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different colours: red, green and blue (RGB).
These colours light the pixels on the screen.
When viewed from a little distance away,
the colours appear to blend, forming the full
Figure 4.2
range of colours as required. Cathode ray tube (on the left) and a flat panel monitor

Flat panel display (ie )

There are two types: Did you know?
:
@ LCD (liquid crystal display): This display, as the name suggests, uses Did you know that the CRT
liquid crystals which change their appearance when an electric current was invented in 1897 by
is passed through them. It is small, light and flat with no moving parts, the German scientist
and uses much less power than the CRT display. It is therefore Karl Braun? It was first
extensively used on laptop computers. used in the cathode ray
7m ‘entif
@ Plasma display: In this display light is created by a plasma discharge SUSI ope i d
from phosphors between two flat panels of glass. instrument Ose to display ata
about electric currents. Later, it
ae : became the basis of television.
Characteristics of monitors THe fren e coeeetal
A monitor's full capabilities depend on several factors: transmission of moving
1. The graphics/video card or adaptor being used television images $00)
took place in
2 7 orersis 1925, by the Scottish inventor,
1e monitor's size Honmlanesent
3 Its resolution Le a
4 Its ‘image aspect ratio’
5 Its ‘refresh rate’
Let us look at these:
@ Graphics/video card or adaptor: This is an electronic link between the
computer's processor and the monitor - it is a circuit board that connects
the processor to the monitor. It determines the display resolution, the
number of colours available and the refresh rate of the monitor. Both the
type of monitor and the graphics card determine the resolution. The
adaptor contains VRAM (video RAM memory) that will support a certain
resolution. You cannot set a resolution higher than the adaptor can
support. The more powerful the card is, the more capable the monitor
will be in all these aspects.
Size: This is the diagonal dimension of the screen. Common sizes are
from 17 to 24 inches.
Resolution: Resolution determines the clarity and sharpness of an
image when displayed on the screen. The more pixels there are on a
screen, the higher the resolution, and the greater the level of detail that
can be shown in an image. Some common resolutions are:
- WGA (Video Graphics Array) = 640 X 480 pixels
- SVWGA (Super Video Graphics Array) = 800 X 600 pixels _
 cs
— XGA/XVGA ( Extended Graphics Array/ Extended Video Graphi
768 pixels o
Array) = 1024 X
SXGA (Super
Ws I ) Extended Graphics Array)
da : ; = 1280
i X ee Eee In ¢
= 1600 X ro ee
UXGA (Ultra Extended Graphics Array) dist
OXGA (Quad Extended Graphics Array) = 2048 x | i ee ae dec
ratio: This refers to the ratio of width to oe the
® Image aspect
on the screen. Most monitors have a 4:3 width to ee za a ae ins
image
that all the pixe | dimensions shown above can be reduced to this Cal
No KG
thi
ratio mathematically.
@ Refresh rate: This is the number of times the image 1s ne or
refreshed on the screen per second. We get the impression that, on 4
example, a drawing on our screen is still, but in fact it is being eee
continuously. If this process is slow, the screen may appear to flicker.
@ The refresh rate is measured in hertz (cycles per second), e.g. 150
hertz (Hz) means the screen is refreshed 150 times a second.
@ The faster the refresh rate the less noticeable the flickering on the
screen,
@ The higher the resolution the more lines need to be scanned across
the screen, or repainted per second.

tA
Other visual output devices

A oe CA
Multimedia projector

kh
This device is used to create and deliver dynamic multimedia
presentations (presentations in which sound, photos, video, text and other
moving graphics may be combined to interesting effect). There are two
types of multimedia projectors: LCD projector and LCD panel.
The LCD projector has its own built-in lenses and light source and connects
directly to computer, television, video/DVD player and video camcorder.
Images from these devices are projected through the LCD projector onto a
screen or wall. Versions of the LCD projector now come with a digital video
camera On an arm extension attached to it. This video camera allows real-
time videos and pictures to be instantly projected through the LCD projector
onto a screen. For example, the camera can be directed at a page in a book or
at someone performing a demonstration; the video camera image is
projected through the LCD projector onto a screen or wall.

