Chapter 2 - Input and output devices

Input devices defined as : Input devices are hardware devices that allow data to input (entered) into computer.
 Keyboards:
Input Device Uses Advantages Disadvantages

Input Data into Application Software » Fast entry » Can be difficult to use for users with
Enter data, text and typing » Easy to use for most user limited arm/wrist movement
1. Standard commands into computer » Easy to do verification » Large device that uses up valuable desk
Keyboard (QWERTY) space

checks with typed data.

2. Ergonomic Designed to reduce Repetitive Strain
keyboard Injury (RSI) health problem
Use icons and phrases instead of  Fast data entry
3. Concept keyboard letters. Used in fast food  Waterproof
restaurants.
Used to enter numbers only. Found » Faster than standard
at »Automatic teller machines keyboards » Difficult to use due to small keys
(ATMs), » Easy to carry around » Order of the numbers is not intuitive.
» Point-of-sale (POS), Chip and pin
4. Numeric keypad devices
» Chip and PIN devices when
paying by credit/debit cards (key in
PIN, amount of money, etc.).
» Fast entry of numeric data into a
spreadsheet.

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

  Pointing Devices Advantages Disadvantages
Used to control the  Fast to choose an option and  Can be difficult to use for users with
position of the pointer to navigate limited arm/wrist movement
1. Mouse  Does not need larger desk  Easy to damage
on the screen
space  Difficult to use if no flat surface

Pointing device in many laptops. The  Fast to choose an option and  Can be difficult to use for users with
pointer is controlled to navigate limited hand/wrist movement
2. Touchpad  User do not need a separate  Difficult to control pointer
by users tapping
mouse  Difficult operation when drag & drop
finger on touchpad
Similar to mouse, except the ball in  Do not need fine control  Not supplied with
top or side, good for people with  Easier to use the computer, o more costly
3. Tracker ball  More accurate  Need training to use
RSI, used in some luxury car, used in
 More robust, it
industrial control rooms.  need less desk space
Operation of other devices remotely  Can operate from  Can be difficult to use for users with
using infrared signals, in TV Sets, reasonable distance limited arm/wrist movement
5. Remote Control multimedia systems and industrial  Easy to block signals
application

On screen pointer  Easy to navigate  Difficult to control on-screen pointer

controller, with buttons  Control I more realistic
6. Joystick used for selections, used
in video games , Used in
than a mouse
Simulators
Steering wheel used  Easy to use  Expensive device
7. Driving (Steering) in video games and  Gives a real driving  too sensitive
Wheel driving simulators.
experience

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Input Device Uses Advantages Disadvantages

 Other devices
With a touch screen the user can choose an
option by simply  Faster enter of option  Limited number of options
touching a button/icon on  Very easy method for choosing  Screens can get very dirty
the screen. Also used as options
 Can lead to health problems
8. Touch screen output device  User friendly method
 Options to expand the size of the  Can lead to RSI problems
Used at , ATM, POS,
airports, Mobile display if necessary
phones, tablets and satellite navigation
system.
Used to enter  Images can be stored & edited  Limited quality
information from later.  Slow scanning
 Faster & accurate with OCR
hard copy (ex, text,
6. Scanners  Recover damaged docs/photos
photo document,)
into a computer as
a soft copy. Scan barcodes
Used as data capture devices to take  Easier to produce better-quality  Need to be computer literate to use
photos still/moving) upload into pc. photographs than with a cameras properly
traditional camera.  Some artistry skills loss
» Directly reading the  Easier and faster to upload  Difficult operation when
memory card photographs to a computer. drag & drop
» connecting the camera  No need to develop film and print
4. Digital Camera,
to the out photographs anymore – this
computer using a USB port saves money and environment .
Many smartphones and tablets are
» using wireless data transfer  Memory cards can store many
thousands of photograph. now capable of taking photographs
(Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). of a very high quality.
» The creation of virtual reality tours

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Input Device Uses
Work with CRT » Problems with lag when drawing on screen.
monitors, they
» Only work with CRT monitors
contain sensors that
5. Light Pens » Dated technology
send signals to a » Not that accurate when drawing.
computer to select
objects or drawing on screen
Microphones are either built in the » Faster to read in text than to » Sound files can use up a lot of computer
computer or separate pick p sound type it in using a keyboard. memory.
in alarm system, video- conference » You can manipulate sound in » Voice-recognition software is not as
real time. accurate as typing .
or VoIP » If used in a voice activation
Uses of microphones system (e.g. autonomous cars), it » See page 35 for how it works
» To input speech/sounds to be used has the advantage of improving
in various applications, (films, music). safety
» Input in voice-recognition SW:
– the software converts the speech into
6. Microphones text – to recognise commands; for
example, some cars now have voice-
activated systems
» To switch on the lights,
» Used as a sensor to pick up sound
(e.g, in an intruder alarm system
» Used in video-conferencing or Voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
application.

