Sreedhar’s CCE

COMPUTER AWARENESS-2
INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

I / O Devices general term for devices that send computer information from the
outside world and that return the results of computations. The first generation of
computers was equipped with fairly limited range of input devices. Punched card reader,
or something similar, was used to enter instructions and data into the computer‟s
memory, and some kind of printer, usually a modified Teletype, was to record the results.

Approaches for data entry: -

Keying Data Captured On Sources Documents: It requires that data should be

captured first on paper and then transcribed to a floppy or disk. This is again time-
consuming, costly and error-prone.

On-Line Entry: Terminals & microcomputers cab be used to key data directly into the
computer. It avoids recording data on papers. But it is time-consuming, costly and errore-
prone.

Keyboard:
It is similar to the typewriter keyboard. When the key is pressed, they are
converted to binary numbers that the CPU can decipher and displays the corresponding
text on the monitor. The standard keyboard has 101 keys.

The keyboard contains 12 programmed function key from F1 to F12. Example F1

key is used as”Help” in most application. It useful to enter numbers with some speed
while calculating or entering voluminous data.

Mouse:
It is mechanical device with buttons on top and a rolling ball locked on the base.
This helps in moving the cursor around on the screen. Nowadays optical mousses are also
available. When the cursor is placed on the required utility and pressed the button on top
of the mouse, the utility is activated.

Speed of the mouse can be controlled by software loaded through the operating system. It
is also called as pointing devices. PC users often direct a cursor around the screen;
pressing buttons on the mouse sends commands to programs.

Mouse may be of the following types:

1. Mechanical Mouse: In a mechanical mouse is the mouse is moved along a
flat surface; the direction of rotations is detected and relayed to the computer.
Rotating ball is used to detect movement of the mouse pad. Microsoft, IBM,
and Logitech are some well known producers of mechanical mousse.
2. Bus Mouse: Dedicated port is required and there is no need of a free serial
port.
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3. Serial Mouse: Serial mouse is connected to the pc through a serial port.
4. An Optical Mouse: Optical mouse uses a light beam instead of a rotating ball
to detect movements of the mouse. At the bottom of this mouse there is no
ball, instead, there is light beam, with a plastic covering.

Trackball: A trackball is a pointing device that works like an upside-down mouse. The
user rests his thumb on the exposed ball and his fingers on the buttons. To move the
cursor around the screen, the ball is rolled with the thumb.

Since the whole device is not moved, a track ball requires less space than a mouse. Track
ball is particularly popular among users of notebook computers, and are built into among
users of notebook computers.

Joystick:
It is a screen pointing input device. It is a vertical lever usually placed in a ball
socket, which can be fitted in any direction to control cursor movements for computer
games and for some professional applications.

Light Pen:
A light pen is a pointing device, which can be used to select an option by
simply pointing at it, or draw figures directly on the screen and move the figures around.

A light pen has a photo-detector at its tip. This detector can detect changes in
brightness of the screen. When the pen is pointed at a particular point on the screen, it
records the instant change in brightness that occurs and information the computer about
this. This light pen is also useful for drawing graphics in CAD.

Touch Screen:
The “Touch Screen” is a Hewlett Packard (HP) innovation and was introduced
on their 100 series microcomputers in 1984.

a) A Touch Screen is a video display screen that has been sensitized to

receive input from the touch of finger. They are easy to use and
convey information quickly.
b) Just by pointing to the details required on the screen, the user can
activate the data required by him. This technology provides a great
alternative for keyboard entry. By putting his or her finger on the
screen, the user indicated what choice was desired.
c) Some uses of Touch Screen are – ATM‟s Banks, Reservation Enquiry
in Railways / Airlines, PAN enquiry in Income Tax Department etc.

Computer systems are configured in organization?

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It is very necessary to design a Computer Based Information System (CIS) in a
way that makes it easier fro managers and users to perform their jobs. If this is done,
users will be more productive, also managers at all level will be able to carry out their
planning and control functions in a better way.
There are 3 common ways in which computer systems are configured in a organization: -
1. Large-system computing
2. Stand-alone personal computing.
3. Network computing.

