Input and Output:

The User Connection

Chapter 5

Objectives
Describe the user relationship with computer input
and output
Explain how data is input to a computer system and
differentiate among various input equipment
Describe how a monitor works and the characteristics
that determine quality
List and describe the different methods of computer
output
Differentiate among different kinds of printer
Explain the function of a computer terminal and
describe the types of terminals

Contents
Input and Output
Input
Output
Terminals
Computer Graphics
Ethics and Data

Input and Output

Input
Users submit input data

Output
Users get processed information

Input
Data from the user
to the computer
Converts raw data
into electronic form

Diversity of Input Methods

Zebra-striped bar codes on supermarket items
Word commands operate a forklift truck
An order is entered using a pen on a special pad
Time clock generates paycheck
Data on checks are read and used to prepare a
monthly bank statement
Charge-card transactions generate customer bills

Keyboard
Traditional
Looks like typewriter
with extra keys

Non-traditional
Fast food restaurants
Each key represents a
food item rather than a
character

Keyboard

Function Keys

Main Keyboard

Give commands

Typewriter keys

Software specific

Special command keys

Keyboard

Numeric Keys
Num Lock toggle
On numeric data & math symbols
Off cursor movement

Cursor Movement Keys

Keyboard
Special Keys
Shift
Caps Lock
Ctrl
Alt
Esc
Enter
Windows
Shortcut

Pointing Devices
Position a pointer / cursor on the screen
Controls drawing instruments in graphics
applications
Communicate commands to a program

Pointing Devices
Mouse
Types
Mechanical
Optical
Wireless

Features
Palm-sized
1 or 2 buttons
Wheel

Other Pointing Devices

Trackball

Upside-down mouse
Ball on top
Roll ball with hand
Laptop computers

Touchpad
Pressure-sensitive pad
Cursor moves as you
slide your finger
Laptop computers

Other Pointing Devices

Pointing stick
Pressure-sensitive post
Mounted between G and H keys on keyboard
Apply pressure in a direction to move cursor

Joystick
Short lever
Handgrip
Distance and speed of movement control pointer
position

Graphics Tablet
Digitizing tablet
Rectangular board
Invisible grid of electronic dots
Write with stylus or puck
Sends locations of electronic dots as stylus
moves over them
Creates precise drawings
Architects and engineers

Touch Screens
Human points to a selection on the
screen
Types
Edges emit horizontal and vertical beams
of light that crisscross the screen
Senses finger pressure
Light pen for pointing

Touch Screens
Kiosks
Self-help stations
Easy to use
Where found
Malls
Disney World
Government offices

Pen-based Computing
Small hand-held devices
Electronic pen (stylus)
Pointer
Handwritten input

Personal Digital
Assistants (PDA)

Source Data Automation

Special equipment to collect data at the
source
Sent directly to a computer
Avoids need to key data
Related input areas

Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition

Scanners
Optical recognition devices
Voice

MICR
Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition
Read characters made
of magnetic particles
Numbers on the
bottom of checks
MICR inscriber adds
characters to check
that show amount
cashed

Optical Scanners
Optical recognition
Light beam scans input data
Most common type of source input
Document imaging converts paper documents to
electronic form
Converts snapshots into images
Converts scanned picture into characters OCR

Exact computer-produced replica of original

Types of Scanners
Flatbed

One sheet at a time

Scans bound documents

Sheetfeed

Motorized rollers
Sheet moves across
scanning head
Small, convenient size
Less versatile than flatbed
Prone to errors

Types of Scanners
Handheld
Least expensive
Least accurate
Portable
User must move the scanner in a straight
line at a fixed rate
Wide document causes problems

Optical Recognition
Optical mark recognition (OMR)
Mark sensing
Exams
Recognizes the location of the
marks

Optical character recognition

(OCR)

Light source reads special

characters
OCR-A is ANSI standard typeface
for optical characters

Optical Recognition
Wand Reader
Retail stores
Libraries
Hospitals
Factories

Optical Recognition
Bar Code Reader
Photoelectric device
Reads bar codes
Inexpensive
Reliable
Where Used?
Supermarket UPC
Federal Express

Optical Recognition
Handwritten Characters
Must follow rigid rules
Size
Completeness
Legibility

Voice Input
Speech Recognition
Speech recognition devices
Input via a microphone
Voice converted to binary code

Problems
Speaker-dependent
Voice training

Voice Input
Changing radio frequencies in airplane
cockpits
Placing a call on a car phone
Requesting stock-market quotations over
the phone
Command from physically disabled users

Voice Input
Discrete work systems
Understand isolated words
Pause between words
Difficult for dictation

