Input and

output
devices
2.3 Output devices and
their uses
 What are output Devices?

 these are devices that usually show the result

of computer processing in a format that can be
understood by a human (for example, on a
monitor or printed on paper).
2.3.1 Monitors (screens)

In this section we will consider two types of

monitor:
 the cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor
 LCD (or TFT) screen (TFT means ‘thin film
technology’; a general term for modern thin
screens).
these are the only type of device which allows the
use of light pens (see Section 2.1.11).
Consequently, some companies using CAD still use
large CRT monitors to enable the use of light pens
as part of the drawing environment.
CRT monitors
CRT monitors

 Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors are the least

expensive type of monitor, although they are
becoming increasingly rare as LCD monitors are
now taking over. They come in various sizes
and make use of an electron gun firing against
a phosphor screen. The picture is made up of
tiny dots which are coloured red, green or blue –
the intensity of each coloured dot makes up the
vast range of colours interpreted by the eye.
Uses of CRT monitors

 They are only used in specialist areas, such as

computer-aided design (CAD); the screens are
usually very large to enable complex diagrams
to be created or modified.
 They are used with light pens to allow designs
to be created on screen.
Advantages of CRT
monitors
 The screen can be clearly seen at a wider range
of viewing angles than with most LCD monitors.
 They allow the use of light pens in, for example,
CAD/CAM applications.
Disadvantages of CRT
monitors
 They tend to be rather heavy and present a
weight hazard if not supported properly; they
also have a very large footprint on a desk (they
cover about ten times the area of an LCD
monitor).
 They run very hot and can cause fires if left
unattended (especially as they get older).
 They consume considerably more power than
LCD monitors.
 They can flicker, which can lead to headaches
and eyesight problems with prolonged use.
LED and LCD screens
LED screens

 An LED screen is made up of tiny light emitting

diodes (LEDs). Each LED is either red, green or
blue in colour. By varying the electric current
sent to each LED, its brightness can be
controlled, producing a vast range of colours.
 This type of screen tends to be used for large
outdoor displays, due to the brilliance of the
colours produced. Recent advances in LED
technology have led to the introduction of OLED
(organic LED) screens.
 Many monitors and television screens are
advertised as LED when in fact they are LCD
screens which are backlit using LEDs.
LCD screens

 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. How this
works is outside the scope of this book, but the
important thing to realise is that for LCD screens to
work, they require some form of backlighting. Modern
LCD screens are backlit using light emitting diode (LED)
technology and must not be confused with pure LED
screens. When LEDs are used, a matrix of tiny blue-
white LEDs is used behind the LCD screen. The use of
LED backlighting gives a very good contrast and
brightness range. Before the use of LEDs, LCD screens
used cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) as the back
lighting method. Essentially, CCFL used two fluorescent
tubes behind the LCD screen to supply the light source.
 The reason that LEDs have become increasingly
more popular as the method of backlighting is
due to a number of advantages over older CCFL
technology:
 LEDs reach their maximum brightness almost
immediately (there is no need to ‘warm up’ before
reaching full efficiency).
 LEDs give a whiter light, which sharpens theimage and
makes the colours appear more vivid; CCFL had a
slightly yellowish tint.
 LEDs produce a brighter light which improves the
colour definition.
 Screens using LED technology are much thinner than
screens using CCFL technology.
 LEDs last almost indefinitely; this makes the technology
more reliable and makes for a more consistent product.
 LEDs consume very little power which means they
produce less heat as well as using less energy.
Uses of LCD screens

