This section of the course has been simplified for exams taking place from 2023

onwards. In the past students needed to know how each device physically worked. You
now only need to know:

○ What each device does and why it does it

○ When it is used

INPUT DEVICES
QR scanner

● Can represent over 7000 digits whereas barcode can only represent up to 30

● Often link to a website where more info can be found

● Also used to advertise products, share contact details, provide promotional codes, train
tickets and event tickets

Barcode scanner

How it can be used in a shop:

Digital Camera
● A digital camera works by capturing light and converting it into a digital image
● Light enters the camera through the lens, it reaches an image sensor where it is split into
millions of pixels (small squares).
● Each pixel measures light intensity which is converted into binary and represents a
colour.
● Digital cameras are integrated into smartphones , used in security systems and by
professional photographers to create high quality digital images
● An advantage of digital cameras is they show a preview of the image
● They also instantly create an image which can then be easily duplicated and transmitted
via bluetooth or WiFi Software can be used to edit digital photos, for example applying a
filter or retouching a photo

Keyboard
● When the user presses a key on a keyboard, the key pushes the switch on the circuit
board.
● This completes a circuit.
● Signals are sent to the computer that uses the data to calculate which key was pressed.
● Unique character code transmitted
● Connected by USB or wirelessly to computers and are built into laptops

Optical Mouse

● An optical mouse shines a red light from a Light-Emitting Diode//LED underneath the
mouse.
● The light reflects back from a surface through a lens in the mouse and is converted to a
value.
● This value is transmitted to the computer.
● The computer then determines the direction and speed of the movement
●
● Used to control cursor in a GUI
● Reliable b/c no moving parts
● Simple to use

Microphone
 ● Converts sound waves into electrical signals that can be processed by computer
● Can capture andy real world sound and convert it into digital data which can be stored,
duplicated or modified
● Microphone has diaphragm which vibrates in response to sound waves
● These vibrations converted into electrical signals by coil of a wire attached to back of
diaphragm
● Changes in signal are recorded by microprocessor using ADC
● Microphones used to record music, telephone calls, communicate online

Touch Screens

Resistive

Advantages:
● Cheap to manufacture
● Can be activated w/ nearly every object
● Low power consumption
● Waterproof
● Does not easily shatter
● Resistance to surface contaminants

Disadvantages:
● Doesn’t normally support multitouch
● Screen visibility can be poor in sunlight
● Longevity issues
● Not very sensitive to touch
● Prone to scratches

● Used for cash machines, information kiosks, medical equipment

Capacitive

● Made up of a protective layer, a transparent conductive layer and a glass substrate

● Touching screen changes electrostatic field of conductive layer
Advantages:
● Good visibility in sunlight
● Very durable surface
● Allows multi touch
● Excellent image quality
● Unlimited touch life
● Scale well

Disadvantages:
● Sensitive to interference from light, water, snow
● Screen will shatter on impact
● Cannot use when wearing gloves

Uses: Large scale commercial displays, information kiosks, medical equipment

Infrared

● LEDs shine infrared light across a screen forming a matrix

● When the screen is touched the beams are interrupted

Advantages:
● Excellent image quality
● High precision
● Durable
● Allows for multiple touches at the same time
● Can use stylus/finger/glove

Disadvantages:
● Sensitive to dirt/dust
● Expensive to manufacture
● Screen will shatter on impact
● Requires a bare finger or stylus for activation

Uses: tablets, laptops, smartphones

2D Scanner

● Used to create digital versions of documents or photographs

● Reading passports at airport
3D Scanner

● Objects recreated digitally

● Can be modified using specialist software
● Can be used to create 3D models to use w/ CAD (computer aided design) software
● Dentistry, product development, medical

OUTPUT DEVICES

Projectors

DLP

Advantages:
● Higher contrast ratios
● Smooth video
● Higher reliability
● Smaller and lighter
● Better suited to dusty atmosphere

Disadvantages:
● Image suffers from “shadows” when showing a moving image
● Dont have grey components in the image
● Colour definition isn’t as good as LCD

LCD
● LCD projectors use three mirror filters to separate an image into red, green and blue
wavelengths.
● The three images are then combined to produce the full colour image which is passed
through the lens on to the wall/screen
● Uses millions of micro mirrors to reflect light through a lens
Advantages:
● Gives a sharper image
● Better colour saturation and intensity
● Use less power
 ● Generate less heat
● Quieter running
● Image appears brighter
● Doesn’t give rainbow effect DLP gives
Disadvantages:
● Not as good contrast ratios
● Limited life
● Panels degrade over time
Printers

Laser

● Very fast when making multiple copies of a doc

● Useful for high volume jobs
● Low running cost per page
● Often used in business and schools

Inkjet

● High quality hard copies of digital images or documents

Actuators
● Used in conjunction with a motor to translate energy into real world movement of a
physical object
● Have been made specifically for a particular function
● E.g. turning a wheel, opening/closing a door, controlling a conveyor belt, operating
machinery, moving robotic arms, vibrating a machine, starting or stopping a pump,
opening or closing a valve
● Often used with sensors
● Input of sensor checked against stored value and if input meets the value or range
actuator is used to provide movement of a physical object

3D Printers
 ●

● Allow for precision and can be used in medicine to create prosthetics and blood vessels
● Models can be transmitted digitally and then models printed out all across the world

Screens
LCD

● Used for TVs, monitors, tablets and phones

● Low power consumption and run at cool temp
● Do not suffer image burn or flicker issues
● Provide bright images
● Cheaper to produce than LED

LED

Advantages:
● Better image quality
● Longer life span
● Can be used to create very large screens
● Football matches and music festivals
● Very little power consumption so can be switched on for many hours a day

OLED
● Much thinner and lighter than LCD
● Use organic light emitting diodes (OLED)
● Use organic carbon compound to create semiconductors
● No form of back lighting required
 ● Very thin, flexible screens

Speakers
● Used to take digital sounds or recordings and output them as sound waves which can be
heard by humans
● Digital data is changed into an electric current using a DAC
● It is then passed through an amplifier to create current large enough to drive a speaker
● Speaker converts current into a sound wave
● Typical uses include listening to music, listening to video sound, telephone calls and
alarms