Dax Vaghasiya

SOE23159
Subject - Hardware Workshop

Topic - Input and output devices

Input Devices
Input devices are the devices that are used to send signals to the computer for
performing tasks. The receiver at the end is the CPU (Central Processing Unit), which
has work to send signals to the output devices. Some of the classifications of Input
devices are:
 Keyboard Devices
 Pointing Devices
 Composite Devices
 Game Controller
 Visual Devices
 Audio Input Devices
Some of the input devices are described below.

Keyboard

The keyboard is the most frequent and widely used input device for entering data into
a computer. Although there are some additional keys for performing other operations,
the keyboard layout is similar to that of a typical typewriter. Generally, keyboards
come in two sizes: 84 keys or 101/102 keys but currently keyboards with 104 keys or
108 keys are also available for Windows and the Internet.
 Keyboard

Types of Keys
 Numeric Keys: It is used to enter numeric data or move the cursor. It usually
consists of a set of 17 keys.
 Typing Keys: The letter keys (A-Z) and number keys (09) are among these keys.
 Control Keys: These keys control the pointer and the screen. There are four
directional arrow keys on it. Home, End, Insert, Alternate(Alt), Delete,
Control(Ctrl), etc., and Escape are all control keys (Esc).
 Special Keys: Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, NumLk, Tab, etc., and Print Screen are
among the special function keys on the keyboard.
 Function Keys: The 12 keys from F1 to F12 are on the topmost row of the
keyboard.
Mouse
The most common pointing device is the mouse. The mouse is used to move a little
cursor across the screen while clicking and dragging. The cursor will stop if you let go
of the mouse. The computer is dependent on you to move the mouse; it won’t
move by itself. As a result, it’s an input device. A mouse is an input device
that lets you move the mouse on a flat surface to control the coordinates and
movement of the on-screen cursor/pointer. The left mouse button can be used to
select or move items, while the right mouse button when clicked displays extra menus.
 Mouse

Joystick

A joystick is a pointing device that is used to move the cursor on a computer screen. A
spherical ball is attached to both the bottom and top ends of the stick. In a socket, the
lower spherical ball slides. You can move the joystick in all four directions.

Joystick

The joystick’s function is comparable to that of a mouse. It is primarily used in CAD

Track Ball
Track Ball is an accessory for notebooks and laptops, which works on behalf of a
mouse. It has a similar structure to a mouse. Its structure is like a half- inserted ball
and we use fingers for cursor movement. Different shapes are used for this like balls,
buttons, or squares.
Light Pen
A light pen is a type of pointing device that looks like a pen. It can be used to select a
menu item or to draw on the monitor screen. A photocell and an optical system are
enclosed in a tiny tube. When the tip of a light pen is moved across a monitor screen
while the pen button is pushed, the photocell sensor element identifies the screen
location and provides a signal to the CPU.

Light Pen

Scanner
A scanner is an input device that functions similarly to a photocopier. It’s employed
when there’s information on paper that needs to be transferred to the computer’s hard
disc for subsequent manipulation. The scanner collects images from the source and
converts them to a digital format that may be saved on a disc. Before they are printed,
these images can be modified.
 Scanner

Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

An Optical Mark Reader is a device that is generally used in educational institutions to

Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)

It is a device that is generally used in banks to deal with the cheques given to the bank
by the customer. It helps in reading the magnetic ink present in the code number and
cheque number. This process is very fast compared to any other process.
Bar Code Reader
A bar code reader is a device that reads data that is bar-coded (data that is represented
by light and dark lines).Bar-coded data is commonly used to mark things, number
books, and so on. It could be a handheld scanner or part of a stationary scanner. A bar
code reader scans a bar code image, converts it to an alphanumeric value, and then
sends it to the computer to which it is connected.
 Bar Code Reader

Web Camera
Because a web camera records a video image of the scene in front of it, a webcam is
an input device. It is either built inside the computer (for example, a laptop) or
attached through a USB connection. A webcam is a computer- connected tiny digital
video camera. It’s also known as a web camera because it can take images and record
video. These cameras come with software that must be installed on the computer in
order to broadcast video in real-time over the Internet. It can shoot images and HD
videos, however, the video quality isn’t as good as other cameras (In Mobiles or other
devices or normal cameras).

Web Camera
Digitizer

Digitizer is a device that is used to convert analog signals to digital signals. it converts
signals into numeric values. An example of a Digitizer is Graphic Tablet, which is
used to convert graphics to binary data.