 Used as the main output device for most

modern computers.
 Many LCD screens offer touch-screen input.
 Mobile phones, tablets, laptops and portable
video games all use LCD screens.
Advantages of LCD
screens
 Very efficient, low power consumption.
 Lightweight devices.
 Unlike CRT monitors, do not suffer from screen image
burn-in (that is, a permanent image burned into the
screen due to unchanging images over a period of
time).
 Screens can be made in large variation of sizes.
 Do not suffer from a flickering image, unlike CRT
monitors.
 Very sharp image resolution (allow a vast range of
colours).
 Produce low electromagnetic fields compared to CRT
monitors.
Disadvantages of LCD
screens
 Colour and contrast from various viewing angles
can be inconsistent.
 Motion blur is a common issue.
 Lower contrast than CRT monitors, because it is
harder to produce a deep, rich level of black.
 LCDs can have weak or stuck pixels, which are
permanently on or off; some pixels may be
improperly connected to adjoining pixels, rows
or columns.
 The LCD panel may not be uniformly illuminated
by the back light, resulting in uneven intensity
and shading over the screen.
2.3.2 Touch screen (as an
output device)
 Touch screens can work as both an input device
(see Section 2.1.6) and as an output device.
This is one of the few devices that can be used
in this way. When options appear on the screen,
for example a food selection at a fast food
outlet, a user can make a selection by touching
the screen (this is the input). Another set of
options then appear on the screen, such as
choosing another drink – this is the output
produced based on the previous input.
Uses of touch screens (acting
as both input and output)
 Smartphones and tablets (allowing interaction
with apps).
 ATMs at banks (where screen options displayed
depend on previous input response).
 Ticket collection machines at theatres, cinemas
and railway stations (again on-screen outputs
will depend on previous inputs).
 Information kiosks at museums or art galleries.
Advantages of touch
screens
 Faster entry of options than using a keyboard or
mouse.
 Very easy method for choosing options.
 User-friendly method – no training necessary in
its use.
 Option to expand the size of the display if
necessary.
Disadvantages of touch
screens
 Limited number of options available.
 Not very good if large amounts of data are
being input or output because they are not very
accurate and the interface is not fast.
 The screen can get very dirty with constant
touching (giving a risk of spreading infections,
as well as reducing its responsiveness and
making it more difficult to read in strong
sunlight).
 Easier for a third party to track a user’s
interactions, which is a security risk (for
example, entering credit card details).
2.3.3 Multimedia
projectors
 Multimedia projectors receive signals that can
be either analogue or digital (although most
modern projectors only work with digital
inputs). The signal source is usually from a
computer, television or DVD player. The image
from the source is magnified and projected onto
a large screen. The devices work with a remote
control which acts like a cordless mouse when
interfacing with the screen. It is then possible to
direct the computer presentation without being
tied to the computer (another feature of the
virtual mouse is the laser pointer). Most
multimedia projectors take input from various
types of video format.
Uses of multimedia
projectors
» Training presentations (to allow the whole
audience to see the images from a computer).
» Advertising presentations (large images showing
product features, for example a new car; can be
shown at exhibitions, shopping malls, etc.).
» Home cinema systems (projecting the images
from a DVD or television).
Advantages of
multimedia projectors
» Enables many people to see a presentation
rather than crowding around a small computer
screen.
» Avoids the need for several networked
computers (for example, when looking at a video
clip on an internet site, everybody can see the
video on the large screen rather than logging on to
a number of computers).
Disadvantages of
multimedia projectors
» Images can sometimes be fuzzy.
» Expensive to buy.
» Setting up projectors can be a little difficult.
2.3.4 Printers

 the three most common types of printer:

» laser printer
» inkjet printer
» 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.

 Let us briefly consider how a page is printed:

» The start of the printing process involves a
printing drum being given a positive charge; as
this drum rotates, a laser beam is scanned across
it removing the positive charge in certain areas;
this leaves negatively charged areas which exactly
match the text/images of the page to be printed.
» The drum is then coated with positively-charged
toner (powdered ink); because the toner is
positively charged, it only sticks to the negatively
charged parts of the drum.
» A negatively-charged sheet of paper is then
rolled over the drum.
» The toner on the drum now sticks to the paper to
produce an exact copy of the page sent to the
printer.
» To prevent the paper sticking to the drum, the
electric charge on the paper is removed after one
rotation of the drum.
» The paper finally goes through a fuser, which is
a set of heated rollers; the heat melts the ink so
that it fixes permanently to the paper.
» At the very end, a discharge lamp removes all
the electric charge from the drum, making it ready
to print the next page.
Uses of laser printers