Large system computing: - in large system computing. The processing task of multiple
users I performed on a single centralized computer. In most business organizations the
central computer will be a mainframe or minicomputer.

Personal Computer: - The philosophy behind personal computing is that a comp8te

should be readily available to an individual to perform his job at any point of time.
Personal computers can be connected to each other or to large computers to form
network. They can also be used as stand-alone systems. A stand-alone system I done that
is not connected to or does not communicate with another computer system or network.

Network Computing: - In network computing arrangements, individuals do their own

work on personal computers of work stations, but are linked to other computers through a
telecommunications network that allows 6them to share information & resources with
others. They can also share printers fax machines and links to external data sources.

DISPLAY DEVICES

These peripheral hardware units consist of a television like viewing screen, to

which computer output is sent. The two most common types of display devices found
today are monitors and terminals
There are three types of terminal
1. Dump Terminal
2. Smart Terminal
3. Intelligent Terminal.
4. Remote terminal
5. Hard-wired terminal
6. Keyboard printer terminal or Tele typewriter.

Dump Terminal
1. Dump Terminal do not have microprocessors. Therefore, they are simple input
devices that can display output from the CPU to which they are connected.
2. A Dump Terminal is an I / O device that provides for data entry and
information exit when connected to a computer.
3. The immediately transmit each keyed data character to the main processor.
When a keying error occurs the operator may need to backspace to the error
and then re-key all later characters.
4. It has no additional capability.
5. It is totally dependent on the computer to which it is connected.

Smart Terminal
1. Smart Terminals are intelligent terminals that contain a microprocessor and
storage facility.
2. They have local data editing and processing data capability before
transmitting to the central computer.
3. Smart Terminals are non-programmable by users.

Intelligent Terminal
1. An intelligent terminal is user programmable. It contains not only a storage
area but also a microprocessor.
2. A terminal with in-built processing capabilities is referred to as an intelligent
terminal.
3. It can also do some processing of the data internally such as sorting,
summarizing, checking both input and computed values for reasonableness,
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and do on, and rather then a relying on the minicomputer or the mainframe
CPU. This feature can reduce the load on the central CPU.
4. The terminal can be programmed to communicate with and instruct the user
who is entering data.
5. Intelligent terminals can be used on a stand –alone basis or can be part of a
distributed network of terminals.

Remote Terminal
 They are also known as Remote Job Terminal of Remote Job Entry
 These terminals group data into blocks for transmissions to a computer
from a remote site.
 They have the capability to receive back and print the results of the
application program.
 They are placed in a distant location but can be accessed through
telecommunication channels.

Keyboard Printer Terminal or Tele typewriter:

Keyboard printer Terminal consist of the following
a. Keyboard: For sending information to the computer and
b. Printer: For providing a copy of the input and for receiving
information from the computer.
 The output is typed on a continuous paper roll at speeds between 20-50 characters
per second.
 A paper tape reader / punch is sometimes incorporated in the design of a terminal
to enable information to be keyed in and punches on to paper tape for retention of
data or for subsequent input to the computer.
 Modern keyboard printer terminals have magnetic tape cassettes instead of paper
tape readers.
 The use of these kinds of terminals is preferable for the situations where output is
required for the processed information of the main computer.

Direct Data Entry:

1. Data is entered directly into computer using machine-readable source
documents of through use of on-line terminals.
2. DDE devices have the capability of scanning source document magnetically
or optically e.g. MICR, OCR, OMR etc.
3. These terminals are connected to keyboard or other input devices for direct
data entry.

Remote Job Entry:

1. Data is entered and grouped in blocks for transmissions to computer from
terminal, which is located at remote site.
2. These terminals have capability of receiving back information from computer
and printing.
3. Their terminals are connected either directly or through communication lines
with the computer.

