The ICT Lounge

Section 2.4:
Output Devices
Once data has been input into a computer system and processed, it is
now 'useful information'. This information is ready to be output (sent Key objectives of this section:
out).
# Know the purpose of and be able to identify different
output devices.
In this section you will learn about the different types of output devices
# Understand the uses of each output device.
that are commonly in use.
# Be able to discuss advantages and disadvantages of
For each out device you have to be able to identify it from an image, each output device.
explain what it is used for and discuss advantages/disadvantages.

Output Devices (what are they?) Key Words:

Input, Processor, Output,
Definition: "Hardware devices that allow information to be sent out of a Storage, Hardware, Data,
computer system." Information

Overview of Output Devices:

Examples:
# Output devices are part of the 4 main hardware components of a computer system:

Input Devices - these get data into the computer

Processor - this does something with the data to make it useful information
Output Devices - these show the results of processing
Storage Devices - holds the data in the system

# The image below shows where output devices fit into a computer system:

This diagram
shows where
output devices fit
into a computer
system. A computer monitor (screen) is an example of a
commonly used output device.

# Some devices produce a temporary output.

For example: a computer monitor produces images on the screen that constantly refresh
and change.

# Some devices produce a permanent output. Printers are another example of a commonly used
output device.

For example: a printer produces outputs as hard copies on paper

(these cannot be changed once printed). NOTE:
More examples will be shown
further down this page.

The information below discusses some examples of output devices including their uses,
advantages and disadvantages.

Examples of Output Key Words:

CRT Monitor , TFT Monitor, Laser Printer, Inkjet Printer,
Devices Dot matrix Printer, Plotter, Speakers, Multimedia
Projector

# The table below shows you some examples of output devices. Click each device to move to more information:
 Can be used with light pens to create They are very large and bulky which
drawings on screen. means they take up large amounts of desk
space.
Note: light pens and CRT's are also used
with CAD software (computer aided design). Note: their large size and weight also make
them difficult (and dangerous) to move.

Produce a larger range of colours than They create a lot of heat and have been
TFT monitors. known to cause fires.

The screen angle is better than with TFT's. Screen glare when in direct light makes
viewing difficult.
(you do not have to stand directly in front of
the CRT screen in order to see what is on it) Note: they are also prone to 'screen
flicker' which can cause headaches and eye CRT monitors can get very hot.
strain.

Cheaper to buy than TFT screens. They also need more power than TFT's to
operate (more expensive to run).

TFT Monitors (thin film transistor)

Information:
Examples:
# TFT stands for 'thin film resistor'.

# These are thin flat screened monitors that are commonly seen today.

# As they become cheaper, these have taken over from CRT monitors as the most popular
computer screens.

# TFT's are used with the newer desktop PC's, laptops and mobile phones.

# TFT screens are made up of thousands of

tiny pixels. Each pixel has 3 transistors -
red, green and blue and each transistor can
TFT monitors are much thinner than CRT's.
produce different intensities.

This allows huge amounts of colours to

be produced (16.7 million).

A back light is used to shine light onto these

pixels in order for the colours to be produced.

In order to light a single pixel, tiny windows

can be opened and closed to allow the light
to pass through and onto the pixel.

TFT screens are light and are perfect as displays for

portable devices such as laptops.
Uses of TFT Monitors:
# TFT Monitors allow users to instantly see outputs from the computer.

# They are used as screens in laptops and also mobile phones.

Their thin and light design helps the laptop remain portable
(light and easy to transport)

Advantages/Disadvantages of TFT Monitors:

Advantages Disadvantages
TFT's are also used as displays in mobile phones.
Lightweight so they are perfect for Images can appear unclear when viewed
portable laptops and wall mounting. from an angle.

They are very thin and do not take up as (you need to look straight at the screen for
much desk space as a CRT monitor. the best image)

They produce much less glare than CRT’s Lower picture quality (definition)
and so are friendly to the eye. compared to a CRT monitor.