» They are used where low noise is required (for

example, in an office).
» If fast, high-quality, high-volume printing is
required then laser printers are the best option.
Advantages of laser
printers
» Printing is fast (unless only a few pages are to be
printed, in which case they are little faster than
inkjet printers).
» They can handle very large print jobs.
» The quality is consistently high.
» Toner cartridges last for a long time (and the
printers can sometimes be a cost-effective option,
particularly if colour outputs are not required).
Disadvantages of laser
printers
» Only really fast if several copies are being made.
» Colour laser printers tend to be expensive to run
(four-colour/black cartridges are needed, plus
diffuser kits, which are expensive to purchase).
» They produce ozone and volatile organic
compounds because of their method of printing
and type of toner/ink used (these have been linked
to health hazards in the office).
Inkjet printers
 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.
 Inkjet printers are essentially made up of:
» a print head, which consists of nozzles which
spray droplets of ink on to the paper to form
characters
» an ink cartridge or cartridges; either one
cartridge for each colour (blue, yellow and
magenta) and a black cartridge, or one single
cartridge containing all three colours plus black
(note: some systems use six colours)
» a stepper motor and belt, which moves the print
head assembly across the page from side to side
» a paper feed which automatically feeds the
printer with pages as they are required.
 The ink droplets are produced using two
different technologies:
» Thermal bubble – tiny resistors create localised
heat which makes the ink vaporise. This causes
the ink to form a tiny bubble; as the bubble
expands, some of the ink is ejected from the print
head onto the paper. When the bubble collapses, a
small vacuum is created which allows fresh ink to
be drawn into the print head. This continues until
the printing cycle is completed.
» Piezoelectric – a crystal is located at the back of
the ink reservoir for each nozzle. The crystal is
given a tiny electric charge which makes it vibrate.
This vibration forces ink to be ejected onto the
paper; at the same time more ink is drawn in for
further printing.
Uses of inkjet printers

» Used where low-output volumes are required

(high-volume jobs are difficult to do because the
ink cartridges tend to be used up very quickly).
» If high-quality printing is required for single
pages (or only a small print job) then these
printers are ideal; for example, they are very good
at producing photo-quality printouts.
» 3D inkjet printers are now being used in industry
to produce prototypes (see Section 2.3.6).
Advantages of inkjet
printers
» High-quality output.
» Cheaper to buy than laser printers.
» Very lightweight and have a small physical
footprint.
» Do not produce ozone and volatile organic
compounds, unlike laser printers.
Disadvantages of inkjet
printers
» Slow output if several copies are needed (little
buffer capacity to store the
pages).
» Cannot do large print jobs (ink cartridges run out
too quickly).
» Printing can ‘smudge’ if the user is not careful.
» Can be expensive if used a lot (original ink
cartridges are expensive to buy).
Dot matrix printers
Dot matrix printers are a type of impact printer
where a print head (made up of a matrix of pins)
presses against an inked ribbon. They tend to be
slow, noisy and the output is not that good
compared to inkjet and laser printers. They are
still useful, however, where multi-part stationery
(carbon copies) or continuous rolls of paper (rather
than individual sheets) are being used. They also
work well in dirty atmospheres (such as on a
factory floor), unlike inkjet or laser printers.
Uses of dot matrix
printers
» They can be used in noisy or dirty environments
(for example, garage workshops) and in
applications where print quality is not that
important.
» They are used in applications where multi-part
stationery or the fact that they are an impact
printer is of value (for example, when producing
physical ‘carbon copies’ such as when producing
wage slips).
» Still widely used in till receipts.
Advantages of dot matrix
printers
» They can be used in environments which would
be a problem for laser or inkjet printers (for
example, dusty/dirty or moist atmospheres).
» Carbon copies or multi-part outputs can be
produced.
» Very cheap to run and maintain.
» Easy to use if continuous stationery is required
(for example, long print jobs such as wages slips).
Disadvantages of dot
matrix printers
» Very noisy – not good in an office environment.
» Actually cost more than an inkjet printer to buy
initially.
» Very slow, poor-quality printing.
2.3.5 (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. They produce vector
graphic drawings and are often used in
conjunction with CAD and CAM (computer aided
manufacturing).
Some plotters are used to cut out material by
replacing the pen with a cutting blade. However,
in general, plotters are being phased out, as wide-
format inkjet printers are being produced at lower
cost.
Uses of plotters

» Producing architectural drawings.

