Input and Output Devices

PRINTER
A computer peripheral that puts text or a computer generated image on paper or on another
medium, such as a transparency. Printer can be categorized in several ways the most common
distinction is IMPA! and "O"#IMPA!.
IMPACT PRINTING
Is the method used by the conventional type writers. In some type o$ impact printing a metal
%hammer& embossed with a character stri'es a print ribbon, which presses the characters image
into paper. In other types the hammer stri'es the paper and presses it into the ribbon characters
created through impact printing can be $ormed by either a solid $ont or dot matrix printing
mechanism.
NON IMPACT PRINTING
Does not depend on the impact o$ metal on paper. In $act no physical contact at all occurs
between the printing mechanism and the paper. !he most popular non#impact methods today
utilize thermal trans$er, in'#(et.
TYPES OF PRINTERS
1. DOT MATRIX PRINTER
Any printer that produces character made up o$ dots using a wire pin printed head. !he )uality o$
output $rom a dot matrix printer depends largely on the number o$ dots in the matrix, which
might be low enough to show individual dots or might be high enough to approach the loo' o$
$ully $ormed characters. Dot matrix printers are o$ten categorized by the number o$ pins in the
printer head typically, * or +,.
2. LINE PRINTERS
Any printer that prints one line at one time, as opposed to one character at a time or one page at a
time. -ine printer typically produce the .. by ./ inch %computer& printout. !hey are high speed
devices and are o$ten used with main$rames, minicomputers, or networ'ed machines rather than
with single user system. !ypes o$ line printers include chain printers and band printer.
3. LASER PRINTERS
An electrophotographic printer that is based on the technology used by photocopiers. A $ocussed
laser beam and a rotating mirror are used to draw an image o$ the desired page on a
photosensitive drum. !his image is converted on the drum into an electrostatic charge, which
attracts and holds toner. A piece o$ electrostatically charged paper is rolled against the drum,
which pulls the toner away $rom the drum and onto the paper. 0eat is then applied to $use the
toner to the paper. 1inally, the electri$ied charge is removed $rom the drum and the excess toner
is collected. 2y omitting the $inal step and repeating only the toner application and paper
handling steps, the printer can ma'e multiple copies.
4. DAISY WHEEL PRINTER
Daisy wheel printer are some times called letter )uality printer because they are o$ten used to
produce attractive correspondence. !he D.3.P is a $lat circular device made o$ metal with
character embossed on it. As this wheel spins at a very high speed the hammer hits the speci$ic
character against the ribbon which presses against the paper.
5. THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER
It is a 'ind o$ non#impact printer. In electrothermal printing, characters are burned on to a special
paper by heated rods on a print heat. !hey trans$er in' $rom a wax#based ribbon onto plain paper.
!hese printer can support high )uality graphic.
6. INK JET PRINTER
It is a 'ind o$ non#impact spray small dots o$ electrically charged in' onto a paper to $orm
images. In' (et printer are $lexible enough to be used as plotters.
SECONDARY STORAGE DEVICES
4econdary storage devices are also called bac'up storage because it is used to store data. 5olume
o$ data on permanent basis which can be partially trans$erred to the primary storage, when
re)uired $or data processing. A$terwards these devices are comparatively cheap and provide
greater space to store the data 6instructions are stored on secondary storage devices in the same
binary codes as in primary storage.
NEEDS OF SECONDARY STORAGE DEVICE
!he storage capacity o$ the primary storage o$ today7s computer is not su$$icient. !o store a large
volume o$ data as a result additional memory called secondary storage is needed with most o$ the
computer system.
!hese devices also provides the $ast communication than I6O devices. !he internal memory o$ a
computer is a volatile memory. !here$ore, we cannot save the data permanently. In that case we
re)uire secondary storage device which provide the $acility to store the data $or $uture use.
RANDOM ACCESS DEVICES
8andom Access Devices are those devices on which we can directly access the data. !hese
devices are comparatively provide the $ast communication.
1or example, hard dis', $loppy dis', optical dis'.
