Output Devices

Definition & Function​

Output device: A peripheral used to output information from a computer.​
Converts data from the computer into a human-usable form.

Examples of Output Devices

●​ Display screens – Show images and video.

●​ Speakers/headphones – Play sound.
●​ Printers – Produce hard copies of documents.
●​ Digital Projectors

Digital Projectors

Definition & Purpose​

Display devices connected to a computer to project digital video output onto a
surface (e.g., wall, projector screen, interactive whiteboard).​
Used for large-scale presentations (business meetings, classrooms, conferences).​
Distance effect: Image brightness decreases with distance due to light spread.

Types of Projectors

LCD Projector

●​ Technology: Uses three LCD glass panels (Red, Green, Blue).

●​ Process:
○​ White light is generated from a bulb or LED.
○​ Light hits dichromic mirrors, separating it into red, green, and blue
wavelengths.
 ○​ The light passes through three LCD screens, creating a
monochromatic image for each color.
○​ The images are recombined using a prism to form a full-color image.
○​ The final image is projected through the lens onto a screen.
●​ Pros: Sharper images, better color saturation, energy-efficient, generates
less heat.
●​ Cons: LCD panels degrade over time, larger and less portable, contrast
ratios lower than DLP projectors.

DLP Projector

●​ Technology: Uses millions of tiny mirrors to reflect light.

●​ DMD Chip: Contains microscopic mirrors corresponding to pixels, tilting
ON/OFF to reflect light.
●​ Process:
○​ A bright white light source (e.g., xenon bulb) generates light.
○​ Light passes through a color filter, splitting into red, green, and blue.
○​ Light hits the DMD chip, which contains millions of microscopic
mirrors.
○​ Mirrors tilt ON/OFF, creating light or dark pixels.
○​ The colored image is formed and projected through the lens.
●​ Pros: Higher contrast ratios, reliable, quieter, smaller and lighter, works
well in dusty/smoky environments.
●​ Cons: Image may have "shadows," lower color saturation, lacks true gray
tones.

Printers

Function & Purpose​

Creates hard copies (printouts) of documents or images.​
Purpose: Used for keeping permanent records and sharing information.

Types of Printouts
 ●​ Monochrome: Black and white.
●​ Color: Uses CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black).

Color Models

●​ CMYK: Produces lighter colors, requiring more ink for darker shades.
●​ RGB: Produces darker colors, needing more mixing to form shades than
CMYK.
●​ Color difference: Printed colors may differ from screen colors due to model
differences.

Resolution​
Measured in DPI (dots per inch).​
Higher DPI = Better resolution.

●​ 300 DPI: High resolution.

●​ 150-200 DPI: Suitable for most tasks.

Inkjet Printers

General Information​
Uses liquid ink, sprayed through microscopic nozzles.​
Color inkjet printers typically have four CMYK cartridges.​
Affordable for home use.

Printing Process

●​ Print head: Sprays ink onto paper.

●​ Ink cartridges: Store and supply ink.
●​ Stepper motor & belt: Moves the print head across the page.
●​ Paper feed: Feeds sheets into the printer.
Printing Technologies

●​ Thermal Bubble: Tiny resistors heat ink, forming bubbles that push ink onto
paper.
●​ Piezoelectric: Crystals vibrate, forcing ink out and pulling in fresh ink.

Advantages

●​ ✅ Cheaper than most other printers.

●​ ✅ Produces high-quality images with photographic paper.

Disadvantages

●​ ❌ Expensive ink usage.

●​ ❌ Poor image quality on standard paper.
●​ ❌ Cannot print on both sides (ink seeps through).
●​ ❌ Slow printing (5-15 pages per minute).
●​ ❌ Inkjet cartridges can clog, making them unusable.

Laser Printers

General Information​
Uses toner powder (not liquid ink).​
Prints using static electricity and laser technology.​
More cost-efficient and faster than inkjet printers.

Printing Process

●​ Laser creates static electricity in the shape of the image/text.

●​ Toner sticks to the charged areas.
●​ Fusing element bonds the toner to the paper.
Advantages

●​ ✅ Sharper text – Toner does not absorb into paper.

