LEARNING UNIT 1 HARDWARE

Output
 Purpose of output is to

provide user with feedback in their interaction with a computing

device

provide user with a more permanent (non-electronic) copy of the

results of processing

allow transmission of data between computers / electronic devices

 Types of output
Visual output
• soft copy – on a screen
• hard copy – printed onto paper

Sound output
• speakers or headphones

Touch output
• joysticks and controllers vibrate / resist the user
• mobile devices vibrate
• 3D printers create physical copies of objects

Other output
• not designed for humans
• e.g. electrical signals to control equipment
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Monitor Display
• A computer screen or monitor is an output device that displays text and graphic images to the device user.
• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or LED (Light Emitting Diode) monitors are slim in design, have low power
consumption and are used for desktop computers and mobile computing devices.
 Key specifications of display devices

Screen size Resolution Contrast ratio Aspect ratio

Lumens for VGA, DVI

Response time Other features
data projectors and HDMI
SCREEN
SIZE

Measured diagonally in
inches.
 Resoltion

Number of individual dots of colour.

The number of horizontal and vertical pixels that a screen can

display (1920 x 1440).

The higher the resolution, the more you can fit on your screen, but
your text and images become smaller.
Contrast ratio
• The number of shades between the whitest white and the blackest black the screen can display.
• The higher the contrast ratio, the clearer and sharper the image will appear and the better the colours will
look.
• A low contrast ratio will make the image appear faded.
Aspect ratio
• Ratio between the width and the height of the screen
• 4:3 – square (older devices)
• 16:9 – rectangle (newer devices)
 Amount of time a pixel in a display takes to change.

Measured in milliseconds (ms).

Response A faster response time means that fast action sequences in

time
movies and games will be sharper and less blurry.

Important specifications for gamers.

Fastest response time = lowest ms.

 This measures the brightness
Lumens for of the image they project.

data
projectors The higher the lumen rating,
the more effective the
projector will be.
VGA, DVI and HDMI
• Traditionally monitors are connected to the VGA port on the PC.
• This has given way to DVI and more recently HDMI ports.
• HDMI ports provide better quality images because these signals are digital.
• The HDMI interface transmits high definition video and audio via a single cable.
• 4K monitors require HDMI 2 specified cables.
VGA vs HDMI
Video Graphics Array High-Definition Multimedia
(VGA) Interface (HDMI
Image

Signal Type Analog Digital

Maximum Resolution 2048x1536 Up to 8K (7680 x 4320) video
Signal Transfer Speed (bandwidth) 200+Mbps Up to 48 Gbps
Audio No Yes
Connections Monitors, Projectors TVs, DVD decoders, satellite
decoders, gaming systems, monitors,
projectors
Other features of display devices
• Range of height and swivel adjustment of the monitor.
• The viewing angle – how far you can move to the side of the screen before display is no longer clearly visible.
• Some monitors come with built-in USB ports, a webcam, speakers or a combination of these.
Advantages of display devices
• Provide immediate feedback

• Allow for interaction between user and computer

• Display content easily changed and updated

• Text can be enlarged for the visually impaired / high contrast used

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Disadvantages of display devices (1)
• Output is not permanent
• Output is difficult to share (unless it is a data projector)
• Can lead to eyestrain / headaches
• Work not private (visible to passers-by)
• Expensive to replace

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Disadvantages of display devices (2)
• Consumes the most electricity
• Difficult to read in very bright light
• Quality is related to size – larger size is usually of better quality
• Larger size is more difficult to transport (and uses more power)

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 Speed Resolution

Laser and inkjet

Monthly duty Number of
printers cycle colours
specifications

Paper options Connections

 Measured in pages per minute
(ppm).

Speed Print speed are given for

printing a page of text.

Laser printers are generally

faster than inkjet printers.
 Measured in dots per inch (dpi).

Specified as the number of dots that

Resolution can be printed on a page
horizontally and vertically.

The higher the dpi the better the

quality of the printed output.
Monthly Duty Cycle
• Maximum number of pages that can be printed in a month without the printer failing.
Number of colours
• Colour printers work by combining cyan, magenta and yellow inks or toner.
• Cheap printers only have these 3 colours and combine them to create black.
• Better printers have a black ink/toner cartridge as well – this improves the speed and print quality.
• High-end inkjet printers offer more colours to improve the quality of photo prints.
 Need to consider what you want to print in terms
of paper sizes and types.

Paper
Need to take note of the amount of paper your
paper tray can hold.

options Some printers allows you to print on both sides of

the paper automatically (duplex printing).

Choice of good quality paper is very important,

especially if printing photos on an inkjet printer.
 Virtually every printer connects to a USB
port.

Some printers have media card slots and

Connections additional ports to connect portable media
devices to the printer from these devices.