FLOPPY DISK
A $loppy dis', also called simply a dis'ette or dis', is a small $lexible Mylar dis' coated with
iron oxide on which data are stored. !he $loppy dis' has been around since early .*/9s, today it
is available in three :; inch, <= inch and > inch sizes. !he <= and > inch dis'ettes are covered
by sti$$ protective (ac'et with di$$erent holes. !he central big hole called hub ring which is used
to hold by dis' drive during rotation. !he elongated read write window is used to read and write
data through read6write head. !he small hole next to the hub ring is called index hole which is
used to locating data through computer. !he cut out on the side o$ the $loppy dis' is called write
protect notch. I$ we cover this opening with a piece o$ paper then we can7t write data on to dis'.
In small dis'ette a hard plastic cover and protective metal is used to protect dis'. 2e$ore using a
dis' we have to $ormat a dis' in which dis' is divided into trac's and sectors $or storing the data.
Dis'ettes may be double sided and single sided while the storage capacity become less or more.
1loppy dis'ettes are more convenient to use with microcomputers. A $loppy dis' which is a
random access device can access data $ast than magnetic tape.
SEQUENTIAL ACCESS DEVICES
4e)uential Access Devices are those in which we can access the data one by one in a se)uence.
!hese devices provide slow communication as compared to 8andom Access Device.
MAGNETIC TAPE
Magnetic tape is a se)uential access device about one hal$ or one $ourth inch in size and made o$
Mylar ?a plastic material@ coated with a thin layer o$ iron oxide. Data can be read and write
through a device which is called tape drive. !he read6write head o$ tape drive which is an
electromagnetic component read, write and erase data $rom magnetic tape. Magnetic tape is
divided into nine separate strips or trac's in which eight trac's are used to store data and ninth
trac' is used $or error chec'ing bit.
Magnetic tape can store large )uantities o$ data there$ore they are erasable, usable and durable
secondary storage device. 2ut it can use with large computers.
INPUT DEVICES
Input devices are used to provide data or in$ormation to the computer. !he computer $ollows the
instructions given to it by and input device. A variety o$ input devices are used with the
computer depending on the type and purpose o$ input in$ormation. 1or example, a 'eyboard is
commonly used to trans$er data or in$ormation $rom human readable $orm to machine readable
$orm. Other examples o$ input devices areA mouse, (oystic', trac'ball, light pens, digitizers,
scanners, optical character reader ?O8@, touch window, etc.
MOUSE
!he mouse is an input device that usually contains one or two buttons. As a user moves the
mouse on a $lat sur$ace, the mouse controls the cursor movement on the screen. 3hen the user
presses one o$ the buttons, the mouse either mar's a place on the screen or ma'es selection $rom
data or menu on the screen. A mouse has a sphere on its underside. !his rotates as the mouse is
moved along a $lat sur$ace.
!he mouse translate the direction and speed o$ rotation into a digital signals that identi$ies the
position or control, the cursor on the computer.
A mouse can be used $or many application, ranging $rom games to drawing and designing
products with computer graphics. It provides an alternative $or people who are uncom$ortable
with a 'eyboard but it also can be used in combination with a 'eyboard to input data.
TRACKBALL
A !rac'ball is a pointing device almost li'e a mouse turned upside down. !he user controls the
cursor on the screen by rolling a plastic ball with a $ingertip or wrist. !o execute commands with
a !rac'ball, one or more buttons are pressed, much in the same way as is done with a mouse.
!he cursor can be moved around on the screen by rolling the ball with a thumb or $inger.
!rac'ball is popular among users o$ laptop computers when space is limited and may be
mounted on either side o$ the 'eyboard. 1or handicapped people who may have di$$iculty
pressing 'eys on a standard 'eyboard or using a mouse, the trac'ball may be the answer since it
edoes not re)uire to moves the entire arm to use it.
SCANNER
4canner is an input device. It is also called Optical 8eader or Digital 4canner. It scans or reads
text and picture printed on a paper and enters them directly into the computer memory.
!he advantage o$ a scanner is that the user needs not type the input data in. !his is a lust and
accurate method $or entering data into the computer. !he scanner ta'es electronic images, o$ text
or pictures $rom the paper it brea's each image into light and dar' dots and stores them into the
computer memory in machine codes. 4canned text can be edited by O8 so$tware. Optical
haracter 8ecognition ?O8@ so$tware translates the scanned document into text that can be
edited.
!he image scanner is use$ul because it translates printed images into an electronic $ormat than
can be stored in computer7s memory. !he stored image can be trans$erred into a paint program or
directly into a word processor. Bou can use so$tware to organize and manipulate the electronic
image.
