Input and Output
What is input?
Input is any data and instructions entered
into the memory of a computer
Instructions can be entered into the
computer in the form of programs,
commands, and user responses
An input device is any hardware component
that allows users to enter data and
instructions into a computer
A keyboard
A keyboard is an input device that contain
keys users press to enter data and
instructions into a computer
Type of keyboard
Wired keyboards – USB port
Wireless keyboard – Bluetooth, IrDA
Ergonomic keyboard –reduces the change
of wrist and hand injuries
Keyboard for mobile devices typically are
smaller and/or have fewer keys
Mouse
A mouse is a pointing device that fits under
the palm of your hand comfortably
A mouse can be wired of wireless
Other pointing devices
Trackball
Touchpad
Pointing Stick
Touch Screens and Touch-Sensitive
Pads
A Touch screen is a touch-sensitive display
device
Microsoft surface
Touch-Sensitive Pad
Pen input
With pen input, you touch a stylus or digital
pen on a flat surface to write, draw, or make
selection
Other input for smart phones
Game controllers
Video games and computer games use a
game controller as the input device that
directs movements and actions of on-screen
objects
Gamepads
 Joysticks and wheels
 Light guns
 Dance Pads
 Motion-sensing controllers

Digital cameras
A digital camera is a mobile device that
allows users to take pictures and store them
digitally
Two factors affect the quality of digital
camera photos
Resolution
 Number of bits stored in each pixel

Voice input
Voice input is the process of entering input
by speaking into a microphone
Voice recognition is the computer’s
capability of distinguishing spoken words
Video input
Video input is the process of capturing fullmotion images and storing them on a
computer’s storage medium
A web cam is a type of digital video camera
that enables a user to
Capture video and still images
 Send e-mail messages with video attachments
 Add live images to instant messages
 Broadcast the images over the Internet
 Make video telephone calls

Video conference is a meeting between two
or more geographically separated people
Scanners and Reading devices
Flatbed
Pen or Handheld
Sheet-fed
Drum
Optical character recognition (OCR)
involves reading characters from ordinary
documents
Optical mark recognition (OMR) read handdrawn marks such as small circles or
rectangles
An OMR device scans the documents and
matches the patterns of light
A bar code reader, also called a bar code
scanner uses laser beams to read bar codes
RFID (radio frequency identification) uses
radio signals to communicate with a tag
placed in or attached to an object
An RFID reader reads information on the
tag via radio waves
Magnetic stripe card readers read the
magnetic stripe on the back of cards such as
Credit cards
 Entertainment cards
 Bank cards
 Other similar cards

MICR (magnetic ink character recognition)
devices read text printed with magnetized
ink
An MICR reader converts into a form the
computer can process
Banking industry uses MICR for check
processing
Biometric input
Biometrics authenticates a person’s identity
by verifying a personal characteristic
Fingerprint reader
 Face recognition system
 Hand geometry system
 Voice verification system
 Signature verification system
 Iris recognition system

What is output?
Output is data that has been processed into a
useful form
An output device is any type of hardware
component that conveys information to one
or more people
Display devices
A display device visually convey text,
graphics, and video information
A monitor is packaged as a separate
peripheral
Widescreen
 Liquid crystal display (LCD)

Liquid crystal display (LCD) uses a liquid
compound to present information on a
display device
Plasma monitors are display devices that
use gas plasma technology and offer screen
sizes up to 150 inches
A CRT monitor is a desktop monitor that
contains a cathode-ray tube

Have a much larger footprint than do LCD
monitors
Printers
A printer produces text and graphics on a
physical medium
Printed information is called a hard copy, or
printout
 Landscape or portrait orientation

Nonimpact printer
A nonimpact printer forms characters and
graphics on a piece of paper without
actually striking the paper
Ink-jet printers
 Laser Printers
 Thermal printers
 Plotters
 Mobile printers

A multifunctional peripheral (MFP) is a
single device that prints, scans, copies, and
in some cases, faxes

Sometimes called an all-in-one device
A thermal printer generates images by
pushing electrically heated pins against the
heat-sensitive paper
Thermal wax-transfer printer
 Dye-sublimation printer

Impact printer
Impact printers form characters and
graphics on a piece of paper by striking a
mechanism against an inked ribbon that
physically contacts paper
Dot-matrix printer
 Line printer

Speakers, Headphones, and Earbuds
An audio output device produces music,
speech or other sounds
Other output devices
Other output devices are available for
specific uses and applications

Data projectors

Interactive whiteboards
Other output devices are available for
specific uses and applications

Force-feedback game controllers

Tactile output