» Producing engineering drawings.
» Drawing animation characters (cartoon
characters).
Advantages of plotters

» Very high-quality output.

» Able to produce large, monochrome and colour
drawings to a high accuracy.
» Able to print on a variety of materials (for
example, aluminium, cardboard, plastic, steel and
wood) as well as paper.
Disadvantages of plotters

» Very slow at printing.

» Expensive equipment (and software) to purchase
initially; although running costs are low once
purchased.
» Have a very large physical footprint compared to
a printer.
2.3.6 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, paper or ceramic.
The alloy wheel in Figure 2.36 was made using an
industrial 3D printer.
It was made from many layers of powdered metal
(0.1 mm thick) using a technology known as
binder 3D printing.
The following information describes some of the features of 3D
printing:
» Various types of 3D printers exist; they range from the size of
a microwave oven up to the size of a small car.
» 3D printers use additive manufacturing (i.e. the object is built
up layer by layer); this is in sharp contrast to the more
traditional method of subtractive manufacturing (i.e. removal
of material to make the object). For example, making a statue
using a 3D printer would involve building it up layer by layer
using powdered stone until the final object was formed. The
subtractive method would involve carving the statue out of
solid stone (i.e. removing the stone not required) until the final
item was produced. Similarly, CNC (computer-controlled
machine – a type of lathe) removes metal to form an object;
3D printingwould produce the same item by building up the
object from layers of powdered metal.
» Direct 3D printing uses inkjet technology; a print
head can move left to right as in a normal printer.
However, the print head can also move up and
down to build up the layers of an object – each
layer being less than a tenth of a millimetre (less
than 0.1 mm).
» Binder 3D printing is similar to direct 3D printing,
but this method uses two passes for each of the
layers; the first pass sprays dry powder, then, on
the second pass, a binder (a type of glue) is
sprayed to form a solid layer.

» Newer technologies are using lasers and UV light

to harden liquid polymers; this further increases
the diversity of products which can be made.
Uses of 3D printers

3D printing is regarded as being possibly the next

‘industrial revolution’ because it will change the
manufacturing methods in many industries. The
following list is just a glimpse into what we know
can be made using these printers; in the years
that follow, the applications list could probably fill
an entire book:
» Prosthetic limbs can be made to fit exactly on
the injured body part.
» Making items to allow precision reconstructive
surgery (for example, facial reconstruction
following an accident); the parts made by this
technique are more precise in their design as they
can be made from an exact scan of the skull.
» In aerospace, manufacturers are looking at
making wings and other aeroplane parts using 3D
technology; the bonus will be lightweight,
precision parts.
» Fashion and art – 3D printing allows new creative
ideas to be developed.
» Making parts for items no longer in production,
for example, parts for a vintage car.
How to create a solid
object using 3D printers
The steps in the process of producing an object
using 3D printers is summarised in Figure 2.37.
Advantages of 3D
printers
» The manufacturing of items has become much easier than
ever before. It is now theoretically possible to manufacture
any product a user wants using only a 3D printer. This has
led the way for customised products, as it allows a user to
create their own designs in 3D and have them printed in
solid form.
» Because 3D printers can manufacture items relatively
quickly, it allows rapid prototyping. This means that it will
take a really short length of time for designs to be converted
into working prototypes.
» Even though the cost of 3D printing is very high, it is still
less when compared to labour costs and other costs involved
in manufacturing a product in the more conventional way.
The fact that the cost of manufacturing using 3D printers is
the same for both small-scale and mass production is also a
very useful benefit.
» Medical benefits are emerging, such as
producing artificial organs, prosthetics and
precision-made items for reconstructive surgery.
» Parts for machinery that are no longer made
could now be manufactured using 3D printers. A
car made in the 1930s, for example, will no longer
have parts available off-the-shelf. By scanning the
broken part (using a 3D scanner), or by obtaining
its blueprint, it will be possible to simply email the
file to a company and have the part made on an
industrial 3D printer. This clearly has many
benefits in a number of applications.
Disadvantages of 3D
printers
» The biggest possible drawback of 3D printers is
the potential to make counterfeit items or items
that infringe others’ copyright. 3D printing
technology essentially turns every owner of one of
these printers into a potential manufacturer. Thus,
it could become very difficult to trace the source
of fake items; copyright holders would also have
great difficulty in protecting their rights.
» All new technologies in the hands of the wrong
people can lead to dangerous or illegal activities.
With the possibility of creating almost anything
with the use of a 3D printer, this technology could
be used to manufacture dangerous items by
almost anyone.
» There is the potential for job losses if this
technology takes over from some types of
manufacturing. Of course, this could also be seen
as a benefit by some companies as it could lead to
lower manufacturing costs for certain items.
2.3.7 Speakers

