UNIT 2- INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

INPUT DEVICES
1. Keyboard:
Uses: Used as input devices on computers, tablets, mobile phones, etc.
Type in commands.
Advantage: fast data entry, well-known, easy to use.
Disadvantages: Difficult for ppl with RSI, slow method compared to
DDD, large device so uses up a lot of space.
2. Numeric pads:
Uses: ATM, mobile phones, chip and pin readers.
Advantage: Faster than standard keyboard, small device so easy to
carry.
Disadvantages: Small keys make input difficult, order is not intuitive.
3. Pointing devices
 Mouse:
Uses: opening, closing, minimizing software. Deleting files, moving
files, image editing.
Advantage: faster method for choosing, quick to navigate, does not
need large space.
Disadvantage: difficult to use for ppl with RSI, can be damaged,
won’t work if no smooth surface.
 Touchpad:
Uses: Same as that of mouse.
Advantages: Same as mouse, portable.
Disadvantages: Difficult for ppl with RSI. Difficult to control, drag
and drop.
 Tracker ball:
Uses: Good for ppl with RSI, radio controls.
Advantage: More accurate positioning of mouse pointer, easy to use
for RSI people, needs less desk space.
Disadvantages: Costly, user may need training.

4. Remote control:
Uses: Television, satellite systems.
Advantage: Can be operated from distance
Disadvantage: Difficult for people with RSI, signals can be blocked by
walls.
5. Joysticks and driving wheels
  JOYSTICKS-
Uses: Games, simulators.
Advantages: Easier to navigate than keyboard , control is more realistic
Disadvantages: difficult to control on screen pointer.
 DRIVING WHEELS-
Uses: video game and simulators
Advantage: easier for steering controls, driving experience is real.
Disadvantage: expensive, movements is sensitive.
6. Touch screens(as input device):
Uses: Self-service tills, ATM, mobile phones, tablets, touch screen
monitors.
Advantages: faster entry of data, easy to use, user-friendly method.
disadvantages: can lead to problems if frequent use, screen can get
dirty.
7. Scanners:
Uses: Scan documents, photographs, barcodes.
Advantage: Images can be stored, faster data entry.
Disadvantage: Quality can depend based of resolution of scanner, slow
to scan.
8. Camera:
Uses: Taking photos, videos, dentistry.
Advantage: Easy to take good quality photos, memory card can store
many photographs, easy to upload to computer.
Disadvantage: Image needs to compressed sometimes, need to be
literate to use it.
9. Microphone:
Uses: Input voice, voice recognition device, audio and video
conferencing.
Advantages: Faster to read in text than typing, easy to use, can
manipulate sound, voice activation system.
Disadvantage: sound file take up lots of space on computer, reading in
text is not as accurate as typing.
10. Sensors:
Uses: temperature, light, pressure, sound, humidity.
Advantages: more accurate readings, reading is continuous, due to
continuous reading, action can be initiated quickly.
Disadvantages: faulty sensors can give wrong results, most sensors are
analogue so they need ADC.
11. Light pens:
Uses: using on CRT screens, drawing.
Advantage: greater accuracy, small, easy to use.
Disadvantages: problems with lag, only works on CRT monitors,
outdated tech.