They use less power than CRT monitors Cannot be used with Light Pens yet.
(cheaper to run).
(Computer Aided Drawings are not yet
 possible on TFT monitors)
They emit less radiation than CRT
monitors.

They produce less heat than CRT's.

Their lightweight makes TFT's easy to

mount on walls.

Laser Printer
Information:
Examples:
# These produce high quality hard copy outputs (on paper) .

# Laser printers use Toner pressed on a page to produce printed documents.

# They can print large amounts of pages at a very quick rate.

# You can buy both black and white and colour laser printers.

# They use a buffer memory which stores the information for the whole document before
the pages can be printed out.

For example: Once you press print, the document is sent to the printers memory Laser printers are popular for environments that
(RAM) and stored there. The printer will then output whatever is in the require fast high-quality printouts.
memory when it is ready to do so.

Think of the Buffer Memory as a kind of waiting room

# Laser printers work by using a laser beam to

'draw' onto a drum.

The laser leaves a positive electric

charge on the drum in the places where it
drew.

Laser printers can handle very large

A special power known as 'toner' is sprayed print jobs.
onto the drum and it sticks to the parts that
contain the positive electric charge.

The drum is then pressed onto a sheet of

paper and the paper is heated (fused) so that
the toner is bound to the paper.

Uses of Laser Printers:

# Very useful for printing where noise levels need to be kept low (Like in an office where
people need to concentrate or use telephones etc).

# Good at producing high quality printouts very fast.

# Good for environments where high volume of printing is required (lots of printouts).
Colour laser printers are expensive to buy and run.
This is because they have a low printing cost per page.

Their fast printing speed /low printing cost per page makes them the printer of
choice on networks. This is because they need to be able to keep up with the printing
demands of many computers.

Popular with:

Schools
Businesses
Offices.
Toner cartridge (these contain toner power).

Advantages/Disadvantages of Laser Printers:

 Advantages Disadvantages

Very fast at printing documents. Environmentally unfriendly (produce ozone).

They also use more power than inkjets.

Toner cartridges last a long time and don't need to be replaced Laser printers are more expensive to buy (but cheap to run).
often.

Laser printers can handle high volumes of printing. Colour laser printers are much more expensive to buy and run
than inkjets.

Very quiet when printing. They are larger in size compared to other types of printers.

Very high quality printouts.

Reliable - don't breakdown as easily as inkjet printers.

Cheaper to run than inkjets (low cost per page).

Inkjet Printer
Information: Examples:
# These are used to produce high quality hard copies (on paper).

# Although the quality of Inkjet printouts is not as good as Laser printers, it is far better
than Dot Matrix printers.

# Ink is stored in and delivered to the paper via an ink cartridge.

# Inkjet's can print in both black and white and colour.

# Inkjet printers have small amounts of internal memory (RAM) to store print jobs so
printing is done a bit at a time. Inkjets can produce photo-quality
colour printouts.

The whole document cannot be stored in printer’s RAM so there is often a pause while
the computer sends the rest of the data

# Inkjet printers work by spraying ink onto a

page of paper.

The ink is held in 'ink cartridges' and there

are 4 different colours - black, cyan, Inkjets require 4 separate ink cartridges -
magenta and yellow. Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow.

These mix to form a vast amount of

other colours.

Motors are used to position the ink

cartridges over the correct position of the Click image to zoom
page and to drag the paper through the
printer.

Inkjet printouts will smudge if not left to dry

Uses of Inkjet Printers: before handling.

# Good where few printouts are needed (low volume).

# Ideal for single-page, very high quality printing. (Photo quality images).

# Often used to print photographs.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Inkjet Printers:

Advantages Disadvantages

Output is very high quality (Especially good for colour Slow printing rates, especially if several copies are needed.
photograph printing).