●​ ✅ Faster than inkjet printers.
●​ ✅ Toner lasts longer, making it cost-efficient.
●​ ✅ Duplex printing – Allows printing on both sides.
●​ ✅ Ideal for businesses needing high-speed, cost-effective printing.

Disadvantages

●​ ❌ Expensive upfront cost.

●​ ❌ Larger footprint than inkjet printers.
●​ ❌ Not ideal for printing photographs.
●​ ❌ Less common for home use.

3D Printers

Definition & Process​

A 3D printer creates three-dimensional objects.​
The process starts with a 3D model made using CAD software or a 3D scanner.​
The digital model is split into thousands of thin horizontal layers.​
The printer adds material layer by layer (additive manufacturing).​
Common materials: polymers, acrylic, plastic.

Additive vs. Subtractive Manufacturing

●​ Additive: Builds an object layer by layer (e.g., 3D printing).

●​ Subtractive: Removes material from a solid block (e.g., CNC machining,
stone carving).

Types of 3D Printing Technologies

●​ Direct 3D Printing: Uses inkjet technology, with a moving print head.

 ●​ Binder 3D Printing: Sprays dry powder, then a binder (glue) to solidify
layers.
●​ Advanced Methods: Use lasers and UV light to harden liquid polymers.

Uses of 3D Printing

●​ Medical: Prosthetic limbs, facial reconstruction.

●​ Aerospace: Printing airplane parts (e.g., wings).
●​ Fashion & Art: Enabling creative designs.
●​ Restoration: Making spare parts for discontinued products (e.g., vintage
cars).

Advantages

●​ ✅ Quick prototyping – test and modify designs easily.

●​ ✅ Cost-efficient – designers can refine designs without expensive
manufacturing.
●​ ✅ Versatile – can print almost any shape.
●​ ✅ Customization – ideal for bespoke or unique items.
●​ ✅ Accessibility – replacing missing parts is easier.

Disadvantages

●​ ❌ Expensive – high initial cost.

●​ ❌ Durability issues – printed objects may not be as strong as traditional
products.
●​ ❌ Risk of misuse – potential for printing dangerous items (e.g., weapons).
●​ ❌ Copyright concerns – replication of protected designs can lead to legal
issues.

Display – Key Notes

Definition & Function​
Display: An electronic device that outputs visual information via a screen or
projection.​
Screens/Monitors: Output hardware devices that display data visually to users.​
Modern computers (laptops, tablets, smartphones) have built-in screens.​
Desktop PCs use external displays such as monitors or VDUs (Visual Display
Units).​
Projectors and monitors are common display devices.

Types of Screens

●​ LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

●​ LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
●​ LCD Projector
●​ DLP (Digital Light Projector)

Colours

●​ Monochrome & Colour Displays

●​ Monochrome images: Contain two colours – one foreground and one
background. Typically black and white, but any two colours can be used.
●​ Primary colours: Red, Green, Blue (RGB).
●​ Colour mixing: Different strengths and combinations of RGB create various
shades.

Colour Depth​
Definition: The number of bits used to represent colour information per pixel.​
Higher colour depth results in richer and more detailed images.
Common Colour Depth Levels

Colour Depth Number of Description

Colours

1-bit Monochrome 2 colours Typically black and white.

8-bit Grayscale 256 shades Ranges from solid white to solid

black.

8-bit Colour 256 colours Basic colour representation.

16-bit Colour (High 65,536 colours Suitable for most images and
Colour) videos.

24-bit Colour (True 16,777,216 Provides realistic, detailed images.

Colour) colours

30, 36, or 48-bit Colour Billions of Used in high-end graphics and

(Deep Colour) colours professional applications.

Orientation

●​ Portrait Display: Aspect ratio: 4:3 (older TVs, monitors).​

Best for: Viewing documents, books, articles.
●​ Landscape Display: Aspect ratio: 16:9 (modern TVs, computers, tablets,
smartphones).​
Best for: Viewing images, videos, and widescreen content.
●​ Auto-Rotation: Some devices (smartphones, tablets) can switch between
portrait and landscape mode.
 ●​ Display Size Measurement: Measured diagonally (from one corner to the
opposite corner).