KEYBOARD
A 'eyboard is the most commonly used input device which helps us in simply 'eying in re)uired
in$ormation in a computer. !his in$ormation is subse)uently stored in the computer7s memory. A
'eyboard can be used e$$ectively to communicate with the computer but considered to be
relatively slow as compared to other input devices. !he 'eyboard is divided into $ollowing
divisionsA
ALPHABETIC KEYPAD
!hese 'eys are similar to a standard typewriter and is used to type general in$ormation.
NUMBERIC KEYPAD
!hese 'eys are used to input numeric data only. !hese are very use$ul in case o$ large numeric
data input because all numeric 'eys can be accessed by one hand only. !hese 'eys can also be
used as an alternative to the screen navigation and editing 'eys.
FUNCTION KEYS
!hese are 'eys mar'ed as 1. C 1.+, located normally at the top o$ the 'eyboard. !hese are
special 'eys provided to a programmer which allow him to attach special $unctions to each 'ey.
Dach o$ these $unction 'eys are also given some special $unction in di$$erent pac'ages.
SCREEN NAI!ATION AND EDITIN! KEYS
!hese 'eys are provided to move around in the screen. May programs use these 'eys to let the
user move around the screen display. In some 'eyboards these 'eys are also provided inside the
numeric 'eypad as alternate 'eys.
!he description o$ commands assigned to $unction 'eys under the 2A4I mode.
F1 C -I4! 1unction C Esed to display the lines o$ your program on the screen.
F2 C 8E" 1unction C Esed to execute a program $rom its beginning.
F3 C -OAD 1unction C Esed to read a program $rom a storage device and store it in main
memory.
F4 C 4A5D 1unction C Esed to store a program on a storage device $rom Memory.
F5 C OE"! 1unction C Esed to restart a program a$ter it has temporarily interrupted by a stop
or !8- F 28DAG.
F6 C -P!. 1unction C Esed to trans$er data $rom the video screen to the line printer.
F7# !8O" 1unction C 8e$ers to %trace on&. !his $unction causes the line number o$ program line
to be displayed as these lines are executed.
F8 C !8O11 1unction C 8e$ers to %trace o$$&. !his $unction cancels !8O" $unction.
F C GDB 1unction C Ese to change the $unction o$ the other $unction 'eys.
F1! C 48DD" 1unction C Esed to return program to the character mode $rom the graphic mode
and aHso to turn o$$ the colour.
OUTPUT DEVICES
An output device is used to display the data or in$ormation that we receive $rom the computer.
An output device can be used to display or print the intermediate or $inal results per$ormed by
computer. A variety o$ output devices are used with computer. !he use o$ these devices depends
on the type and purpose o$ output. 4ome examples o$ output devices areA Monitors, Printer,
Plotters, 5isual display unit ?5DE@, li)uid crystal display ?-D@, etc.
MONITOR
!o display result or output $rom computer, a !.5 li'e device is used which is called monitor. !he
monitors are also re$erred as .8.! ?athode 8ay !ube@, 5.D.E ?5isual Display Enit@. !he
monitor assist during input $rom the 'eyboard, this display is called a so$t copy. !he monitor can
be o$ various 'inds, depending on the type o$ application. Monitors are categorized into two
groupsA
.. Monochrome monitors
+. olour monitors
1. MONOCHROME MONITORS
Monochrome monitors are used specially $or text editing purpose. !hese monitors can display
only one colour. "ormally amber, green or paper white.
2. COLOUR MONITORS
olour monitors serves a wide range o$ selection according to the application. 4uch as red,
green, blue, Dnhance Iraphic Array ?DIA@, olour Iraphic Array ?IA@, 5ideo Iraphics
Array ?5IA@, 4uper 5ideo Iraphics Array ?45IA@.
!here are two types o$ colour monitorsA
i. 8! Monitor
ii. -D Monitor
". CRT MONITOR
!he 8! monitors are a lot li'e television set, using the same 8! or athorde 8ay !ube
technology. !he 8! monitor has two ma(or partsH the screen and the cathode ray tube ?8!@.
!he screen is the $ront o$ the monitor and 8! is $itted inside the monitor.