Much cheaper to buy than laser printers. Ink cartridges don’t last long and so are not suitable for large
print jobs.

Smaller than laser printers so take up less space. They can be expensive to run as new ink cartridges are not
cheap to buy.
 Do not produce ozone or other harmful compounds. Printouts can easily smudge if document is not left to dry
properly.
Very quiet whilst printing.

Dot Matrix Printer

Information: Examples:
# Often called an ‘Impact Printer’ where pins are pressed against an inked ribbon which
produces an imprint on paper.

# They are very slow, noisy and produce poor quality outputs (click here for video).

# Are still useful where ‘Continuous Paper’ needs to be used. For example, printing off all
of a business's employee payslips.

Continuous paper is the name given to hundreds of sheets of paper that are joined
together and 'continuously' fed through the printer.
Dot matrix printers are noisy and slow.
The paper sheets can be separated after printing is complete.

# Dot matrix printers are still used in environments where print speed and noise is not
an issue (like in car garages and factories).

# These printers work by using a set of pins to press

an inked ribbon against paper.

When the pin/ribbon hits the paper a printed dot

is left behind.

The dots can be arranged to form basic text and

images.

Dot matrix printers use ink ribbons.

Different coloured ink ribbons can be used to
produce colour printouts.

Uses of Dot Matrix Printers:

# Dot matrix printers are very robust and can be used in noisy and dirty environments
(like garages and warehouses).

# Can make ‘Carbon Copies’ of a document using special ‘Carbon Paper’ underneath
normal printer paper.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Dot Matrix Printers:

Advantages Disadvantages
Dot matrix printout quality is very low.
Work just fine in dusty and dirty Very noisy so not suitable for an office
environments where laser or inkjet environment
printers could easily be damaged.

Carbon copies can be produced using Very slow to print (slowest of all the types
carbonated paper. of printers)

Very cheap to buy and maintain. Very poor print quality.

(Inked ribbons are very cheap)

Good for continuous printing. Dot matrix printouts are made up of arranged dots.

(e.g. long print jobs like wage slips)

Plotter
Information: Examples:
# There are 2 different types of plotters --- drum and flatbed.
# Produce hard copies but are capable of printing on very large pieces of paper (e.g. 3
foot wide by 10 foot long).

# The print quality of plotters in very high.

# Plotters can also produce very large and accurate documents such as blueprints
(plans) for buildings

# Plotters draw images on the page using coloured pens which are moved around the
paper by a computer.

Uses of Plotters:
# Used to produce large, accurate drawings. Some examples are listed below:
A drum plotter.
Blueprints of buildings (plans/designs)
Maps
Giant posters and adverts (like those we see on billboards).

# Pens can be replaced with cutting tools to produce large signs.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Plotters:

Advantages Disadvantages

They can produce much larger printouts Their print times are very slow.
than other printers. A flatbed plotter.

The print quality is extremely high. They are very expensive to buy and
maintain.
Plotters can also 'cut out' designs for use in
sign making.

Plotters can produce very large printouts like those

seen on advertising boards.

Speakers
Information: Examples:
# Many everyday uses of a computer require the user to listen to different types of sounds.
For example:

Listening to a music album

Watching a movie.
Browsing videos on YouTube
Multimedia encyclopedias.

In order for the computer to output these sounds it requires some sort
of speaker system!

# Speakers can be connected directly to a computer or are built into the monitor or casing. Speakers allow us to listen to sound coming out
of a computer system.

Note: Most computers have small built in speakers to alert users when they do
something wrong but these can only produce very basic sounds like 'beeps'.

# Speakers are analogue and cannot output digital

'computerised' sounds.

Digital data from the computer must first be

converted into analogue sound using a sound
card.
E-Book readers (like the Amazon Kindle) have
special software called 'screen readers' that can
The analogue sound can then be output via the
narrate the words on the screen.
speakers and we can listen to it.

Speakers can also be used to alter the

volume of the sounds.