Input and output devices

Keyboards:
Definition: Keyboards are input devices used for data entry on: computers, tablets, mobile phones and so
on.
The keyboard connected through a USB or wireless connection.
In tablets and mobile phones, the keyboard is virtual or touchscreen technology.
Keyboard types are:
1- Standard keyboard
2- Ergonomic keyboards (solve RSI problem).

Input of data into applications software

Uses
Typing in commands to the computer
Fast entry
keyboard

Advantages Well-known method.

Easy to use for most people
Slow and typing errors in data entry.
Disadvantages Lead to injuries (RSI).
Uses up desk space (large device)

How the computer recognises a letter pressed on the

keyboard:
1- A circuit board found at the base of the keys.
2- When pressing a key, this completes a circuit.
3- The CPU determines which key is pressed.
4- The CPU refers to an index file to identify which
character the key press represents
Numeric keypads

It’s an Input device Used to enter numbers only.

Automatic teller machines (ATMs) - key in their PIN.

Numeric keypads

Uses Mobile phones

Point of sale terminals (POS) if the barcode reader fails to read the barcode
Faster method
Advantages
Easy to carry around (in many small devices)
More difficult (small keys)
Disadvantages
The order of the numbers is not intuitive

Pointing devices:
Are devices that uses a pointer cursor appears in the screen.
They are:
 Mouse  Trackerball
 Touchpad  Remote control

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  Joystick  Driving wheel
Mouse

A pointing device used to control the position of a pointer on the screen.

It has two buttons:
 The left button: to select items by double clicking
 The right button: brings up drop-down menus.

Opening, closing and minimising software

Uses Controlling the position of a pointer on the screen
Image editing
Faster method for choosing
Mouse

Advantages Very quick

No need for a large desk space
Difficult for disabled people
Disadvantages Easy to damage
Difficult to use in no flat surface
Touchpad

Touchpads are a pointing device in laptops. The pointer is controlled by the user moving their finger on the
touchpad. Their uses are the same as those of a mouse
Uses Similar to the mouse
Same as the mouse
Touchpads

Advantages
The touchpad is integrated (no need for a separate mouse)
Difficult to use for disabled People.
Disadvantages Difficult to control the pointer.
Difficult to do certain operations (like: drag and drop)

Trackerball

Trackerballs are pointing devices (similar to a mouse), except that a ball is on the top or the side of the
device. The user controls the pointer on the screen by rotating the ball. Easy to use for disabled people.

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 Good alternative to a mouse (prevent RSI).
Uses In industrial control room.
In luxury cars
Trackerball

No need for high control

Advantages Easier to use.
Needs less desk space
Not supplied with the computer.
Disadvantages
User may need training to use it

Remote control

Used with devices that using infrared signals. The buttons are used to select options.
Televisions, satellite systems, DVD/Blu-ray players
Remote control

Uses Control multimedia systems.

Industrial applications to remotely control processes
Advantages Operated from any reasonable distance
Difficult to use disabled people.
Disadvantages
It is easier to block the signal
Joystick
Joysticks have similar functions to a mouse and a trackerball. By gripping the stick, a pointer on the screen
can be controlled. Buttons are used to make selections. Often, they have another button on the top of the
stick that is used for gaming purposes for example to fire a weapon.

Video/computer games.
Uses
In simulators.
Joystick

Easier to use.
Advantages
More realistic Control.
Disadvantages More difficult to control the on-screen pointer

Driving wheel
An input device that is similar to a joystick. It connects to a computer through a USB port. Sensors are used
to pick up left/right movement.

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 Video/computer games.
Uses
Driving Wheel In simulators.
Easier to control.
Advantages
The (driving experience) is nearer to actual (real)
Expensive
Disadvantages
Movements are too sensitive

Scanners
Scanners are used to enter information from hard copy into a computer. The hard copy
document or photo is scanned and produces a computer-readable image.
There are also specialist scanners that designed to do a specific task, like: barcode
scanners.

