INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OUTPUT DEVICES
What is an output device Hardware that allows the user to see processed data or information. Examples are monitors or visual display unit, printers, speakers, fax machines and modems.
Can you guess which of these devices are output devices?
Types of output There are two types of output: Softcopy and Hardcopy Softcopy output Hardcopy output
What is the difference between softcopy and hardcopy. Softcopy output is also called temporary output. It refers to information displayed on a screen or in audio or voice form through speakers. Hardcopy output is also called permanent output. It refers to output printed on paper.
Hardware for softcopy output
Hardware for hardcopy
Softcopy output - Monitors This type of monitor is called the Cathode Ray Tube or CRT. This is the traditional type of monitors for television and computer screens.
Monitors – Cathode Ray Tube Large, heavy and bulky Cheaper than flat panel screens Are being replaced by flat panel screens Colour accuracy and brightness – excellent
Softcopy output - Monitors This monitor is called the Flat Panel Display screen. Flat screens are mostly used on portable computers like laptops but now it is used for televisions and desktop computers as well.
Monitors – Flat Screen Panel Technologies used: LCD – Liquid Crystal Display TFT – Thin Film Transistor OLED - Organic Light - Emitting Diodes Light in weight Less bulky – occupies much less space Very good picture quality
Softcopy output – LCD Projectors Used for presentations – when a large viewing area is needed Image is projected on a screen, wall or large surface.
Softcopy output - Speakers Normal music systems speakers are used to output sound. The quality of the sound depends on the type of system used, the size of the speakers and the computer’s audio card.
Hardcopy output One hardware used for hardcopy output is a printer. Printers are divided into two groups: A) Impact printers B) Non-impact printers
What is an impact printer? Impact printers strike through a carbon or inked ribbon, like a typewriter. They are noisy and do not usually print acceptable graphics. However, they are useful for printing multiple copies using carbon paper Print mechanism is cheap, and ribbons are long lasting
Examples of impact printers are Daisy wheel printer
Dot matrix printer This video shows a dot matrix printer in operation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlEUrEVqDbo&feature=related
Line printer
What is a non-impact printer? These printers do not normally strike the paper. Instead ink spray or toner powder is used which can be costly. The characters or letters are fixed onto the paper by heating for example. Because printing is simple and has no moving parts, it prints silently and quickly.
Examples of non-impact printers are: Ink jet printer This video explains how an inkjet printer produces output. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3e55hXt-LA&feature=related
This video explains how a laser printer produces output. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtXes1sgUb4
This video shows briefly how a plotter works Plotters Draws on paper using a pen Used to print large architectural drawings This video shows briefly how a plotter works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxBJ4Ym1HoA
Modems Another output device is a modem. A modem enables a computer to send data to and receive data from another computer over a telephone line.
Summary of output devices Explain the difference between impact printers and non-impact printers. Give an example of how a dot matrix printer can be useful today. Give two examples of softcopy devices and two examples of hardcopy devices. Which output device would you used to print a car design or house plan? Which output device is used to show students a PowerPoint presentation?