DIRECT DATA ENTRY (DDE) DEVICES

Input of data into computer without needed much or any human
interaction at all.
1. Magnetic stripe readers
Uses: debit/credit, security devices.
Advantage: fast data entry, error-free, secure.
Disadvantage: if stripe gets damaged, data can be lost, does not
work from a distance, because it is not human readable, it may be a
problem in some applications.
2. Contactless debit card readers.
Uses: reading debit card.
Advantage: Fast transaction, can be scanned from a distance, error-
free.
Disadvantage: expensive, transaction can be done without
customer knowing, can take money twice if customer uses it as chip
and pin card.
3. Chip and Pin readers
Uses: Payments done by cards.
Advantages: Secure, robust system.
Disadvantages: make sure pin is not read by others, may forget pin.
4. Radio Frequency identification readers (RFID)
Uses: Libraries, admission pass, retail, livestock tracking.
Advantage: tags can be read from a distance, can be read very fast,
bulk detection is possible.
Disadvantage: Tag collision, signals may get interrupted, expensive.
5. Optical mark recognition (OMR)
Uses: Read questionnaire, mcq.
Advantage: fast way of getting results, no typing, error-free,
accurate than OCR.
Disadvantages: form needs to be carefully answered so no mistakes
are made during checking, can be problem if not filled in correctly.
6. Optical Character recognition/reader (OCR)
Uses: processing passports, converting hardcopy documents to
softcopy docs.
Advantages: much faster entry, less errors.
 Disadvantages: system has difficulty reading handwriting, not very
accurate technique.
7. Barcode readers
Uses: supermarkets, libraries.
Advantages: much faster, less errors, way of recording things,
trusted tech.
Disadvantages: expensive, code can be easily damaged.
8. Quick response (QR) code scanners
Uses: advertising, app links, websites
Advantages: hold much more info than barcodes, easy to read, easy
to transmit.
Disadvantages: more than one QR format is available. May contain
malicious codes; known as attagging.
OUTPUT DEVICES
1. Monitors
 CRT- Cathode Ray Tube, old version of monitor. CPU was
separate. Used to display output, resolution was not good.
Uses: used with light pens.
Advantage: Screen can be seen at a wider range, allow the
use of light pens.
Disadvantages: Heavy, get hot if used for a long time,
consume more power.
 LED and LCD(Thin Film Transiter/technology TFT) SCREENS-
LED (light emitting displays) and LCD (light crystal display)
are better versions of CRT monitors. Use of crystal glass which
is better than thick glass used in CRT.
Uses: used in modern computers, mobile phones, laptops.
Advantages: efficient, low energy consumption, lightweight,
good resolution.
Disadvantage: color may vary from different angles. Motion
blur is common problem.

2. Touch screen (as output device)

Uses: smart phones, mobiles, laptop, ATM.
Advantage: faster entry of options, easy to use, user feiendly,
can expand screen if needed.
Disadvantage: Screen can get dirty, third-party can see your info.
3. Projectors
Uses: Schools, home cinemas.
 Advantages: many people can see the presentation, image is
magnified.
Disadvantages: Image may be dim, needs to be connected to
power source, expensive.

4. Printers:
 Laser printer- high catridge, can print in high quantities. Easily
it can organize the documents. Avoid the stucking of paper.
But it is big in size, expensive, emits light, which can cause
health problems.
 Ink jet printer- easy, one-by-one printing process, if more
commands, paper will get stuck. Needs refill of color once it
finishes (color finishes fast), expensive, takes really long to
print. But, high quality output, cheaper to buy than laser
printers.
 Dot matrix printer- has holes on the side, is a time taking
process, very noisy. But, very cheap and easy to maintain, can
be used in environments where laser or ink jet printers can’t
be used. Used in noisy and dirty places like garage workshops.
 (Graph) Plotter- used to print large posters, flyers, banners.
Takes time, expensive. High-quality output, able to produce
large prints.
 3D printer- Creates a 3d model of design. Used in CAD
(Computer Aided design) applications. Requires: plan,
software you design, then sent to printer. Materials used:
Plastics, powders, resin, metal, carbon fiber, graphite. Uses:
prosthetic limbs, architectural design, fashion and art.
Manufacturing items has become easier, medical benefits.
But, in the wrong hands, it can be used to make illegal items,
potential job loss for ppl working in manufacturing companies.
5. Speakers

Uses: phones, laptops, tablets, plays downloaded sound files.

Advantages: sound can be louder than original sound. Everyone

can hear the sound clearly. Good atmosphere when making
presentation.

Disadvantages: To get high-quality sound, it can be expensive to

buy the equipment. Takes up lots of desk space.

6. Control applications (actuators)

It is a mechanical or electromechanical device such as a relay,
buzzer, motor.
Uses: control motors, switches, motors.
Advantage: Allow remote operation of many devices.
Inexpensive.
Disadvantage: Additional device, so it can go wrong. They are
analogue devices, so signals need to be converted used DAC to
enable computer control.