Figure 4.3 The LCD panel is used with a normal overhead projector (OHP). This
panel
LCD projector is the size of a notebook and is placed directly on the surface
of the OHP.
Like the LCD projector, the panel can be connected to devices such
as
computer, television, video/DVD player and video camcorder. The
image
displayed on the panel is projected onto a screen when the light of the
OHP
| Did you know? shines through it.
OLED (organic light
emitting diode) and
Flexible OLED are
displays made from Sound output is another form of ‘soft copy’ output: it isn’t
permanent, as
organic material that printing would be, Some of the devices involved are
as follows:
uses less power than traditional
Speakers
y
LCDs.
ee
A simple speaker will make a range of sounds
available to the computer
user, Computer-generated sound, music output,
computer-synthesised voice
and the normal speaking voice are now conventional
Output using a speaker.
Sound cards need to be installed in microcomputers
to obtain good sound
quality for music or games,
 where you may want to listen to audio output while not
| here the use of speakers become impractical you may
Gecide to use headphones or earphones. Hfeadphones are placed outside
6al ¢ YP)
T while earphones or ear buds rest
LR
HL 1 \.]
FLioG
6Nulre 6ar ;

insideic : tl nal. Rot]1th headphones and earphones now include

ani
HeGmns
© UMN
noise
technology which reduces the amount of noise interference from
environment
>
Did you know?
Did you know that
speech synthesis can
Phe voice response system selects from a set of digitised prerecorded words, now be demonstrated
phrases, music, alarms or other sounds stored on disk. The system combines on the Internet?
these prerecorded words into responses based on selections made by the Connect to the World
user. For example, many phone banking systems use voice response Wide Web and see what
Systems. Based on the information given to them when a caller selects speech synthesis web sites you
options on their telephone keypad, the bank computer outputs voice L_ can find.
information to the caller. The sounds must be converted from digital format SJ
back to analogue before being output to the speaker

Speech synthesis
This system converts written text into computer generated speech (‘text to
speech’). It is used for computer-aided conversations by hearing- and
speech-impaired persons, or for converting conversations/text from one
language into another.

The modem
A modem (short for modulator/demodulator) is a communication device
that sends and receives data. Therefore it is both an input and an output
device. It is used to convert digital data from the computer into analogue
data that can be transmitted over the telephone line. When the data gets to
the other end, another modem converts the analogue data back into digital
data so that the computer at that end can process it. A modem is an
extremely common device, often built into the computer. For example, it is
used to read data from, and transmit data to, the Internet.

Exercise 1
Copy and fill in the blanks using A to E below. 2 Copy and fill in the
(CL) ae = resolution blanks:

(Qe se pixel Temporary output is also known as

output. Monitors are
(ey = Cele refresh rate
temporary output devices; ______
Gy SC = speech synthesis are the two types of
and
= voice response systems monitors. The most common is the
The smallest unit on the screen . The electronic link
between the processor and the monitor is
Converts written text into computer
_ Three characteristics that |
generated speech
affect the capabilities of monitors are
Selects and plays back prerecorded sounds }
and
Measured in hertz
The clarity or sharpness of an image
 Deisy wheel printers (character printers)
no
stics+
of these printers include:
ded metal characters similar to typewriter keys are mounted on
‘sign arms attached to a rotating wheel. Prints are made by a
mer-like action of the keys hitting the print ribbon.
ss involves a lot of moving mechanical parts and is very noisy.
iz is slow (less than 90 cps).

neraily crisp and clean — letter quality print.

font produced can only be changed by using a different

This printer is not used much any more: it is becoming obsolete, as laser
printers are able to produce the same quality print as the daisy wheel
printers and are much more versatile.

Drum, chain or band printer (line printers)

These are line printers which contain characters on a drum, chain or band
that rotates at constant speed; the keys strike the page as the required
characters pass the print position. Characters do not get printed one ata
time from left to right. Instead they are printed in the order in which they
pass the head. They are high speed — 2500 lines per minute — and are used to
print large volume of information.