Speakers (or loudspeakers) are output devices that produce

sound. When connected to a computer system, digitised sound
stored on a file needs to be converted into sound as follows:
» The digital data is first passed through a digital to analogue
converter
(DAC) where it is changed into an electric current.
» This is then passed through an amplifier (because the current
generated by
the DAC will be very small); this creates a current large enough
to drive a
loudspeaker.
» This electric current is then fed to a loudspeaker where it is
converted into
sound.
The schematic in Figure
2.38 shows how this is
done.

 ▲ Figure 2.38 Digital to analogue conversion

As Figure 2.38 shows, if the sound is stored in a
computer file, it must pass through a digital to
analogue converter (DAC) to convert binary
(digital) data into an analogue form (electric
current) which can then drive the loudspeaker.
Figure 2.39 shows how the loudspeaker converts
the electric current into sound.
 ▲ Figure 2.38 Digital to analogue conversion
» When an electric current flows through the coil of
wire that is wrapped around an iron core, the core
becomes a temporary electromagnet; a permanent
magnet is also positioned very close to this
electromagnet.
» As the electric current through the coil of wire varies,
the induced magnetic field in the iron core also varies.
This causes the iron core to be attracted or towards or
repelled from the permanent magnet and as the
current varies this will cause the iron core to vibrate.
» Because the iron core is attached to a cone (made of
paper or thin synthetic material), this causes the cone
to vibrate, producing sound waves.
Uses of speakers

» Used in all phones and built in to most

computers.
» Outputs sound from multimedia presentations.
» Helps visually impaired people (together with
speech generation software) through reading
aloud text on the screen.
» Plays downloaded sound files.
Advantages of speakers

» Sounds amplified through speakers can be much

louder than the original sound – this is important
whenever more than a few people need to listen
to something.
» Everyone in a conference, for example, can hear
the output from a computer.
» It can create a good atmosphere when making a
presentation.
» They can help visually impaired people as
discussed.
» Very simple technology.
Disadvantages of
speakers
» Speaker output can be disturbing to others in,
for example, an office environment.
» To get high-quality sound, the required speakers
can be quite expensive.
» Speakers can take up a lot of desk space.
2.3.8 Actuators

When a computer is used to control devices, such

as a conveyer belt or a valve, it is usually
necessary to use an actuator to, for example,
start/stop the conveyer belt or open/close the
valve. An actuator is a mechanical or
electromechanical device such as a relay, solenoid
or motor. We will consider a solenoid as the
example; this converts an electrical signal into a
magnetic field producing linear motion:
If a plunger (for example, a magnetised metal bar)
is placed inside the coil, it will move when a
current is applied to the coil (see Figure 2.40). This
would allow the solenoid to operate a valve or a
switch, for example. There are also examples of
rotary solenoids, where a cylindrical coil is used. In
this case, when a current is supplied to the coil, it
would cause a rotational movement of the plunger.
Uses of actuators

» They are used to control motors, pumps,

switches, buzzers and so on.
» They allow a computer to control physical
devices that normally require analogue inputs.
Advantages of actuators

» They allow remote operation of many devices

(for example, pumps in a nuclear reactor where
remote operation is a big safety factor).
» They are relatively inexpensive devices.
Disadvantages of
actuators
» They are an additional device in the system that
could go wrong.
» Because they are usually analogue devices,
computer signals need to converted using a DAC
to enable computer control.
Exam-style questions