"". LCD OR FLAT PANEL MONITOR
Another monitor type is -D or -i)uid rystal Display. -D monitors are a lot li'e 8!
monitors without the bul'iness but they do not have 8!. -D monitors use a $lat lightweight
sur$ace $illed with millions o$ tiny glass bubbles, each having a phosphoric covering. !hese
phosphoric coverings glow to create an image. -D screens provide clarity and $lic'er#$ree
viewing.
PLOTTER
Plotter is a special output device, which is used to produce high )uality, per$ectly proportional
hard copy output. Plotters are designed to produce large drawings or images such as construction
plans $or buildings or blue prints $or mechanical devices. Plotters have been used in automotive
and aircra$t design, topological surveys, architectural layouts and other similar complex dra$ting
(obs.
A plotter is composed o$ a pen, a move#able carriage, a drum and a holder $or chart paper. 2oth
the pen and the paper can move up and down and bac' and $orth. !his permits very detailed
drawings. 4ome plotter having coloured pens can ma'e coloured drawings also.
!here are two types o$ plotters, which are as $ollowsA
.. Drum Plotter
+. 1latbed Plotter
1. DRUM PLOTTER
On the drum plotter, the pens, and the drum move concurrently in di$$erent axes to produce the
image. Drum plotters are used to produce continuous output, such as plotting earth)ua'e activity,
or $or long graphic output, such as structural view o$ a s'yscraper.
2. FLATBED PLOTTER
On some $latbed plotters, the pen moves in both axes while the paper remains stationary.
0owever, on most des'top plotters, both paper and pen move concurrently in much the same
way as on drum plotters.
"ARD DISK
0ard dis' is a thin circular metal plate coated both side with a magnetic material. A hard dis'
pac' consist o$ a number o$ dis' mounted on central sha$t which rotate at a speed o$ +,99 rpm or
more. In a hard dis' in$ormation is stored on both the sur$aces o$ each dis' plate except the
upper and the lower sur$aces o$ the bottom plate which are not used. In$ormation is recorded on
the trac' o$ the dis' sur$aces in the $orm o$ invisible tiny magnetic spot. !he presence o$ a
magnetic spot represent . bit and its absence represents 9 bit.
0ard dis' are potentially very high capacity storage devices typically in the range o$ +9
megabyte to . gigabyte. Data are recorded on the trac's o$ a spinning dis' sur$ace and read $rom
the sur$ace by one or more read6write heads. !here are two basic types o$ dis' system.
.. Moving head
+. 1ixed head
1. MOIN! HEAD
!he moving head consist o$ one read6write head $or each dis' sur$ace mounted on an axis and
which can be moved in and out. In this system each read6write head moves horizontally across
the sur$ace o$ the dis'. 4o that it is able to access each trac' individually. In$ormation stored on
the trac's which constitute a cylindrical shape through the dis' pac' are there$ore accessed
simultaneously.
2. FIXED HEAD
In the $ixed head system the axis are non#movable. A large number o$ read6write heads are
distributed over the dis' sur$aces. One head $or each trac' as a result no head movement is
re)uired and there$ore in$ormation is accessed more )uic'ly.
VOICE RECOGNITION
A voice recognition system compares a person7s live speech to their stored voice pattern. -arger
organizations sometimes use voice veri$ication systems as time attendance devices. Many
companies also use this technology $or access to sensitive $iles and networ's. 4ome $inancial
services use voice veri$ication systems to secure telephone ban'ing transactions. !hese systems
use spea'er dependent voice recognition so$tware. !his type o$ so$tware re)uires the computer to
ma'e a pro$ile o$ your voice, that is, you train the computer to recognize your in$lection patterns.
S"ORT NOTES
DISK DRIE
Dis' drive is a peripheral device that reads or write the dis's ?hard dis's, $loppy dis's, etc@ that
store in$ormation. Dis' drives are called %4torage Device& because they store in$ormation or
portabel or permanent dis's. !he drive contains a motor to rotate the dis' at a constant rate and
one or more read6write heads, which are positioned over the desired trac'.
CD#WRITER
A D writer is a device connected to your computer which can write on D#38 and D#8
discs. D#38 discs may be written, erased and rewritten, while D#8 discs may be written only
once. D writer per$ormances is measured in J unit, where IJ K.<9 'ilobytes6sec. !his allows
user to master a D#8OM or audio D $or publishing D#8 devices can also read D#8OMs
and play audio Ds. !he D writer is also called a D#8 drive ?short $or ompact Disc C
8ecordable Drive@