1. Lesson 2 Input, Output, and Processing
Computer Literacy BASICS: A Comprehensive Guide to IC3, 3rd Edition
Morrison / Wells

2. Objectives
Identify and describe standard and specialized input devices.
Identify and describe standard and specialized output devices.
Identify and describe how input and output devices are connected to the computer.
Consider computer performance factors. 2 2

3. Vocabulary audio input biometrics digital camera expansion slot
FireWire
inkjet printer
input
keyboard
laser printer
modem
monitor
mouse 3 3

4. Vocabulary (continued)
output
plug-and-play
pointing device
port
printer
scanner
trackball
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 4 4

5. Introduction
Input, which is data or instructions, must be entered into the computer and then stored on a storage media device.
To turn the data into information, the CPU process the data.
After data is processed, it is “presented” to the user through an output device. 5 5

6. Standard Input Devices
Input devices enable you to enter data and commands into the computer.
Keyboard:
Most commonly used input device. Besides a traditional keyboard, popular types include:
Security
Foldable or flexible
Laser virtual keyboard 6 6

7. Standard Input Devices
Other types of Keyboards:
Ergonomic
Provides a more natural, comfortable hand, wrist, and arm position
Cordless or wireless
Specialized

8. Standard Input Devices (continued)
Pointing Devices:
An input device that allows you to position the pointer on the screen.
Mouse:
Most commonly used pointing device. Types include:
Mechanical
Optomechanical
Optical- detects movement with a laser
Wireless
Optical mouse 8 8

9. Standard Input Devices (continued)
Trackball:
A pointing device that works like a mouse turned upside down; the ball is on top, operated by your thumb and fingers.
Touchpad:
Common feature on laptops; a specialized surface that converts the motion and position of your fingers to a position on the screen. 9 9

10. Standard Input Devices (continued)
Pointing Stick:
A pressure-sensitive device located on the keyboard of many notebook computers and moved with the forefinger. Looks like a pencil eraser
Audio Input:
The process of inputting sound into the computer, including speech, sound effects, and music. 10 10

11. Standard Output Devices
Output is data that has been processed into a useful format. Output devices display information.
Monitors:
Display device for a desktop computer. Varieties include CRT, LCD(liquid crystal display), and gas plasma.
CRT monitor 11 11

12. Standard Output Devices (continued)
Printers:
Used to produce a paper or hard copy of the processing result. Consider speed (pages per minute), print quality(dpi or dots per inch), and price when choosing.
Laser Printers:
Produces high-quality output using the same technology as copier machines. 12 12

13. Standard Output Devices (continued)
Inkjet Printers:
Uses a nonimpact process to provide good-quality color printing for less expense than a laser printer.
Speakers:
Generate sound such as music. Individuals can use headsets or earphones to hear privately. 13 13

14. Specialized Input Devices
Digital Cameras:
Pictures are stored digitally and then transferred to the computer’s memory.
Game Controllers:
Joysticks and wheels are most often used for games.
Joystick 14 14

15. Specialized Input Devices (continued)
Scanners/Bar Code Readers:
Can change images into codes for input into the computer. Various types include:
Image scanners
Bar code scanners
Magnetic scanners
Wireless scanners
Optical character recognition (OCR) and optical mark recognition (OMR)
Optical scanner 15 15

16. Specialized Input Devices (continued)
Touch Display Screen:
Special screen with pictures or shapes; you use your fingers to make selections.
Stylus:
Pen-like writing instruments to input information to a PDA or other mobile device. 16 16

17. Specialized Input Devices (continued)
Environmental Probes and Sensors:
Used with a Web browser to monitor elements of the work area such as humidity, pollution, or security.
Remote Controls:
Used for televisions, lights, and fans as well as for industry and business applications. 17 17

18. Specialized Input Devices (continued)
Security Devices:
Biometric devices consist of a reader or scanning device and software that converts the scanned information into a digital format.
The way biometric technology works:
Enrollment: User establishes baseline measurement
Submission: User presents proof of identity
Verification: System compares samples 18 18

19. Specialized Input Devices (continued)
Virtual Devices:
Use the synchronized positioning of light-emitting and sensing devices to detect user input; for example, a virtual computer keyboard. 19 19

20. Specialized Input Devices (continued)
Touch-Sensitive Pads:
On a portable device, enable you to scroll through a list and make choices.
Input Devices for the Physically Challenged:
Various special devices are available that can be operated in different ways, such as a keyboard that can be operated with the feet. 20 20

21. Specialized Output Devices
Projectors: Mostly used for presentations.
Fax machines and fax modems: Transmit and receive documents through phone lines or computer.
Multifunction printer: Combines various output options such as printing, scanning, and copying.
Control devices/robots: Robotics is the study, design, and use of robot systems for manufacturing. 21 21

22. Specialized Output Devices (continued)
Specialized Printers:
Line printer: High-speed printer attached primarily to large computers.
Thermal: Forms characters by heating paper.
Mobile: Small, battery-powered printer.
Label and postage: Prints labels, including postage, on adhesive-type paper.
Plotters/large-format: For drawing and drafting output; used by engineers, architects, and artists. 22 22

23. Specialized Output Devices (continued)
Output Devices for the Physically Challenged:
Various special devices are available:
Screen magnifiers: Enlarge information on the computer screen.
Screen readers: Use speech synthesizers to read content for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Voice synthesizers: A voice changes written computer text into synthetic speech. 23 23

24. Connecting Input and Output Devices to the Computer
Ports and Connectors:
A port, or jack, is an interface to which a peripheral device attaches to or communicates with the system unit.
Besides traditional, FireWire, and USB ports, special-purpose ports include SCSI, IrDA, and Bluetooth. 24 24

25. Connecting Input and Output Devices to the Computer (continued)
Hardware Installation:
For most hardware devices to work, they need a set of instructions that communicates with the computer’s operating system, called a driver.
If the operating system already contains the driver, it performs an automatic plug-and-play installation for newly connected devices. 25 25

26. Computer Performance Factors
A variety of factors affect a computer’s performance:
Microprocessor: The higher the generation, the faster and better the processing speed.
Random access memory (RAM): Helps increase the processing cycle and enhance performance.
Hard disk: Bigger and faster process data faster.
Video: Can enhance or slow down performance. 26 26

27. Summary 27 27 In this lesson, you learned:
Input devices enable you to input data and commands into the computer. The most common input devices are the keyboard and mouse.
Other types of input devices include the trackball, joystick, wheel, pointing stick, graphics tablet, touch display screen, stylus, voice recognition devices, touchpad, scanner, digital camera, video input, and biometric input. 27 27

28. Summary (continued)
Monitors and printers are examples of output devices. Monitors produce soft copy. Printers are used to produce a paper or hard copy of the processed result.
Criteria for selecting a printer include speed, print quality, and cost. 28 28

29. Summary (continued)
Input and output devices must be connected to the computer. Some input and output devices communicate with the computer through a physical connection. Wireless devices communicate with the computer through infrared or radio waves.
Peripheral devices are connected to the computer through serial, parallel, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. USB is a newer standard expected to replace serial and parallel ports. 29 29

30. Summary (continued)
FireWire is a type of external bus that can connect up to 63 external devices.
SCSI, IrDA, and Bluetooth are special-purpose ports.
A computer’s performance is affected by the speed of the processor, the amount of RAM, hard disk size and speed, capability of monitor, and disk organization. 30 30