DISPLAY DEVICES
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Screen Resolution
a) Characters formed on the screen are made up of tiny dots called pixels, which
form a rectangle pattern.
b) The sharpness of the image on the screen depends on the number of dots.
More dots, shapers the image is on the screen.

Video Adapter Cards:

Video display adapter provides an interface between the computer and the
monitor. They transmit signal to the monitors so that the images or displayed. The
different displayed cards are: -
1. Monochrome Graphic Adapter (MGA)
2. Color Graphic Adapter (CGA)
3. Enhanced Graphic Adapter (EGA)
4. Video Graphic adapter (VGA)
5. Super Video Graphic Adapter (SVGA)
Memory
The number of bits available to each pixel depends upon the resolution and the
amount of installed video memory.

Monochrome Graphics Adaptor (MGA):

a. It is the first adapter
b. It is a text only adapter which generates very clear, easy-to- read
characters.
c. It works only with monochrome monitor.

Color Graphic Adapter (CGA)

Graphic output includes such images as drawings, charts, photographs and maps.
They commonly employed a method called bit mapping. Bit mapped devices allow each
individual pixel on the screen to be controlled by the computer thus, any type of image
that can be formed from the rectangular grid of dots on the screen is possible.
 640 x 200 Pixels with 16 colors
 320 x 200 Pixels with 4 palettes.

Video Graphics Adapter (VGA)

a. It is a high quality graphic adapter.
b. It provides 256 color and high resolution.
c. VGA provides following typical combinations of resolutions and colors
 640 x 480 Pixels with 16 colors
 320 x 200 Pixels with 256 colors

Enhanced Graphics adapter (EGA)

a. It combines all features of MGA & CGA with higher resolutions.
b. It supports up to 16 colors at a time.
c. It has a high resolution of either
 640 x 200 Pixels
 640 x 350 Pixels

Video Controller:
It has a circuit board, which sends information to the monitor and is connected to
the motherboard of the computer. It quality of the monitor depends on the refresh rate,
which is measured in hertz (Hz). Faster the refresh rate, the less the monitor flickers.

Super Video Graphics Adapter (SVGA)

a. This is an improvement on the VGA.
b. SVGA provides following two typical combinations of resolutions & colors.
 640 x 80 Pixels with 256 colors
 1024 x 200 Pixels with 16 colors.

Output Devices
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Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

They are also known as the visual display unit (VDU). CRT devices use a large
glass typed known as the CRT tube. The screen of the type is coated with tiny dots of
phosphor material, which glows when electrically charged. A gun inside the CRT tube
lights up the phosphorescent pixel on the screen surface. It is inexpensive, reliable limited
resolution. But they are bulky and heavy.

Flat Panel Display

Flat Panel Device use either a liquid crystal display (LCD) or gas plasma
technology. LCD has special molecules called liquid crystal deposited between two
sheets of material, which generates the image when electric current passes through them.

Gas plasma uses a layer of gas instead of liquid crystals in the LCD monitor, which
glows when voltage is applied and produces image. Plasma offers a better resolution but
is costlier. Flat Panel is lightweight and compact.

Gas-plasma Technology:
 This technology provides better resolution
 It is more expensive
 This technology uses gas trapped between glasses to form images.
 It is lightweight & compact especially useful for laptop, notebook, and
pocket personal computers.

Bit mapping
Display devices that are capable of producing graphics output commonly employ
a method called bit mapping. Bit mapped devices allow each individual pixel on the
screen to be controlled by the computer. Thus, it makes possible the formation of any
type of image that cab be formed from the rectangular grid of dots on the screen. The
most important business related use of graphics is presentation graphic. It enable
managers to easily construct such information-intensive images as bar charts, pie charts,
and line charts on their display devices and these images are sent to a printer, plotter or
slide-making machine so that they can be used later for presentations in meetings.

Throughput
Through is a measure of the total amount of processing that a computer system
can complete over a fixed period of time. In batch-serial environment throughput time of
a computer will be comparatively lesser than turnaround time. By using
multiprogramming, the total throughput time of a computer can be increased since the
CPU does not wait for input-output of the programs it is executing.