Scan in documents and convert into a useful format.

Uses Scan in old/valuable documents/books (protecting the originals)
Scan in photographs
Scanners

Advantages Images stored for editing

Much faster (When used with OCR)
Can recover damaged documents
Quality can be limited
Disadvantages
They can be fairly slow at scanning

Digital cameras
An input device used to take images and videos.
The images are stored on a memory card and can be transferred to a computer by:
1- Directly reading the memory card
2- Connecting the camera to the computer using a USB port
3- Using wireless data transfer (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth).

Taking photographs
Uses As a data-capture device
Digital cameras

To improve colour matching when doing some fillings.

Easier to produce better-quality photographs.
Advantages Easier and faster to upload photographs.
No need to develop film and print out photographs.
Need to use the cameras properly.
Disadvantages Some artistry lost (some software now corrects errors).
Images had to be compressed to reduce the amount of memory used.

Microphones
An input device that used to enter sound data to computer.
It’s built into the computer or are external devices connected through the USB port or using Bluetooth
connectivity.
Figure 2.16 shows how a microphone can convert sound waves into an electric current. The current
produced is converted to a digital format so that a computer can process it or store it (for example, on a
CD).

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» When sound is created, it causes the air to vibrate.
» When a diaphragm in the microphone picks up the air vibrations, the diaphragm also begins to vibrate.
» A copper coil is surrounded by a permanent magnet and the coil is connected to the diaphragm using a
cone. As the diaphragm vibrates, the cone moves in and out causing the copper coil to move backwards
and forwards relative to the magnet.
» This forwards and backwards motion cuts through the magnetic field around the permanent magnet,
inducing an electric current.
» The electric current is then either amplified or sent to a recording device. The electric current is analogue
in nature.

The electric current output from the microphone can also be sent to a computer where a sound card
converts the current into a digital signal which can then be stored in the computer.
 To input speech/sounds
Microphones Uses As a sensor to pick up sound
In video-conferencing or Voice
Faster to read than to type in.
Advantages Ability to manipulate sound in real time.
Improving safety (If used in a voice activation system)
Sound files use a lot of memory.
Disadvantages
Voice-recognition software is not as accurate as typing in.

Sensors
A sensor is an input device that inputs data to a computer. (data of physical quantity that changes
continuously, like: temperature, light, etc.). Physical quantities are analogue data.
The input data by the sensors must be converted by an Analogue To Digital Converter (ADC)., because
computers only understand digital data (1s and 0s).
Sensors are used in monitoring and control applications.
Uses of sensors
Type of sensor Applications
Temperature Automatic washing machines Central heating systems Automatic glasshouses Ovens
Pressure Intruder alarm systems Washing machines Robotics Environmental monitoring
Light Automatic glasshouses Automatic doors Intruder alarm systems Street lighting control
Sound/acoustic Intruder alarm systems Monitoring liquid flow in pipes
Automatic glasshouses Environmental monitoring Factories (like: manufacture of
Humidity/moisture
microchips)
pH Automatic glasshouses Chemical processes Environmental monitoring

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 Central heating systems
Uses Robotics
Automatic doors
Sensors

More accurate readings

Advantages Readings are continuous
Systems is automatic (no need for human)
Faulty sensors can give incorrect results
Disadvantages
Most sensors are analogue (need conversion using an ADC).

Light pens
Light pens are used with computers as an input device.
They contain sensors that send signals to a computer whenever light changes
are detected. The devices only work with CRT monitors.

Selecting objects on CRT screens.

Uses
Drawing on screen (for CAD packages).
Greater accuracy
Light Pens

Advantages Small in size

Easy to use
Problems with lag when drawing on screen
Disadvantages Only works with CRT monitors
Not that accurate when drawing.
 Direct data entry (DDE) devices
Direct data entry (DDE) devices are used to input data into a computer without the need for human
interaction.
The data transferred into the computer automatically, like: using barcode readers.
Card readers
 Magnetic stripe readers
 Contactless debit card readers
 Chip and PIN readers

Magnetic stripe readers

Used to read information on the magnetic stripe (in the back of a credit or debit card).
The stripe contains useful information, like: account number, sort code, expiry date and start date.

