.