Turnaround time
Turnaround time refers to the elapsed time between the submission of a batch job
& the availability of the output from the computer centers. In batch-serial environment
turnaround time is longer. In multiprogramming environment, the turnaround time for
short jobs can be reduced.
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Spooling:
Spooling (Simultaneous Peripheral Operation online) is a technique for dynamic
job processing. It is a mechanism to reduce the speed miss-match between a slow I/O
device & CPU, & to convert mutually exclusive I/O device into non-mutually exclusive
devices.

Buffer: Buffer is a region of memory reserved for use as an intermediate repository in

which data is temporarily held while waiting to be transferred between two locations, as
between an applications data and an I/O device.

Data Capture: Data capture means converting paper documents into electronic images.
In computer lexicon, it is called, “Scanning”. Data capture can be done with hand-held
scanner or high-end scanner.

Remote Job Entry: Data is entered and grouped in block for transmission to computer
from a terminal which is located remote side. These terminals have capability of
receiving back information from computer and printing. These terminals are connected
either directly or through communication lines with the computer.

Direct Data Entry: Data is entered directly into the computer using machine readable
source documents or through use of on line terminals. DDE devices have the capability of
scanning source documents magnetically or optically. Example: MICR, OCR, DMR etc.
These terminals are connected to keyboard of other input devices for direct data entry.

Output Device:
Output device is an instrument of interpretation & communication between the user &
computers. They accept the machine coded output results form the processor & convert
them into a form usable by the people or a s an input in another processing cycle. Output
from a computer processing can be soft copy or hardcopy.

Classification of commonly used output devices:

1. Printer
2. Visual Display device
3. Computer output on microfilm (COM)
4. Audio output device,
5. Magnetically encoded device
6. Graphical output device.

DIRECT DATA ENTRY

Direct Data Entry refers to entry of data directly into the computers through machine
readable source document. Direct Data Entry devices can scan source documents
magnetically or optically capture data for direct entry into the computer.
Ex: 1. Magnetic Ink Character recognition (MICR)
2. Optical Character reader

Magnetic Ink Character recognition (MICR)

MICR employs a system of printed characters which are easily decipherable by
human beings as well as a machine reader. Characters are printed in special ink, which
contains a magnetic material.

There are small gaps and two big gaps. When a character is subsequently read it is passed
beneath a reading head and big and small gaps send in different types of impulses
represented by 1 bit and 0 bit respectively.
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This method is primary used in banking industry, and most cheques are now
processed under the MICR approach. The data printed across the bottom of bank cheque
are recorded in MICR form the characters represent the bank on which the cheque is
drawn, the customers account number and the amount of the cheque.

Advantage:
1. MICR processes a very high reading accuracy. Cheques may be smeared,
stamped roughly handled yet they are accurately read.
2. Cheques can be handled directly with out transcribing them on floppy disk,
magnetic tapes etc.
3. Cheques can be read both by human beings and machines.

Disadvantages of MICR
1. MICR has not found favour from business.
2. Damage documents, cheques not encoded with amount etc. have still be
clerically processed.

Optical Character Reading (OCR)

ORC uses a set of printing characters with standard font which is read by both
human and machine readers. The components of OCR device are

a) A Transport Mechanism
b) Scanner
c) Recognition Unit.

This machine reading done is done by light scanning techniques in which each
character is illuminated by a light source and the reflected image of the character is
analyzed in terms of the light –dark pattern produced key-board devices are used to give
the required print quality. OCR read upper and lower case letter, numerics and certain
special characters from handwritten, typed and printed paper documents. They are widely
used in the legal profession where the documents are stored in few seconds.