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 On credit/debit cards for use at ATMs or EFTPOS (electronic
Uses funds transfer at point of sale) terminals.
Security devices (to allow entry to buildings).
Fast data entry
Advantages Error-free (no typing is involved).
Secure.
When damaged the data is lost.
Disadvantages Does not work at a distance.
The information is not human readable.

Contactless debit card readers

Contactless debit or credit cards allow customers to pay for without entering their PIN.

All contactless cards have a small chip that used radio waves.
The card is held for a while for payment terminal to pay.
The terminal picks up the signal from the chip and processes the transaction.
The steps to use the contactless cards to take are:
1- Customers look out for the contactless symbol on the payment terminal.
2- The shop assistant enters the amount for payment.
3- The card reader informs the customer to present their contactless card.
4- The customer holds their card close to the front of the card reader.
5- The terminal display will indicate that the card has been read successfully.

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 Pay without entering their PIN
Uses
Contactless debit POS (point of Sale)
card readers Faster transactions
Advantages No worry about typing errors
Faster access to the customer’s credit/debit card information.
More expensive
Disadvantages People can monitor your contactless card transaction while paying.
Can take money twice (by using a chip and PIN card)

Chip and PIN readers

Chip and PIN readers are similar to smart card readers but are used at EFTPOS terminals. The device has
a slot where the card is placed and the chip is read. The PIN is entered using the keypad.
The reader has a small screen which shows instructions to the operator.
They are similar to the contactless system, except for two points:
1- The customer has to type their PIN
2- No use of radio frequency technology.
Uses Where cards are used for payments (restaurants, supermarkets)
PIN readers
Chip and

More secure system.

Advantages
More robust system.
Fraud
Disadvantages
Need to ensure PIN is not read by somebody
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers:
Radio frequency identification (RFID) readers use radio waves to read and capture information stored on
a tag. Tag can be read from a distance which is an advantage over the barcode system.
The RFID tag is made up of two components:
1- A microchip: stores and processes information
2- An antenna: to receive and transmit data/information.
The tags can be:
1- Passive: use the reader’s radio wave energy to relay back the information
2- or battery-powered: use a small embedded battery to power the RFID.

Retail (similar to barcodes).

Uses Admission passes.
identification (RFID)
Radio frequency

Libraries
The tags can be read from a distance.
readers

Advantages Very reliable technology.

Very fast read-rate.
Easy to interrupt (uses radio waves)
Disadvantages Easy to hack
More expensive

Optical Mark Recognition/Reader (OMR)

Optical mark recognition (OMR) is a device which can read marks written in pen or pencil on a form.
For example:

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The position of the mark is stored in the computer’s memory after being read by the OMR device.

Read questionnaires
recognition (OMR)

Uses Multiple-choice examination papers

Optical mark

Voting papers
Very fast way of inputting
Advantages More accurate
More accurate than OCR methods.
The forms need to be carefully designed
Disadvantages
Causes problems if they have not been filled in correctly

Optical Character Recognition/Reader (OCR)

It’s a device that converts the text on hard copy documents into an electronic
form. OCR software converts the electronic data into a form used in various
application packages.
 Processing of passports and identity cards.
Recognition/Read
Optical Character

Uses Converting hard copy documents into electronic form to be stored

on a computer.
er (OCR)

Faster data entry

Advantages
Reduced errors
Difficult to read some handwriting.
Disadvantages
Not very accurate.