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Input Device Uses

7. Sensors Sensors are used as monitoring devices » More accurate readings

in monitoring and control applications  Faulty sensors give faulty results
to put data into the computer. taken compared to human
They measure physical quantity
 Most sensors are analogue
continuously changing or monitor operators. therefore requires {ADC} Convertors when
environment. » Readings are continuous – connected to microprocessor who only
understands digital data.
Various types of sensors: » No break in the monitoring.
 Temperature
 Pressure » Systems can be automatic,
 Light
 Sound/acoustic
precise control/monitoring.
 Humidity/moister » Because it is a continuous
 pH /acidity – oxygen/Co2 level
 Proximity/distance process, any necessary action
 Accelerometer (rotation)
 Infra-red
(control system) or warning
 Turbidity (dish washers) (monitoring system) will be
 Proximity (close/far)
Used in automatic washing machines, initiated immediately.
central heating systems, automatic
glasshouses, ovens chemical processes,
environment monitoring, robotics, Go to old book page 27 – 99
automatic doors New book page - 36

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Input Device Uses

Direct data entry (DDE) devices – Cards Readers

Used to read  Faster data entry
information  Typing Error free  If magnetic stripe gets damaged the
on magnetic  Secure data is lost
1. Magnetic Stripe stripe found  Prevent retailer access to  Does not work at distance
reader in the back credit/debit card details  Information is not human readable , for
of a credit/  No moving parts some applications
MSR debit card.  Not affected by oil, water,
Allow entry to buildings, hotel moister
rooms, ATM etc  Responds to payment terminal
reader with a unique number
Allow  Faster  Fraud - need to be careful to enter Pin
customers to transactions,  Rare in most countries
 Typing error free,
pay for items  More expensive
2. Contactless debit  Secure
worth up to a  Prevent retailer  Limited transactions (e.g. $50)
card reader
certain amount access to user info, Customers Look for:
of money.  Respond with a
All cards have small chip emits unique encrypted number
radio waves.
Used at EFTPOS terminals,  Secure system than contact less  Fraud – PIN can be hacked
travel restaurant, etc , card has  More robust system  Not accurate
3. Chip and Pin a slot into
reader reader a 4- (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of
digit Pin is Sale) terminals.
entered

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Input Device Uses
Used to process cheques in banking  Offer grater security than OCR  Only certain limited characters
operation. It is a system that can read  There is no manual input can be read
 Can still be read even if you  More expensive
characters printed a special ink
write over them
4. Magnetic ink
character
recognition
(MICR)

 Readers use radio waves to read and  More accurate readings  Tag collision (overlap)
capture information stored on a tag .  Tag can be read from  Radio waves easy to jam or
 Tag can be read from distance. distance interrupt
 Used in livestock tracks, retails,  Very robust  Easy to hack data/signal
admission pass, libraries.  Very fast read-rate  expensive
5. Radio Frequency
Identification  Bulk detection
Reader
RFID

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Input Device Uses
 Is a device used  Very fast way for inputting  Forms need to be carefully
to read marks results designed
 No typing,  Cannot read forms filled
written with a
 More accurate than OCR incorrectly
pen or pencil on
6. Optical Mark a form,
Recognition/Reader  used in multiple-
OMR choice questions
and
Study table page 41-compare OCR and
questionnaires OMR

 The device converts text on hard copy  much faster data  difficulty reading some
document into electronic form. entry handwriting
 Use to read information from passports  No manual data entry then  still not vey accurate
and identity cards error free technique
 Used in (ANPR) system in car parks.
7. Optical character  Digitising & archive historic newspapers
Reader (OCR) and rare books, to prevent damage

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Input Device Uses
 Used to read information in a form of  much faster data entry  relatively expensive systems
barcode using a handheld bar code  improve safety  not fool-proof
scanner or wand.  allow automatic stock  easily damaged than RFID
 Barcodes give info about the product control
 Used in supermarkets, Libraries,  trusted technology
8. Barcode Readers company for electrical equipment check  robust technology

 Type of barcode (QR) code. Made up of  Can hold more information  More than one QR format is
Matrix of filled-in dark squares (pixels), on than bar code available
light background, information scanned by  Fewer error  Transmission of malicious code
using built-in smartphone or tablet, allow  Easy to read embedded within QR available (attagging)
access to internet, cameras linked to apps,  Easy to transmit text messages
websites . or images
9. Quick Response  Used as Advertising product, giving  Possible to encrypt QR codes
automatic access to website, storing for greater protection
(QR) code boarding passes electronically at airports
scanner (reader)  Wi-Fi authentication
 virtual online stores
 QR codes can be used to deliver
augmented reality (see Chapter 1)
experiences, by helping an AR system to
determine the positions of objects in
three-dimensional space.