1. a. State one suitable application for each of the following

printers.
A different application should be given in each case.
» inkjet printer
Graphics
» 3D printer
CAD
[2]
b. Name another type of printer and describe one way in
which it is different from the two printers named in part a.
[3]
Dot matrix printers are a type of impact printers where a print
head presses againt a ribbon. They tend to be slow and noisy.
2. Contactless debit cards are replacing standard
debit cards. Some countries are introducing
contactless debit card transactions at ATM
machines.
Give three disadvantages to the customer of using
these cards at an ATM.
[3]
3. In each of the following questions, only one of
the responses is correct. Choose one of the five
options given.
a. Which one of the following is the most suitable
device for inputting a short report into a
computer?
a. trackerball
b. scanner
c. keyboard
d. optical mark reader (OMR)
e. Joystick

c. keyboard
b. Which one of the following would you use to
produce a digital image of a hard copy
photograph?
a. touch screen
b. keyboard
c. Optical character reader (OCR)
d. scanner
e. QR scanner

d. scanner
c. Which one of the following is NOT a suitable use
for an optical mark reader?
a. reading barcodes
b. multiple-choice exam papers
c. choice of candidate in voting forms
d. opinion poll survey
e. data collection with limited options

a. reading barcodes
d. Which one of the following is the most
appropriate device for printing out wage slips,
where carbon copies are also required?
a. laser printer
b. (graph) plotter
c. inkjet printer
d. actuator
e. dot matrix printer

e. dot matrix printer

e. Which one of the following devices could be
used to produce a very large drawing on plastic
sheeting?
a. (graph) plotter
b. laser printer
c. dot matrix printer
d. 3D printer
e. touch screen

a. (graph) plotter
f. Which one of the following printers is most
suitable for printing a very large number of high-
quality black and white leaflets?
a. (graph) plotter
b. laser printer
c. dot matrix printer
d. inkjet printer
e. computer-aided design (CAD)

b. laser printer
g. Which one of the following cannot be directly
measured using a sensor?
a. temperature
b. light intensity
c. heat
d. air humidity
e. Pressure

c. Light intensity
h. Which one of the following devices allows the
use of a light pen?
a. CRT monitor
b. LCD monitor
c. barcode reader
d. QR reader
E. touch screen

a. CRT monitor
i. Which one of the following cannot be used as an
output device?
a. touch screen
b. (graph) plotter
c. actuator
d. speaker
e. Mouse

e. mouse
j. Which one of the following cannot be used as an
input device?
a. touch screen
b. 3D printer
c. optical mark reader (OMR)
d. QR reader
e. (graph) plotter