Comparison of OMR and OCR features

OCR OMR
customers can extend their answers to questions The information obtained is limited to the choices
(it reads handwriting) offered in each question
poor handwriting causes reading errors The position of the marks is compared to a template
stored in memory
converting printed documents to an editable OMR simply reads the position of marks so it is ideal
electronic format for
multiple-choice exam papers
needs complex recognition system This method requires complex (and expensive) forms
to be completed; but the recognition system is
simpler than OCR
Fewer ‘how to fill in’ instructions are needed for While this method requires more ‘how to fill in’

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forms instructions, it is easier and faster for customers to
designed to be completed and then read by OCR complete OMR forms than to complete OCR forms
OCR is more accurate OMR is essentially a more accurate method for
reading
data than OCR
Barcode readers
Used to read information in the form of a bar code. The readers are usually in the
form of a barcode scanner and are often built into POS terminals in supermarkets.
Handheld scanners or wands are also very common for reading barcodes.

in supermarkets.
Libraries
Uses
As a safety function (to ensure checking electrical equipment is in
Barcode readers

companies)
Much faster
Advantages A way of recording safety testing of components
Allow automatic stock control.
Expensive
Disadvantages Not fool-proof (barcodes can be swapped around on items)
Easily damaged

Quick response (QR) code scanners (readers)

Another type of barcode is the quick response (QR) code. This is made up of a matrix of filled-in dark
squares on a light background. For example, the QR code in Figure 2.26 is a website advertising rock
music merchandise. It includes a web address in the code.
QR codes can hold considerably more information than the more conventional barcodes described earlier.

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Description of QR codes
A QR code consists of a block of small squares (light and dark) called pixels.
It can allows internet addresses to be encoded within the QR code.
The 30 digits is the maximum for a barcode.
As more data is added, the structure of the QR code becomes more complex.
The three large squares at the corners work as an alignment way; the small corner
square is used to ensure the correct shot when the QR code is read.
QR codes can be scanned anywhere because of using modern smartphones and tablets.

To read QR codes method:

1- Point the phone or tablet camera at the QR code.
2- The apps will now process the image taken by the camera converting the squares
into readable data.
3- The browser software on the mobile phone or tablet automatically reads the data
generated by the apps; it will also decode any web addresses contained within the
QR code.
4- The user will then be sent to a website automatically (or if a telephone number was
embedded in the code)
5- If the QR code contained a boarding pass, this will be automatically sent to the
phone/tablet.

Uses Contains data such as business addresses, phone numbers

Q
R
 Contain links to apps and to automatic website access
codes Wi-Fi authentication
Holds much more information
Advantages
Fewer errors

Output devices
Are devices that show the result of computer processing in a format that can be understood by a human, or
as a part of a control system.
Monitors (screens)
We will consider two types of monitors:
1- The cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor
2- LCD (or TFT) screen (TFT means ‘thin film technology’
CRT monitors
Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors has many sizes, it uses an electron gun firing against a phosphor
screen. The picture is made up of tiny dots which are coloured red, green or
blue.

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 In specialist areas (like: computer-aided design (CAD))
Uses
With light pens
CRT monitors

The screen can be seen at a wider range of viewing angles clearly

Advantages
Allow the use of light pens
Heavy and weight
Disadvantages Run very hot, can cause fires
Consume more power

LED and LCD screens

LED screens
Is made up of tiny light emitting diodes (LEDs), and each LED is either red, green or blue in colour. Its
brightness can be controlled, producing a vast range of colours By varying the electric current sent to each
LED. This type of screen tends to be used for large outdoor displays.

LCD screens

Are made up of tiny liquid crystals. These tiny crystals make up an array of pixels which are affected by
changes in applied electric fields. Modern LCD screens are backlit using light emitting diode (LED)
technology. Before the use of LEDs, LCD screens used cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) as the
back-lighting method.
 The main output device
Uses Offer touch-screen input.
Mobile phones, tablets, laptops
LCD screens

Very efficient, low power consumption.

Advantages Lightweight devices.
Very sharp image resolution
Inconsistent colour and contrast
Disadvantages Lower contrast
Have weak or stuck pixels

Touch screen (as an output device)

Touch screens can work as both an input device and as an output device.