Advantages
1. Use of OCR eliminates the human effort for recording.
2. It is economical for high rate of input.
3. The documents are to be typed or handwritten. So, very skilled keypunch
operators are not required.
4. Input preparation devices are much cheaper compared to keypunch or the key-
to-tape devices.
5. OCR input saves typing of data one can take information that is not in
machine-readable form a avoid having to retype it. Recognizing letters take
far less storage space than image scan.
Disadvantages
1. Rigid input requirements as in typing, there is always the scope of strike –
over‟s, uneven space smudges and erasures; because critical and have to
standardized.
2. It is not economically feasible unless the daily volumes of transactions are
relatively high.

Optical Mark recognition (OMR)

OMR devices recognize special pencil marks made on the paper by focusing a
light on the page and reading the reflected light pattern from the marks.
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They recognize and read hand drawn marks like circles or squares, which is placed in a
form like questionnaire, survey etc. The data that is ready is transmitted directly to a
computer for processing.
It is very useful for reading the following two types of data-
1. Numerical data like customer and purchase order number, quantity etc.
2. Simple indicative information like defective of non-defective pass of
fail etc
Smart Card
Smart cards resemble credit cards in size and shape; however they contain
a microprocessor chip and memory, and some include a keypad as well. Smart cards are
used most frequently to make electronic purchases and to electronically transfer funds
between accounts. For example, in the health care industry, smart cards could be used to

store the holder‟s identity, address, insurance data, relatives‟ details, allergies, and even a
brief medical history. It is also used for security applications.

Bar Code Reader

Bar Codes are a pattern of dark and light lines of bars that represent data in a
coded form. Bar Code readers operate as under.

Meaning:-
Bar Code readers are devices which use laser beams to read the Bar Code Images
stamped on products and translate them into a product identifier. A computer finds the
price and other particular of the item / product so identified and indicates them o a
display.
Operations:
1. These devices convert the barcode that is pattern of printed bars on products,
into a product number by emitting a beam of light which reflect off the Bar
Code image.

2. A light-sensitive detector identifies the Barcode image by recognizing special

bars at both ends of the image. Once the detector has identified the bar code, it
converts‟ the individual bar pattern into numeric digits.
3. After the barcode reader has converted a barcode image into a number, it
feeds that number to the computer, just as though the number had been typed
on a keyboard.

Advantages:
1. Bar codes provide the advantages of improved accuracy of data entry.
2. It permits better customer service. E.g. Supermarket.
3. A retailer or user can keep track of inventory and sales automatically and
simultaneously. Hence it permits grater control & reliability of inventory
records.
4. It saves time, effort and cost.

Application: used in industries, retail trade, medical, libraries, military & other
government operations, transportation facilities, automobile industry etc.

Image processing
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Image processing captures an electronic image of data so that it can store and
shared. Image systems can capture almost anything, including key stroked or handwritten
documents, Flowcharts, drawings and photographs. Many companies that use document
imaging are making significant progress toward paperless offices.
Step 1: Data Capture: The scanning device converts the text and pictures into digitized
electronic code. This scanner can range from a simple hand held device to a high-end,
high-speed scanner capable of scanning more then 2,500 pages an hour.
Step 2: Indexing: The stored image documents such as purchase order numbers or
vendor numbers, is stored in an index. Great care is needed in designing the indexing
scheme, as it affects the ease of subsequent retrieval of information.
Step 3: Storage: The images require a large amount of storage space; they are usually
stored on and optical disk.
Step 4: Retrieval: The keying in any information stored in an index can retrieve
documents the index tells the system which optical disk to search and the requested
information can be quickly retrieved.
Step 5: Output: An exact replica of the original document is easily produced ion the
computers monitor of a paper, or is transmitted electronically to another computer.

Advantages:
a. Accessibility: Document can be accessed and reviewed
simultaneously by many people, even from remote locations.
b. Accuracy: Accuracy is much higher because costly and
error-prone manual data-entry processes are eliminated.
c. Availability: There are no more lost or misfiled documents.
d. Security: Various levels of passwords and clearances can be
assigned to restrict document access.
e. Speed: Data can be retrieved at fantastic speeds; stored
documents can be indexed using any number of identifying
labels, attributes, or keywords.
f. Versatility: Handwritten or types text can be added to an
image, as can voice message. Document can be added to
word processing files; the data can be included in a
spreadsheet or data base.

