Chapter 6: Output
Slides Created by
Kevin McHale
The Four Categories of Output
Output is data that has been processed into a
useful device
Four Categories
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Text
Graphics
Audio
Video
CRT Monitors
Desktop monitors that are similar to
televisions because they contain
Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)
Available in a variety of sizes
– Most common range from 15 to 22 inches
Use electron beams to produce images
Quality of CRT Monitor
Three factors affect the monitor’s quality
– Resolution
– Dot Pitch (Pixel Pitch)
– Refresh Rate
Graphics Cards
Converts digital output from the computer into
an analog video signal
Sends the signal through a cable to the CRT
monitor
Monitor displays the
output on the screen
The number of colors a graphics card displays
is determined by its bit depth
Flat Panel Display
A flat panel display is a display with a shallow
depth that does not use CRT technology
Types of flat panel displays
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Flat panel monitors
LCD displays
Gas Plasma displays
HDTV displays
Flat Panel Displays
A flat panel monitor is
a desktop monitor
that uses a liquid
crystal display instead
of a cathode-ray tube
A liquid crystal display
(LCD) uses a liquid
compound to present
information on a
screen
Gas Plasma Displays
A gas plasma display
uses gas plasma
technology
Substitutes a layer of
gas for the liquid
crystal material in a
flat panel monitor
High-Definition Television
HDTV is the most advanced form of digital
television
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Provides resolution up to 1920 x 1080 pixels
Works with digital broadcasting signals
Transmits digital sound
Supports wide screens
Printers
A printer is an output device that produces text
and graphics on a physical medium
Two types of printers
– Impact Printers
– Nonimpact Printers
Impact Printers
Impact printers form characters and graphics
on a piece of paper by striking a mechanism
against an inked ribbon that physically
contacts the paper
Types of Impact Printers
– Dot-matrix printer
– Line printer
Nonimpact Printers
Nonimpact printers form characters and
graphics on a piece of paper without actually
striking the paper
Types of nonimpact printers
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Ink-jet printers
Laser printers
Photo printers
Large format printers
Thermal printers
Portable printers
Label and postage printers
Plotters
Nonimpact Printers
An ink-jet printer forms characters and
graphics by spraying tiny drops of liquid ink
onto a piece of paper
A photo printer produces
photo-lab –quality pictures
Nonimpact Printers (Cont)
A laser printer is a high-speed, high-quality
printer that creates images using a laser
beam and powdered ink, called toner
A thermal printer generates images by
pushing electronically
heated pins against heat
sensitive paper
Nonimpact Printers (Cont)
A portable printer is a small, lightweight,
battery-powered printer used for notebook
computers
A label printer is a small
printer that prints on an
adhesive-type material
Nonimpact Printers (Cont)
Plotters are sophisticated printers used to
produce high-quality drawings
A large-format printer uses ink-jet technology
on a large scale to create photorealistic-quality color prints
Wireless Printing Technology
Infrared Printing
– A printer communicates with a device using
infrared light waves
Bluetooth Printing
– A device transmits output to a printer via radio
waves
Audio Output Devices
Audio output devices
are components of a
computer that
produce sound
Types of Audio Output
Devices
– Speakers
– Headphones
Fax
A fax machine (facsimile machine) is a device
that transmits and receives documents over
telephone lines
– A fax is a document sent or received
Fax modems allow you
to send and sometimes
receive electronic
documents as faxes
Other Output Devices
Multifunction peripherals provide the
functionality of a printer, scanner, copy
machine, and a fax machine
Data projectors take the image
form a computer screen and project
it onto a larger screen for an audience
to view
Output Options
Hearing impaired users can instruct
programs to display words instead of
sound
Visually impaired users can enlarge items
on the screen and change settings to
increase readability
Blind users can work with voice output
instead of a monitor and Braille printers