Smartphones and tablets

Uses ATMs at banks
Touch Screens

Ticket collection machines at theatres

Faster entry
Advantages Very easy for choosing options.
User-friendly method
Limited number of options
Disadvantages Screen can get very dirty
Security risk (track a user’s interactions)
Multimedia projectors

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 Multimedia projectors receive signals that can be either analogue or digital from a computer,
television or DVD player, then the image projected onto a large screen. Most multimedia projectors take
input from various types of video format.
Training presentations
Uses Advertising presentations
Home cinema systems
Multimedia
Projectors

Enables many people to see a presentation

Advantages
Avoids the need for several networked computers
Images can be fuzzy
Disadvantages Expensive
Difficult to set up projectors

Printers
An output device that used to print/output the information into papers (hard copy).
we will consider the use of the three most common types of printers:
1- Laser printer
2- Inkjet printer
3- Dot matrix printer.
Laser printers
Laser printers produce very high-quality hard copy output. The print rate
per page is very quick if a large number of pages are being printed. They
rely on large buffer memories where the data for the whole document is
stored before pages can be printed out

Where low noise (office).

Uses For fast, high quality
For High copies printing
laser printers

Fast and handle large print jobs

Advantages High quality
Toner cartridges used for a long time
Only fast for making several copies
Disadvantages Expensive
Health issues (Produce ozone)

Inkjet printers

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 Inkjet printers are used to produce good-quality hard copies. Unlike laser printers, inkjet printers do
not have large buffer memories, therefore printing is done a bit at a time. This is why printing is sometimes
paused – the whole print job cannot be stored in the buffer, and it has to wait for the computer to send
more data.

In low-output copies are required

Uses For high-quality printing is required
3D inkjet printers
inkjet printers

High-quality output
Advantages Very lightweight
Do not produce ozone and volatile organic compounds
Slow output for several copies
Disadvantages Cannot do large print jobs
Expensive
Dot matrix printers
Dot matrix printers are a type of impact printer. The print head
(composed of a matrix of pins).

Noisy environments
Uses
Dot matrix printers

In multi-part applications

Used hard environments

Advantages Produce multi outputs copies
Used hard environments
Very noisy
Disadvantages Poor-quality
Very slow

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(Graph) plotters
A (graph) plotter is an output device. Although they print on paper,
they work very differently to printers.
Instead of toner or ink cartridges, plotters use a pen, pencil or marker
pen to draw multiple continuous lines, rather than a series of dots like
a printer. The size of the paper can be anything from A4 up to several
metres.

Producing architectural drawings

Uses Producing engineering drawings
Drawing cartoon characters
Very high quality
plotters

Advantages Produce large, and colour drawings

Print a variety of materials
Very slow
Disadvantages Expensive
Have a very large physical footprint

3D printers
3D printers are primarily used in computer-aided design (CAD) applications. They are primarily based on
inkjet and laser printer technology and can produce solid objects that actually work. The solid object is built
up layer by layer using materials such as powdered resin, powdered metal.

Prosthetic limbs
Uses Making items to allow surgery
In aerospace, manufacturers
3D printers

The manufacturing of items has become easier

Advantages Allows rapid prototyping
Manufacturing parts for machinery
Making fake items is against copyright
Disadvantages Can lead to illegal activities
Job losses

Speakers
Speakers (or loudspeakers) are output devices that produce sound.

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 Phones and computers
Uses Plays sound files
Multimedia presentations
Speakers

Everyone hears the output from a computer

Advantages Can be much louder than the original sound
simple technology
Disturb others
Disadvantages High-quality sound needs expensive device
takes a desk space

Actuators
An actuator is a mechanical or electromechanical device used to
control devices.
A solenoid converts an electrical signal into a magnetic field producing
linear motion.

Controls devices (motors).

Uses
Controlling physical devices that require analogue inputs
Actuators

allow remote operation of many devices

Advantages
Inexpensive
Could go wrong
Disadvantages
Computer signals must be converted by DAC to enable computer control