PRINTERS

PRINTERS
TYPES OF PRINTERS

IMPACT PRINTERS NON-IMPACT PRINTERS

Serial Line Thermal Laser

Inkjet

Dot Daisy Drum Chain

Matrix Wheel
Liquid Inkjet Solid Inkjet
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Impact Printers

Impact Printers operates with revolving print chains, rotating print wheels of wire
matrix components. The process of Impact Printers form images when electronic pulses
activate printing elements that are pressed against an inked ribbon and from an image on
paper. The print speed is slow. It generates output by moving the physical components of
printers. The quality of output is low. The cost is less expensive.
It makes more noise. It can print multiple copies at a time.
Example: Serial Printer – Dot Matrix Printer, Daisy Wheel Printer; Line Printer –
Drum Printer, Chain Printer.

Non-Impact Printers

Non- Impact printers use technology such as xerography or laser to produce

output. The process of Non- Impact printers use thermal, chemical of electrical technique
to form images of character. The printing speed is very high. There is no major
movement of physical components. The quality of output is very high. The cost is more
expensive. It generates less noise. It can print only one copy at a time.
Example: Thermal Printer, Inkjet Printer, Laser Printer.

Dot Matrix Printer

In the early 1970‟s a new print system called dot matrix printing was developed
for use with data processing systems.
The Dot Matrix Printer utilizes wire needles or pins which strike the ribbon against the
paper forming characters and images.

 These printers form the character by a pattern of dots formed by print head, which
can be a 9-pin head, which is made up of tiny needles.
 The printing head is a matrix box which consists of rows and columns of holes
through which pins appear.
 By activating the print head so that certain pins appear through the holes to form a
pattern resembling the characters, then the same pressed against the inked ribbon
and the pattern is printed as a series of dots. Which merge together to form a
character.
 Dot Matrix Printer is fast and cheap, but the print quality is relatively poor. They
are suitable for printing draft copies and documents. It can print around 300
characters per second.

Daisy Wheel Printer:

These printer use a new type of printing element called the Daisy Wheel. It is a
molded metal of plastic disk shaped printing element which looks like a daisy flower.
They are printers, which produce letter quality type. This is disc made of plastic and
shaped as a petal. On each stalk of the petal a character is embedded. To print a character,
the printer rotates the disc until the desired letter is facing the paper hits on an ink ribbon,
leaving an impression of the character on the paper. Even if it print quality is good, the
speed of printing is very slow. It can print around 80 characters per second.

Various types of Line Printer

 Line Printer
 Chain Printer
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 Drum Printer
 Band Printer
Line Printer:

The line printer are very high-speed impact printers which print 5 to 50 lines per
second and are used for producing high volume of paper output. They print at such a high
speed that one feels that a line is being printed at a time. They are normally used where
high speed and volume is a factor than the quality than the quality of output.

Chain Printer:

These printers use a rapidly rotating print chain containing characters slugs on
each components of the chain. Each strike contains four to six characters. For printing,
the magnetically controlled hammer strikes with the ink ribbon, placed between the paper
and the chain, on the paper as the chain rotates.

Drum Printer:

Drum Printer consists of a solid cylindrical drum that has got raised characters in
bands on its surface. The bands contain many characters and hammers at the number of
print position on the drums surface. The drum rotates at a rapid speed and hammers strike
the paper with the inked ribbon printing one line in one revolution of the drum. It is
classified as a line printer as a number of characters are printed at a time.

Band Printer

 Similar to the operations of a chain Pinter

 Instead of a chain a band of steel print spokes are present.
 They can print over 3000 lines per minute.

