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Computers, part of your life

Grade 11
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Input and output

Module 1.2
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Content
 Input

 Output

 Interactive whiteboards

 Input and output for physically cha

llenged users
 Input and output and health issues

 Test and improve

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Input
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Input ...
• provides running software with
instructions on what to do next

• can be data that must be processed

Data that is input may need to be used

immediately – or may be stored for
processing later
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Image capture

Picture data has become increasingly

important in the way we use computers

Digital cameras
• smartphone cameras
• digital (compact)
cameras
• DSLR (digital single-
lens reflex) cameras
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Digital cameras (1)

Advantages

• Allows you to take many photos

• See the images immediately

• Easily transfer images to computer

(because already in digital format)
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Digital cameras (2)

Specifications that determine quality

Lenses
Sensor size
Optical zoom
Digital zoom

Resolution

ISO Rating
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Scanners
Input device that
scans images to a
computer –
bar codes, photos,
documents, 3D objects
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Image quality of scanners

determined by
Software allows you to Number of different
Resolution

Colour depth
specify resolution colours that can be
represented by a pixel
DPI (dots per inch)
24 bit colour (about
The greater the DPI, 16.7 million different
the better the image colours) high enough
quality for practical purposes
The higher the DPI the The higher the colour
larger the resulting depth, the larger the
image file resulting image file
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Advantages of scanners (1)

 Large documents can be scanned into

single digital file

 Electronic copies stored digitally

 Scanned copies can be e-mailed directly

 OCR software used on documents

containing text scanned as images, to
convert images into editable documents
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Advantages of scanners (2)

 Old documents can be scanned and

stored

 Barcode scanners – libraries and Point

of Sale (POS) systems

 QR codes – connect to websites quickly

 Number plates of cars can be scanned

and recorded on e-toll roads
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Disadvantages of scanners

 Can take a lot of time –

depends on type of scanner and its
purpose

 Quality of digital image depends largely

on quality of the original hardcopy
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Biometric input (1)

• Capturing unique biological features of

a person

• Scanners ‘read’ and recognise any

part of you that is biologically unique
(e.g. fingerprint / iris / voice) – for
identification purposes
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Biometric input (2)

• Fingerprint scanners on smartphones,

laptops, flash drives, etc.

• Used instead of passwords, e.g. for

access control in buildings

• Mainly for security reasons

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Advantages of biometric input

 Main advantage is security

 Defeating biometric security is

difficult – tied to a single person

 Only the authorised person gets

access
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Disadvantages / limitations
of biometric input

 Expensive to implement, maintain

and use

 Needs additional hardware and

software (if not included in device)
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Input at ATMs

Gets input from Other input through:

user (PIN, menu • Card reader
choices, etc.)
• Modem / network
connection
• Touch screen
• Money counter

• Money deposit slot

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Advantages of ATMs

 Banking transactions at
any time of day or night

 You are not limited to

your own bank or country
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Disadvantages /
limitations of ATMs

 Can be dangerous to use an ATM

(have cash – prey to criminals)

 Skimmer installed over ATM’s card

reader – add a camera – capture
card details and PIN – pretend to ‘be
you’ – steal your money
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Input intoand
Barcodes POS systems
RFID (Radio
Frequency Identification)
tags

• Used to automatically ‘recognise’

a product or item
• Barcode scanners scan the
barcode
• RFID tags store data on the tag or
card – detected wirelessly
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Input into POS systems

Barcodes and RFID tags
achieve two main goals
• Faster processing at pay points
• Better stock control
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Barcodes and RFID tags –

How does this work?
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Advantages of POS systems

 Faster than typing in prices on a

keyboard

 Prices updated and entered more

accurately

 Record how many items are sold and

track how much stock is left
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Disadvantages / limitations
of POS systems

 When system offline – difficult to

function

 Expensive equipment and software

required
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Some smartphones have an

additional radio technology
built into them called NFC
(Near Field Communication).
NFC is a standard or
technology that allows
electronic devices to connect
wirelessly and exchange
data, simply by touching
them together or bringing
them close together. NFC is
mainly used for payment
processing.
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Touch screens (as input devices)

• Combination of a LCD and

a thin ‘touch sensing’ film

• Pen tablet computers use a

high resolution pen / stylus
that communicates with the
screen wirelessly
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Advantages of Touch screens

 Allows more screen space in device

 Type of ‘immediacy’ in directly touching

the data or controlling components

 Intuitive – very little training needed

 Allows natural input – drawing and

gestures
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Disadvantages of Touch screens

 Not as fast or easy as using a physical

keyboard

 Can become dirty / oily / smudged

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Data collection devices

• Meter readers to capture water
readings

• Monitor patient’s temperature, heart

rate, blood pressure

• Weather buoys in oceans collect

data on weather conditions

• Monitor temperature, pressure and

humidity in controlled environments
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Advantages of data
collection devices

 Data captured automatically using

sensors, without human intervention

 Data captured more accurately than by

using human input

 Data captured faster than by using

human input
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Disadvantages / limitations
of data collection devices

 Sensors can fail, resulting in incorrect

data
 Only sensor-detectable data can be
collected
 Devices can be difficult and expensive
to update, repair or replace
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Input into smartphones and consumer
tablets

Touch screen

Hardware buttons

Camera / video camera

Accelerometer

Microphone
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Alternative keyboards

• Virtual keyboards – popping up an

image of a keyboard on the screen

• Project a virtual keyboard onto a

surface using laser or LED lights

• Wireless technology uses radio

waves to connect input devices to
computer device
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Activity 1
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Output
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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
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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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Display devices

• Display options that allow the user

to make choices / interact with the
program and operating system

• Display the results of processing

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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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Display devices – key specifications

Screen size
Resolution
Contrast ratio
Aspect ratio
Response time
Lumens for projectors
DMI and HDMI
Range of height and swivel adjustment
Viewing angle
Built-in USB ports / webcam / speakers
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Printers (1)
Specifications include

Speed Resolution

Monthly duty Number of

cycle colours

Paper
Connections
options
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Printers (2)

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
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Printers (3)

Inkjets
– better for photo quality prints
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3D Printers
Allow you to create physical, three-
dimensional objects using CAD /
3D modeling software

Filament
A spool of plastic wire
(called filament) provides
the printing material

Print Head Build

Melts the filament Plate
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Wireless technology in output devices

Wireless technologies (WiFi, Bluetooth and
NFC) are used to increase flexibility and
usefulness of output devices

Sound without
Wireless printing
wires

Wireless video
and images
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Interactive
whiteboards

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 and Play

• O/S automatically detects and

configures a device, so it can be
used almost immediately

• Computer checks if it has the driver

to control it (and if not, it will ask you
to install it)
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Input and output

for physically
challenged users
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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 and output

and health
issues
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The way we sit and the way we use input

devices – sore neck, backache,
headaches, RSI
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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
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Test and improve

Use the summary for own revision
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Written module activity