The print head of a non-impact printer does not strike the paper, so they are
much quieter than impact printers. Most non-impact printers produce dot
matrix patterns, Several technologies are now available and have been used
to produce a variety of printers. The main types of non-impact printer are:
@ Thermal printer
@ Laser printer
@ Ink-jet printer.

Thermal printers (character printers)

There are two types of thermal printers.
form the
@ Direct thermal printer: This printer uses heated elements/pins to
; characters. These elements/pins come into contact with special heat-
: sensitive paper to form darkened dots where the elements have reached
y
a critical temperature, thus shaping the characters. The pins actuall
burn the dots into the specially coated paper. Exposure to sunlight and
heat tends to darken the thermal printer paper, which also tends to
ed
darken over time even at room temperature; the print quality produc
by thermal printers is therefore poor. , —
er me
@ Thermal wax transfer printer: The print head of this print
lts a wax-
_ based ink from a transfer ribbon onto the paper. This printer does not ~| Did you know ?
require special paper. ; Did you know that the
Thermal printers are widely used in battery-powered equipment such as peccaabsonciclcaggee
(automated teller aser printersc
tors. fax machines and some ATMs
ee Tee : _| produce around 40 fully
colo es
fast r ws
Ineot
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pr

Figure 4.5
Laser printer

Figure 4.6
Inkjet printer

transferred to the page and then fused onto it by heat and pressure. These
(—— of printers can generate a large number of pages per minute depending on the
specification and quality of the printer.
non-impact printers
@® Much quieter - useful in Colour laser printers use four different colour toners and work by printing
hospitals, busy offices, etc. four times - once with cyan toner, then with magenta toner, then yellow and
@® Much faster printing then with black. The mix of these colours can produce all other colours, and
speeds the output quality is very good.
@ Sometimes require special
paper Compared to black-and-white laser printers, colour laser printers are a lot
® Do not have multiple-copy more expensive, sometimes thousands of dollars more than the black-and-
facilities, that is they white ones.
cannot produce multiple
copies by printing on Inkjet printers (line printers)
duplicating paper
Inkjet printers produce an image by spraying ink onto
the paper in a dot
matrix pattern. Colour graphics can be produced
Characteristics of impact by spraying cyan, magenta,
yellow and black ink onto the page. Inkjet printe
printers rs can print in both colour
and black-and-white. They are very common
® Noisy for home use and the print
quality is good, even very good, but not
® Can produce multiple as good as laser printers. A typical
printer of this type may cost around
copies by printing on US$ 100, though the cost of
continuously replacing ink should
duplicating paper also be borne in mind.
® Used in many businesses
mene
J Other printers

Braille printer
Also called a braille emboss
er, this is a n impact printe
into the Braille code, pro r which converts text
ducing patte ts of raised
the blind. dot s on paper for use by
 wered printer that can also work with a
OD ion of being a able to connect to a
( able.

| all-in-one, three-in-one or four-in-one

rinter, scanner, copier and sometimes

A plotter is a peripheral used to draw high quality, high resolution graphics,

charts, graphs, maps and vectors or co-ordinate graphics on large sheets of
paper.
@ Plotters are slow, but can draw continuous lines often in a variety of
colours.
o They are useful for producing architectural drawings, building plans,
maps and CAD (computer aided design) drawings, where precision is
required.
@ The paper is sometimes laid on a flat bed (flat-bed plotter) or ona
rotating drum (drum plotter). Figure 4.7. Mobile printer
There are three main types of plotters: pen plotters, inkjet plotters and
electrostatic plotters.
@ Pen plotters use a mechanical arm
or rail that holds a pen which can
be moved across the page.
@ Inkjet plotters work in the same
way as inkjet printers by spraying
ink onto the paper.
@ Electrostatic plotters work in the
same way as laser printers.

COM (computer output

on microfilm/microfiche)
COM is a method that is used to store
computer documents by reducing them in
size to fit on very small photographic prints.
They are therefore a physical output like
printing, and are used to store large volumes
of data. These prints can be read using a
special magnifying machine. Microfilm
is a roll of film and microfiche is a
rectangular sheet of film on which many
frames/pages of information can be stored. Figure 4.8 Plotter