Types of Displays

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)

●​ Older display technology using a sealed glass tube with a fluorescent

phosphor coating.
●​ Works by: Electrons hit phosphor dots, mixing RGB shades to produce
colours.
●​ Limitations:​
❌ Bulky and heavy.​
❌ Consumes a lot of energy.​
❌ Flickering images cause eye strain.​
❌ Lower resolution compared to modern displays.

Flat Panel Displays

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

●​ Works by: Pixels are arranged in RGB diodes. Liquid crystals turn
transparent or solid based on electric current. Backlit using Cold Cathode
Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs).
●​ Features:​
✅ Produces sharp, high-resolution images.​
✅ Thin, lightweight, and energy-efficient.​
✅ Used in: Laptops, tablets, smartphones, PDAs, car navigation systems.
●​ Limitations:​
❌ Viewing angles are limited – hard to see unless viewed straight on.​
❌ Requires backlighting as LCDs do not produce light.
LED (Light-Emitting Diode) Display

●​ More advanced version of LCD.

●​ Works the same as LCD, but uses LEDs for backlighting.
●​ Features:​
✅ Brighter and clearer images.​
✅ Thinner and lighter than LCDs.​
✅ Wider viewing angles.​
✅ Energy-efficient (LEDs use less energy than CCFLs).​
✅ Longer lifespan than CCFL-based LCDs.
●​ Limitations:​
❌ Larger LED screens may have uneven brightness.​
❌ Still uses more energy than OLED displays.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) Display

●​ Works differently from LCDs and LEDs.

●​ Produces its own light, eliminating the need for a backlight.
●​ Structure: Made of organic layers (plastic-based instead of glass).
Electrons move between layers, emitting light.
●​ Advantages of OLED​
✅ No backlight needed → Simpler manufacturing.​
✅ Lower power consumption → Ideal for battery-powered devices (e.g.,
smartphones, wearables).​
✅ Brighter light → Better picture quality.​
✅ Wider viewing angles (~170°).​
✅ Thinner and lighter than LCDs.

Disadvantages of OLED

●​ ❌ More expensive to produce (cost expected to decrease over time).

●​ ❌ Sensitive to water and contaminants.
●​ ❌ Shorter lifespan than LCDs.

Uses of OLED
 ●​ Mobile devices → Thinner, lighter screens with better battery life.
●​ Modern TV screens → Brighter, more vibrant colours.
●​ Advertising displays → Used in flexible, large-scale displays.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Flat Panel Displays

Advantages

●​ ✅ High-resolution, bright, flicker-free images → Improves text clarity and

video quality.
●​ ✅ Thin and lightweight → Ideal for portable devices.
●​ ✅ Low energy consumption → Suitable for battery-powered devices.

Disadvantages

●​ ❌ Fragile → Easily damaged if dropped.

●​ ❌ Dead pixels → Can ruin the display quality.

Speakers and Headphones

Speakers

●​ Function: Devices used to output sound.

●​ Process: Digital sound file needs to be converted to an analogue signal via
a Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC).
●​ Uses:
○​ Listening to music for entertainment.
○​ Alerting users to a message or reminder.
○​ Giving feedback to a user (e.g., notifying an action has been carried
out).
○​ Serving as an alarm to warn of an intruder.
○​ Aiding disabled individuals in completing tasks.
Devices with Built-in Speakers

●​ Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and televisions generally have built-in

speakers.
●​ Quality: Typically, built-in speakers produce fairly low-quality sound.
●​ External Speakers: Higher-quality external speakers provide better sound
reproduction.
●​ Desktop PCs: Usually require a sound card when no internal speakers are
present.

Headphones

●​ Function: Allow only one person to hear the output at a time.

●​ Design: Contain a small pair of speakers that send output directly to the
ear.

Advantages of Speakers

●​ Information: Provide a variety of information to the user (e.g.,

entertainment, alerts).
●​ Accessibility: Can aid disabled users in interacting with devices.
●​ Emergency Use: Useful for warning large groups about an emergency.

Disadvantages of Speakers

●​ Sound Quality: Built-in speakers often produce low-quality sound.

●​ Disturbance: The sound may disturb other users in shared environments.
●​ Equipment Requirement: A sound card with a DAC is needed to convert
information into a form speakers can output.