Some printers have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

capabilities for printing.
Laser printers
• more reliable (e.g. don’t have ink that can dry out)

• easier to maintain than inkjet printers

• better for black and white and general colour

• generally cheaper to run

Inkjet printers
• better for photo quality prints
3D Printers
• 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a
process where a 3D printer creates 3-
dimensional solid objects by depositing
materials layer by layer from a 3D model.
• Filaments, made of different materials,
serve as the “ink” for 3D printers.
Examples of 3D printer products
• Eyewear
• Dental products
• Architectural scale models
• Prosthetics
• Movie props
• Design (lamps, furniture, etc.)
• Reconstructing fossils
• Replicating artifacts
• Reconstruction bones in forensics
• Reconstructing damaged evidence from crime scene
Advantages
• Faster production
• Cost effective
• User has complete control over the quality of the 3D printed object
• Users have unlimited design capacity using a 3D printer
Disadvantages
• It requires a lot of electricity to print a 3D object
• The initial cost to buy and set up a 3D printer is high
• The material needed to make a 3D printer is limited at present
• Currently 3D printers are slow
• The 3D printer could be used to 3D print dangerous weapons and devices.
• 3D printers are noisy.
• The material being melted has a smell.
Wireless technology in output devices
Wireless technologies (WiFi, Bluetooth and
NFC) are used to increase flexibility and
usefulness of output devices

Wireless Sound without Wireless

printing wires video and
images

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INTERACTIVE
WHITEBOARD
S

Example of how input

and output devices can be
combined

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Advantages of interactive whiteboards
• Computer functions can be manipulated
on the board

• Better interaction and participation

• Notes made on whiteboard can be

saved and accessed

• Presenting content in multimedia format facilitates different learning styles

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Disadvantages / limitations of interactive
whiteboards
• Needs dimly lit venue
• Small boards are difficult to read
• Do not use normal whiteboard markers
• Suitable software not always available
• Not affordable for many schools
• Repairs can be expensive
• Teachers sometimes hesitant of using newer technology

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 What makes it all work?

Drivers
• Software that allows a computer to communicate
with hardware or devices and control them

• Operating systems have a large collection of

standard drivers

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 Plug
• O/S automatically detects and configures a
device, so it can be used almost
immediately

and Play
• Computer checks if it has the driver to
control it (and if not, it will ask you to
install it)

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DEVICES FOR
PHYSICALLY
CHALLENGED USERS
Visually
impaired / Blind
• Braille keyboard and Braille display
device

• Magnification devices

• Large-key keyboards

• Braille printers

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Hearing impaired / Deaf
• On screen notices / flashing screen instead of sound

• Vibration devices

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Motor control
• Eye tracking devices

• Head movement devices

• Large-key keyboards

• Large trackballs

• Joysticks

• Foot pedal control devices

• Sip and puff devices

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Input devices for people with disabilities
• Microphone
• Joysticks and trackballs
• Eye-controlled mouse
• Foot mouse
• Special keyboards
• Tongue Drive System
• Puff-suck Switch
Microphone
• Can assist physically challenged users,
special software converts speech into
text and actions.
Joysticks and
Trackballs
• Joysticks, that are usually associated with
playing games, can help physically
challenged people control their computer
using their head, chin or non-functioning
hand.
• Trackballs, which are like the computer
mouse, let the user move the cursor by
rolling the ball and click the screen with
programmable buttons.
Eye-controlled Mouse
• Gadget that uses special software and cameras attached to
glasses.
• Users “train” the gadget to control the cursor by moving their
eyes.
Foot Mouse
• Can be used by a user that has limited or no upper arm
movement.
• Most foot mouses have straps that hold the device in place.
• Users control the cursor with one part of the device, and the
other part is used to click.
Special
keyboards
• Accommodate for users with different
disabilities.
• Ergonomic keyboards that are split in
the middle assist users with CTS.
• Large key keyboards assist users with
poor motor control.
• Braille keyboards assist visually
impaired/blind users.
Tongue Drive System
• A small magnet is implanted in the users tongue and the user moves
their tongue which then moves the cursor.
Puff-suck Switch
• Device enables a quadriplegic user to control a computer by
breathing.
• The technology includes a special wand which allows the user
to send signals to the keyboard using air pressure by inhaling
or exhaling in the wand.
• Also known as sip and puff switch/device.
 Output
devices for • Speakers
• Screen magnifier

people with • Braille printer

disabilities
Speakers
• Can assist visually impaired or blind users, special software
converts text into speech, which is broadcast in sound format.
Screen
Magnifier
• An extra-large screen hardware screen
magnifier can assist visually impaired
users by magnifying the screen display.
Braille Printer

• Prints by embossing raised braille dots

onto braille paper.
• Pins are pressed into the one side of the
paper to create raised dots on the other
side of the paper.
INPUT AND
OUTPUT
HEALTH
ISSUES
 54

THE WAY WE SIT

AND THE WAY WE
USE INPUT DEVICES
– SORE NECK,
BACKACHE,
HEADACHES, RSI
Manage your work style
• Move around every hour or so
• Do not stare at screen for too long
• Use keyboard shortcuts
• Do exercises to relieve tension in joints
• Do not turn up volume of headphones to drown out surrounding sound
• Adjust monitor settings and position, so as not to hurt your eyes

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 ACTIVITY 2

Complete Learning Unit 1 – Hardware

Activity 2
 WORKSHEET
Complete Learning Unit 1 – Hardware WS 3