Serial Printer
1. These printers permit one character at a time usually from left to right. Some
printers however can also print in wider bi-directional format.
2. Serial Printers are generally used with microcomputers.
3. The Quality of output is high.
4. They are low speed Printer.
5. These are capable of graphic application.
6. Dot Matrix and Daisy Wheel type printers
7. Speed is measured in characters Per Seconds (CPS)
8. It is used where volume of output is limited.

Line Printer

1. It prints full line at time.

2. Line printers are generally used with mainframe and mini-computer.
3. Quality of output is poor.
4. They are generally high-speed printers.
5. Drum and Chain type of Printers.
6. Speed is measured in lines Per Seconds. (LPS)
7. They are used where volume of output is very high.

Different types of Non-Impact Printers

Thermal Printer

a. Thermal Printer use thermal printing technique.

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b. They have a print head similar to Dot Matrix Printers, but do not strike the
paper through the ribbon.
c. These printers form each character on the matrix printing head and when the
pins are heated by electric elements and then pressed against the paper.
d. When the pins touch the paper, the area heated by the pin changes color to
back or brown to form a character.

Inkjet Printer

a. These printers use an array of nozzles which sprays jets of ionized ink on a
sheet of paper in a defined pattern.
b. Paths direct the ink on to the paper in Magnetized plates in the ink the desired
shape.

c. provides a resolution of 300 Dots per Inch (dpi) or higher resolution.

d. The price is lower than the cost of the Laser Printer, but the speed is
comparatively slower than the Laser Jet Printers.
e. they require a special type of ink which is apt to smudge on an inexpensive
paper.
f. This has very high quality printing and can be printed in multiple colors at a
time.

These printers contain a Ram, which can store information.

1. Liquid Inkjet
2. Solid Inkjet

Liquid Inkjet Solid Inkjet

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 These printers use ink cartridges  They use solid ink sticks that are
from which they spray ink onto the melted into reservoir and sprayed in
paper. precisely controlled drops on to the
page where the ink immediately
 A cartridge of ink attached to a print hardens.
head with 50 or so nozzles each  Higher-pressure rollers flatten and
thinner than a human hair, moves fuse the ink to the paper to prevent
across the paper. smearing which produces an
exceptionally high-quality image
with sharp edges and good color
 A digital signal from the computer reproduction.
tells each nozzle when to propel a  These are also referred to as phase-
drop of ink onto the paper; these are change printers because the ink
done using mechanical vibrations in moves from a solid to a liquid phase
some printers. to be printed then back to a solid
phase on the page.
 In the final step, paper moves
between two rollers to cold-fuse the
image and improves the surface
texture.

Laser Printer
Laser printer uses a combined system which utilizes laser and xerographic
photocopying technology. In a laser printer, a beam from a small laser scans horizontally
across a charges xerographic selenium drum to build up an invisible electrostatic image
of a whole page of text. Using standard photocopier techniques, the formed image is then
transferred to the paper being printed.
a. The drum is rolled in toner, which is dry powder. Heat and pressure
are fused with the dry powder on to the paper.
b. These devices print with a resolution of unto 1200 dpi and produce
excellent professional print quality.
c. They are also used to print drawings, graphs and other requirements.
d. It prints at a speed between 8 to 45 pages per minute.
e. These printers have a Ram for storing information and also have with
their own fonts.
f. Duplex printers print both the sides of a paper at the same time.
Duplex printing is ideal for documents that are stapled of bound.
Microfilm:
Microfilm stays in a continuous form. They are 16mm / 35mm of film contained
in cartridges which can hold 2,000 – 5000 pages. They are to be read sequentially until
desired record is retrieved.

Microfiche:
Microfiche (it is a French word „Fiche‟ means „Card‟ is cut into pieces.
They are 105mm film measuring 4 x 6 inches sheet which can reproduced more than270
pages sized images. It provides direct access to the record through hunt and storage
procedure.

Voice Recognitions system:

VRS is a hand-free voice interactive computer interface in which user can access
the computer system by talking to it. They are designed for the physically challenged and
non-typist people to work with the computer efficiently. Voice command driven

applications are very effective and well received by inexperienced user. Most speech
system are used fro text dictation or for single command voice menu option. VRS
technology is still in its initial development stages.