e. (graph) plotter
4. Five devices are shown on the left and five descriptions are
shown on the right. By drawing lines, connect each device to
its correct description.
[4]
5. Which ten computer terms are being described below?
a. A matrix of filled-in dark squares on a light background;
read using a smartphone camera or tablet using an app.
QR code
b. A device that can read marks written in pen or pencil; the
pencil or pen marks must be made in the correct position.
OMR
c. An input device that takes physical readings from the
surroundings and sends the data back to a computer.
Sensors
d. An input device that converts sound into electric signals
that can be stored digitally on a computer.
Microphone
e. A device that converts a photograph or document into a computer-
readable file.
Scanner
f. A device used to control the operation of other electronic devices
using infrared signals.
Remote control
g. A direct data entry device that uses radio waves to read and
capture information stored on an electronic tag.
RFID
h. A device that produces very high-quality hard copy output; uses dry
ink cartridges and an electrically charged drum.
Laser printer
i. A device that prints by impacting a print head made up of an array
of pins against an inked ribbon.
Dot matrix printer
j. A pointing device that moves around on a surface in an X–Y direction
to control a cursor on a computer screen.
Mouse
6. a. i. Describe how a QR reader works.
» Point the phone or tablet camera at the QR code.
» The apps will now process the image taken by the
camera converting the squares into readable data.
» 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.
» The user will then be sent to a website automatically
(or if a telephone number was embedded in the code,
the user will be sent to the phone apps).
» If the QR code contained a boarding pass, this will be
automatically sent to the phone/tablet.
ii. What are QR codes used for? [4]
» Used in advertising to contain data such as business addresses, phone
numbers, email addresses and website addresses; scanning the QR code
gives all the necessary data on the smartphone screen, or the user is sent
automatically to the website embedded in the QR code.
» Contain links to apps (for example, they can be found in app stores to
enable the appropriate apps to be quickly downloaded onto a user’s device).
» Wi-Fi authentication; QR codes can be used to store Wi-Fi network
authentication (proof of identity) details, including passwords and type of
encryption used – when the QR code is scanned using a smartphone/tablet,
it will be able to automatically join that network.
» QR codes can be used to deliver augmented reality (see Chapter 1)
experiences, by helping an AR system to determine the positions of objects
in three-dimensional space.
» QR codes have been used to establish virtual online stores, where a
gallery of product information and QR codes are presented to the customer,
for example, on a train station wall. The customers scan the QR codes, and
the products are automatically delivered to their homes.
b. Give two advantages and two disadvantages of using QR codes.
Advantages [4]
» They can hold much more information than normal barcode.
» There will be fewer errors than with barcodes; the higher data capacity of
the QR code allows the use of built-in error-checking systems; normal
barcodes contain almost no data redundancy (that is, data which is
duplicated) therefore it is not possible to guard against badly printed or
damaged barcodes.
Disadvantages
» More than one QR format is available.
» QR codes can be used to transmit malicious codes; known as attagging.
Because there are a large number of free apps available to a user for
generating QR codes, that means anyone can do this. It is relatively easy to
write malicious code and embed this within the QR code. When the code is
scanned, it is possible the creator of the malicious code could gain access to
everything on the user’s smartphone/tablet (for example, photographs,
address book, stored passwords, etc.). The user could also be sent to a fake
website, or it is even possible for a virus to be downloaded.
c. A touch screen can be used as both an input
device and an output device. Explain how this is
possible. [2]
Touch screens can work as both an input device
and as an output device. This is one of the few
devices that can be used in this way. When options
appear on the screen, for example a food selection
at a fast food outlet, a user can make a selection
by touching the screen (this is the input). Another
set of options then appear on the screen, such as
choosing another drink – this is the output
produced based on the previous input.
7. Give a use for each of the following input and output devices[10]
a. Keyboard
» Input of data into applications software (for example, text into word
processors, numbers into spreadsheets, and so on).
b. Driving wheel or joystick
» Used in video/computer games.
c. QR code reader
» Used in advertising to contain data such as business addresses, phone
numbers, email addresses and website addresses; scanning the QR code
gives all the necessary data on the smartphone screen, or the user is
sent automatically to the website embedded in the QR code.
d. Barcode reader
» Used in supermarkets and other shops where the goods are marked
with a barcode; the barcodes are used to give information about the
product which enables automatic stock control, itemised billing, etc. to
take place.
e. Microphone
» To input speech/sounds to be used in various applications, for example, in
presentations, sampling (in films, music, etc.) and special effects (films).
f. Touch screen
» Smartphones and tablets (allowing interaction with apps).
g. 3D printer
» Prosthetic limbs can be made to fit exactly on the injured body part.
h. Dot matrix printer
» They can be used in noisy or dirty environments (for example, garage
workshops) and in applications where print quality is not that important.
i. RFID
» Livestock tracking (so that the whereabouts of each animal on a farm is
known; it also identifies which farm owns the animal).
j. chip and PIN reader
» Where payments are made using cards (restaurants, supermarkets, travel
agents, etc.).
8. A home is fitted with a microprocessor-
controlled burglar alarm system.
It is not connected to a police station.
Tick (✓) three sensors which would be used in
such a system.
 Pressure Temperature Moisture
9. A school is holding an athletics competition. The
timings of each running event will be measured
electronically using sensors at the start and finish.
Runners begin a race in starting blocks. When the
starting pistol is fired the electronic timing starts.
The winner of the race is the first to break the light
beam at the end of the race.
a. Complete the table using the most appropriate
words from the list below. [3]
Infra-red sensor / Light sensor / Moisture sensor /
Motion sensor / pH sensor / Pressure sensor /
Sound sensor / Temperature sensor
b. A member of the sports department will use a
computer to produce a magazine of the
competition. He will include photographs stored in
a digital camera as well as printed photographs.
Identify the methods he would use to transfer the
photographs to the computer. [2]
10. Tick (✓) whether the following statements are
True or False. [2]

True True False True