Microphone

The microphone works as an input device that receives input voice signals and also
has the responsibility of converting it also to digital form. It is a very common device
that is present in every device which is related to music.

Output Devices
Output Devices are the devices that show us the result after giving the input to a
computer system. Output can be of many different forms like image, graphic audio,
video, etc. Some of the output devices are described below.
Monitor
Monitors, also known as Visual Display Units (VDUs), are a computer’s primary
output device. It creates images by arranging small dots, known as pixels, in a
rectangular pattern. The amount of pixels determines the image’s sharpness.
The two kinds of viewing screens used for monitors are described below.
 Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor: Pixels are minuscule visual elements that
make up a CRT display. The higher the image quality or resolution, the smaller the
pixels.
 Flat-Panel Display Monitor: In comparison to the CRT, a flat-panel display is
a type of video display with less volume, weight, and power consumption. They
can be hung on the wall or worn on the wrist.
Flat-panel displays are currently used in calculators, video games, monitors, laptop
computers, and graphical displays.
 Monitor

Television

Television is one of the common output devices which is present in each and every
house. It portrays video and audio files on the screen as the user handles the
television. Nowadays, we are using plasma displays as compared to CRT screens
which we used earlier.
Printer
Printers are output devices that allow you to print information on paper. There are
certain types of printers which are described below.
 Impact Printers
 Character Printers
 Line Printers
 Non-Impact Printers
 Laser Printers
 Inkjet Printers

Printer

Impact Printer
Characters are printed on the ribbon, which is subsequently crushed against the paper,
in impact printers. The following are the characteristics of impact printers:
 Exceptionally low consumable cost.
 Quite noisy
 Because of its low cost, it is ideal for large-scale printing.
 To create an image, there is physical contact with the paper.
Character Printers
Character Printer has the capability to print only one character at a time. It is of two
types.
 Dot Matrix Printer
 Daisy Wheel
Line Printers
Line Printers are printers that have the capability to print one line at a time. It is of
two types.
 Drum Printer
 Chain Printer
Non-Impact Printers
Characters are printed without the need for a ribbon in non-impact printers. Because
these printers print a full page at a time, they’re also known as Page Printers. The
following are the characteristics of non-impact printers:
 Faster
 They don’t make a lot of noise.
 Excellent quality
 Supports a variety of typefaces and character sizes
Laser Printers
Laser Printers use laser lights for producing dots which will produce characters on the
page.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are printers that use spray technology for printing papers. High- quality
papers are produced in an Inkjet printer. They also do color printing.

Speakers

Speakers are devices that produce sound after getting a command from a computer.
Nowadays, speakers come with wireless technology also like Bluetooth speakers.

Projector

Projectors are optical devices that have the work to show visuals on both types of
screens, stationary and moving both. It helps in displaying images on a big screen.
Projectors are generally used in theatres, auditoriums, etc.

Plotter

Plotter is a device that helps in making graphics or other images to give a real view. A
graphic card is mandatorily required to use these devices. These are the pen-like
devices that help in generating exact designs on the computer.

Braille Reader

Braille Reader is a very important device that is used by blind users. It helps people
with low vision or no vision to recognize the data by running their fingers over the
device to understand easily. It is a very important device for
blind persons as it gives them the comfort to understand the letters, alphabets, etc
which helps them in study.

Video Card

A video Card is a device that is fitted into the motherboard of the computer. It helps in
improvising digital content in output devices. It is an important tool that helps people
in using multiple devices.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Global Positioning System helps the user in terms of directions, as it uses satellite
technology to track the geometrical locations of the users. With continuous latitudinal
and longitudinal calculations, GPS gives accurate results. Nowadays, all smart devices
have inbuilt GPS.

Headphones

Headphones are just like a speaker, which is generally used by a single person or it is
a single-person usable device and is not commonly used in large areas. These are also
called headsets having a lower sound frequency.

Both the Input and Output Devices of the Computer

There are so many devices that contain the characteristics of both input and output.
They can perform both operations as they receive data and provide results. Some of
them are mentioned below.

USB Drive

USB Drive is one of the devices which perform both input and output operations as a
USB Drive helps in receiving data from a device and sending it to other devices.

Modem

Modems are one of the important devices that helps in transmitting data using
telephonic lines.

CD and DVD
CD and DVD are the most common device that helps in saving data from one
computer in a particular format and send data to other devices which works as an
input device to the computer.