Microphone
It is device made to capture waves in air, water of hard material and translate
them into an electrical signal. This type of sound input basically requires a digitized
recording. For digitized, microphone and a sound card is required. Here sound card
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translates the electrical signal form the microphone into a digitized from that the
computer can store and process.

Sound System:
It is key sound output system which required speakers and a sound card to
produce sound output. Here sound card translates digital sounds into the electric current
that is sent to the speakers. The speakers attached to multi media PC are similar to ones
that are connected to a stereo.

Graphic Plotter:
 Graph plotters are devices that draw pictures based on commands from a
computer.
 Plotters are different from printers as they can draw lines using a pen.
 As a result, they can produce continuous lines, while printers can only
simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots.
 A high degree of accuracy is achieved up to 1/ 1,000th of an inch.
 They are generally used for engineering applications, e.g. drawing
building plans.

Graphic Output Devices

Graphic output devices are used for creating maps, charts, drawing diagrams & similar
type of graphic output. It is normally used when the hard copy of drawing of good quality
& bigger size is required.
Most popular graphic output devices is plotter like printers, plotter is also getting
cheaper, smaller, faster & smarter.
Plotter normally is supplied with CAD/CAM system. Plotter comes as an essential
component of cad system.

Types of Plotter

Pen Plotter Electrostatic Plotters

Drum Type Flat Bed Type

Pen Plotter: P.P. plots the image on a sheet of paper by the movement of one of more
pens over the surface of paper by movement of paper under the tip of a pen.

Type of Pen Plotter: -

a. Drum Type: Movement of sheet takes place under the tip of one or
more horizontally moving pens for printing the required image on
paper.
b. Flat Bet Type: The paper remains fixed and the movement of pen
takes place horizontally vertically to print the required image.
Electrostatic Plotter: - This plotter produces drawings by the use of a row of styli across
the width of the paper. As the paper rotates on the drum, the electrostatic charge is

created on the paper. The paper then passes through a developer solution like
photographic film roll and final drawing emerges.
As the image with this kind of plotters is made with series of very small clots the
output is or relatively high quality and also the speed of plotters is faster than of pen
plotter.

Key-to-Disk: - Data from source document is directly keyed to a magnetic storage device
in this system. The set up of this system comprises of several keying stations, a
microprocessor, a magnetic storage unit and a supervisors console as a network. The data
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Recorded in a key to disk is subsequently transferred to a magnetic tape after the
verification.

Key –to- diskette: - Data is keyed to record on a floppy. This system is a stand alone
data station and comprise of a keyboard with a visual display unit and a floppy disk drive
with small memory to hole the keyed data. In this system and data can be entered and
verified later. The data recorded on the floppy disk is later transferred to a magnetic tape.

Distinguish between the MICR and OCR

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Optical Character Recognition

MICR is a combination of magnetic and OCR is a combination of a transport
paper media. Use of special ink containing mechanism, a scanner and a recognition
magnetizable substances. unit.

Characters of fonts are recognized when Characters recognized when subjected to a

subjected to magnetic field. light source which reflects the image of
each character.

MICR can only read special font, which OCR can read both alphabetic and numeric
represents only numbers and few characters.
punctuation marks.

MICR is 100% accurate ICR is less accurate than MICR

MICR is widely used in banking industry OCR is widely used in legal profession.
for recognizing codes on cheques

Centralized processing and Distributed Processing

In centralized processing, the processing In distributed processing both storage and

environment devices along with storage processing facilities are physically
device and other I/O devices are housed in distributed and interconnected by data
centralized location. communication facilities.

Processing done at a centralized location. Processing done at each distributed site or

User has to go the centralized location for location. User processes at the place where
processing he is.

In this type of processing, there is only one In this type of processing, each remote site
central database. maintains its own local database.

Normally batch processing is done in Online processing data for individual

centralized processing transactions possible in distributed
processing.