Continuous work systems

Normal speaking pattern
Easy to use
Faster and easier to dictate than to key

Digital Cameras
Photos stored in electronic form
No film
Point and shoot
Edit

Output
Information for the user
Types

Screen soft copy

Printer hard copy
Voice
Sound
Graphics

Monitor
Data that is entered appears on the
screen
Screen is part of the monitor

Monitor

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

Flat panel display
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

CRT
Raster scanning
Sweeping electron beams across the back of
the screen
Phosphorous coating on back
Glows when hit by a beam of electrons
Phosphorous loses glow and image fades and
flickers
Image must be continually refreshed

CRT
Refresh rate / scan rate
Number of times electron beams refreshes
the screen
80-100 times per second adequate for clear
screen image
Process also used for television

CRT
Interlaced vs. Non-interlaced
Interlaced

Refresh every other line on each pass

Lower refresh rate without flicker
Good for fixed graphics
Causes flutter with animated graphics
Inexpensive

Non-interlaced
Refresh every line on each pass
Typical screen sold today

CRT
Color vs. Monochrome
Color
Typical monitor sold today

Monochrome
Green or amber on a contrasting
background
Less expensive than color

CRT
Resolution
Clarity of image
Pixel (Picture element)

Dot on screen
Is addressable
Can be illuminated
More pixels means higher resolution

Dot pitch

Distance between dots

Smaller distance means better quality image

CRT
Graphics Card/Graphics Adapter Board
Plugs into expansion slot on motherboard
Graphics card and monitor must be
compatible for high quality image

CRT
Size
Measured diagonally
Typical sizes

Office user: 15-17 inch

High-powered graphics user: 19 inch
High-end monitors: 21 inches and up

Larger size

More expensive
More space on desktop
Reduces eye strain

Graphics Standards
Help insure that the products work together
PCs
Monitor
Graphics boards
Software

Graphics Standards
SVGA (Super VGA)
Resolution 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024,
1600 x 1200 pixels
16 million colors
Number of colors displayed simultaneously limited
by amount of video memory

XGA (Extended Graphics Array)

High resolution
Supports more simultaneous colors
Allows non-interlaced monitors

Flat-panel Screens
Liquid Crystal Display
(LCD)
Primarily on laptops
Moving to desktop
Skinny (depth)
regardless of size

Flat-panel Screens
Crisp, brilliant images
Easy on eyes
No flicker
Full dimension is useable
More expensive that CRT monitors

Flat-panel Screens
Active Matrix
Thin-film transistor technology (TFT)
Transistors for each pixel
Brighter image
Viewable from an angle
Passive Matrix
Fewer transistors
Cheaper
Less power

Printer
Produces information on paper
Orientation
Portrait
Landscape

Methods of printing
Impact
Nonimpact

Impact Printers
Line printer

Dot-matrix printer

One line at a time

One character
at a time

High volume
Low quality

Nonimpact Printer
Laser Printer

Nonimpact Printer
Laser Printer
Transfers images to paper using a light beam
Prints one page at a time
600-1200 dpi High quality
Speed

Personal laser printers: 8-10 ppm

Network laser printers: 35-50 ppm
High-volume laser printers: up to 1000 ppm

Black and white / color

Nonimpact Printer
Ink-jet Printer
Spray ink at paper
Black and white / color
Excellent graphics
Good quality
Slower than laser

Nonimpact Printer
Choose based upon:
Speed
Quality
Black and white vs. color
Price

Sound
Creates multimedia output
Multiple sight and sound effects
Speakers
Sound card

Voice Output
Speech Synthesis
Enables machines to talk to people
Types
Voice synthesizers
Voice output devices
Audio-response units

Convert data in storage to vocalized sounds

Synthesis by analysis human sounds are stored
and reproduced as needed
Synthesis by rule creates artificial speech

Voice Output
Speech synthesis
Uses
Automobiles
Telephone surveys
Catalog order is ready
Your payment is late reminder

Music and Other Sounds

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
Communicates between MIDI devices and
computer
Rules that produce and process digital music
signals
MIDI information tells synthesizer
When to start and stop playing a note
Volume
Modulation

Software is available for composing and

editing per MIDI standard

Terminals
Device that provides input and output capabilities
Dumb terminal
Keyboard and monitor
Connects to host for processing

Intelligent terminal
Keyboard, monitor, memory, and processor
Connects with host

Point-of-sale terminal (POS)

Input and output device
Captures retail data

Computer Graphics
Business
Education
Science
Sports
Computer art
Entertainment

Business Graphics
Types

Maps
Charts

Help

Compare data
Spot trends
Make decisions quickly

Attention-getting
Updated instantaneously
Rendered quickly

Video Graphics
Animated graphics
Prepared one frame at
a time
Examples

Cartoons
Commercials without
humans
Television networks logo
Arcade games

CAD/CAM
Computer-Aided Design
Computer-Aided Manufacturing
CAD
Software creates 2-D and 3-D designs

CAM
Controls production equipment

CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing)

Bridge between design and manufacturing
CAD/CAM integrated into manufacturing process
Provides balanced, efficient production process

Ethics and Data

Computer data can be
Used
Sold
Altered

What is legal?