OUTPUT DEVICES
Output devices receive processed data from the CPU and provide information to
the users. the output unit is responsible for producing the output in user-readable
form. The function of an output device is to present process data to the user. The
computer sends output to the monitor if the user needs to see the output.
There are various types of output devices like monitor, printer, plotter etc.
1) Monitors - Monitor is the most common form of output from a computer. It
displays information in a similar way to that shown on a television screen.The
picture on monitor is made up of thousands of tiny coloured dots which are
known as pixels.
There are different types of monitors available:
a) Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
b) Liquid Crystal Device (LCD) / Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Monitor
c) Plasma Monitor
d) Touch Screen Monitor
e) Organic Light Emitting Display Monitor
2) Printers - Printers are suitable for producing output in the form of hard copy.
Printers, a most convenient and useful method by which the computer can deliver
information, is by using printed characters. Printers can be divided into two
categories:
a) Impact Printers - In these printers, there is a mechanical contact between the
printhead and the paper. The most common impact printer is the Dot Matrix
Printer.
b) Non-Impact Printers - In these printers, there is no mechanical contact between
the printhead and the paper. Advantages of non-impact printers are high speed,
cost-effectiveness, and better in print quality. These printers can come in a variety
of forms, such as Electromagnetic Printers, Thermal Printers, Electrostatic Printers,
Inkjet Printers, and Laser Printers.
3D Printing - A new revolution in technology is 3D printing. 3D Printers construct
three-dimensional objects from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. In 3D printing,
printing material is joined, deposited, or solidified under computer control. 3D
printing takes place by adding materials such as plastics, liquids, or resins layer by
layer and then fusing them.
3D printers are extensively used for printing models of consumer products like
footwear, eyewear, furniture, and dental products, replicating ancient artifacts. A
drawback of 3D printers is that they are costly and require increased maintenance.
3) Speakers – Speakers receive the sound in the form of electric current from the
sound card and then convert it into sound format.
4) Plotters - The plotter is a graphics output device used to create drawings on
paper. These are of two types-
a) Pen Plotter - It is an electromechanical device. A pen is moved in two
dimensions, up and down and left and right across the paper or film media to
create the output.
b) Photo Plotter - It uses fiber optics technology to produce the image on dry
silver paper.
5) Projector - A projector is an output device that can take the display of a
computer screen and project a large version of it onto a flat surface. Projectors are
often used in meetings and presentations to help make sure everyone in the room
can view the presentation.