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Output devices : are hardware devices that usually show the results of computer processing .
Monitors:
Advantages Disadvantages
Output Device Uses
Cathode ray tube  Cheaper  Heavy , need disk space
(CRT) monitors  Seen at a wider range  They can run very hot
 used in specialist  Allow the use of light pen  Consume more power
1. CRT monitors
areas such a CAD  Can flicker
,used with light
pen applications
LED screens or (TFT) thin  Very efficient  Inconsistent view angles
film technology
 Lightweight devices  Motion blur is an issue
Used as the main output
device for most modern  Can be made in large variation size  Low contrast
2. LED monitors computers, a Allow  Very sharp image resolution  Weak, or stuck pixels
touch-screen technology  Produce low electromagnetic field  Uneven resolution
mobile phones, tablets,
laptops and portable video games. (OLED)
Used in smartphones, tablets, ATMs,  Faster entry  Limited number of options.
3. Touch screen on-screen output in theatres museum  Easy choosing methods  Not accurate interface
information…etc.  User-friendly  Can get very dirty.
Images from projected onto larger  Many people can see  Fuzzy images sometime
screens,  No need for several presentations on  Expensive to buy
4. Multimedia
Used for training presentations, Network computers  Difficult to set up projects
advertising presentation and home
projectors
cinema System

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

2.3.4 Printers
Advantages Disadvantages
Output Device Uses
Laser printers produce very high-  Fast printing Coloured Laser printers are expensive
quality hard copy output. To produce  Very large number of printers They produce ozone and volatile
Quick large jobs organic
 High quality
5. Laser » They are used  Toner
Printers where low noise is cartridges last
required » If fast, for longer
high-quality, high- time
volume printing is
required compound linked to health hazard
Inkjet printers are used to produce  High -quality output  Slow output
good-quality hard copies.  Cheaper to buy than Laser  Can not do large print jobs
» Used where low-output volumes are printers  Printing can ‘smudge’
required.  Very light weight  Expensive ink cartridge
» Useful If high-  Does not produce ozone and  Produce Carbone copies
6. Inkjet
quality printing is volatile organic component
printers required for single
pages small printing
jobs
Used in industry

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Output Device Uses
They can be used in noisy or dirty  Very cheap  Very noisy , Not good for office
environment and in applications where  Easy to use for continuous environment (suitable for workshops)
print quality is not stationary (e.g printing wage  Cost mor than inkjet printers
7. Dot matrix that important. sheet)  Very slow and poor quality
printers  Used in noisy environment

Plotters are printers produce drawings  Very high-quality output.  Very slow printing
and vector graphics in a very large piece  Print in variety of materials  Expensive equipment (and
of paper.  software) to purchase initially;
plotters  Able to produce large, although running costs are low once
use a pen, pencil monochrome and colour purchased.
or marker pen drawings to a high accuracy.
to draw multiple » Able to print on a variety of  Have a very large physical
continuous materials (for example, footprint compared to a printer.
8. Graph lines, Uses of aluminium, cardboard,
plotters plotters plastic, steel and wood) as well
» Producing architectural drawings. as paper.
» Producing engineering drawings.
» Drawing animation characters
(cartoon characters).
Architectural drawing, engineering
drawings…etc.

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Output Device Uses
 Used in computer-aided design  Easy item manufacturing  Imitate copy righted elements
(CAD) applications to produce solid  Quick, rapid prototyping  If this technology is in hands of
objects  Less cost compared to labour wrong people, can lead to illegal
 Built layer by layer using materials  Medical benefits are activities
such as powdered resin, metal, paper or emerging, for reconstructive  Job losses
ceramic. surgery.  Cost of printing is very high
Applications such as :  Parts for machinery that are
- Prosthetic limbs ,and artificial no longer made could now be
organs can be made manufactured using 3D printers
- Aerospace, manufactures
- Fashion and art making parts of
items
9. 3D- Printers Some of the features of 3D printing:
» Various types of 3D printers exist; they
range from the size of a microwave oven up
to the size of a small car.
» 3D printers use additive manufacturing
(i.e. the object is
built up layer by layer); replacing
traditional method of subtractive
manufacturing (e,g. statues)
Similarly, CNC (computer-controlled machine
(e,g removes metal)
» Direct 3D printing uses inkjet technology;
» Binder 3D printing, two heads one pray
powder the other make glue
» Newer technologies are using lasers and UV
light to harden liquid polymers;

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Output Device Uses
Uses of speakers Advantages of speakers  Speaker output can be
10.

» Used in all phones and built in to most » Sounds amplified through disturbing to others in, for example,
computers. speakers can be much louder an office
» Outputs sound from multimedia than the original environment.
presentations. sound – this is important
Speakers

» Helps visually impaired people whenever more than a few  To get high quality sound, the
(together with speech generation people need to listen to required speakers can be quite
software) something. expensive.
through reading » Everyone in a conference, for
aloud text on the example, can hear the output  needs a lot of desk space
screen. from a computer.
» Plays downloaded » It can create a good
sound files. atmosphere when making a
presentation. Produce sound,
used in all phones, multimedia
presentation… etc

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022

 Advantages Disadvantages
Output Device Uses
An actuator is a mechanical or  Allow remote operation of  Faulty devices
electromechanical device such as a many devices  Because they are usually analogue
relay, solenoid or motor an actuator to,  Relatively inexpensive devices, computer signals need to
for example, start/stop the conveyer Advantages of actuators converted using a DAC to enable
belt or open/close the valve. computer understand them.
Light
Uses of actuators switches.
» They are used to control motors,
pumps, switches, buzzers and so on.
11. Actuators

» They allow a computer to control

physical devices that normally require
analogue inputs.
Heater
Motor

Buzzer
pump

By: Mrs Randa Hassan 2022