MODULE 2 – INPUT and OUTPUT DEVICES

Content Standards Performance Standards

The learner demonstrates understanding The learner shall be able to demonstrate
in Input and Output Devices. understanding in Input and Output
Devices.

1st Semester Week: 2

Chapter Outline

2-1 Input Devices

2-2 Output Devices

Objectives

 Describe the role of input and output devices

 Describe Input Devices
 Describe Output Devices
 Differentiate Input and Output Devices

Learning Goals and Targets

After understanding the objectives of this module, you will be asked to set your own personal goals
and targets. These goals and targets will urge you to further achieve the ultimate objective of this
module. In the end, these ultimate goals will motivate you to learn more about the Input and Output
Devices.

Figure 1: Strategic process to achieve the objectives of this module

Reading Resources and Instructional Activities

After setting your own personal goals and targets in achieving the objectives of this module, check
your inherent knowledge of Input and Output Devices.

Input and Output Devices

Provide means of communication between a computer and outer world. Also known as
peripheral devices because they surround the CPU and memory of a computer system.
Input devices are used to enter data from the outside world into primary storage.
Output devices supply results of processing from primary storage to users.

ROLE OF INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

1.1 Input Devices

Input device is a piece of equipment used to provide data and control signals to
an information processing system such as a computer or information appliance.
Examples of input devices include keyboards, mouse, scanners, digital
cameras, joysticks, and microphones.

COMMONLY USED INPUT DEVICES

 Keyboard Devices
 Pointing Devices
 Handheld Devices
 Optical Devices
 Audio-visual Input Devices
KEYBOARD DEVICES
Allow data entry into a computer system by pressing a set of keys (labeled
buttons) neatly mounted on a keyboard connected to a computer system. 101-keys
QWERTY keyboard is most popular. Keyboard is one of the primary input devices used
with a computer. Similar to an electric typewriter, a keyboard is composed of buttons
that create letters, numbers, and symbols, as well as other functions. The following are
the functions of the keyboard devices:
  Allow data entry into a computer system by pressing a set of keys (labeled
buttons) neatly mounted on a keyboard connected to a computer system.
 Users can type the letters and numbers using the keyboard. Also, some special
commands can be done using the keyboard. Only with the keyboard, we can
input data.
 Most of the functions can be performed by a keyboard without the help of the
mouse. Function keys and control keys are used for special functions done by
mouse.
 Shortcut keys are used to access any files from the system so that mouse use can
be avoided.
 Control key and escape key can be used in most of the functions for various
purposes.
 101-keys QWERTY keyboard is the most popular.

Types of Keyboard Devices

 Multimedia Keyboard: The keyboard that has all multimedia buttons is called
multimedia keyboard. The buttons include play, pause, previous, next, volume
up, volume down, mute and special button to launch media. Also, a button to
launch a browser, my computer, calculator is available.
 Mechanical Keyboard: The primitive keyboard which uses physical buttons for
each key is called a mechanical keyboard. It makes noise when each key is
pressed. A button is pushed down and an electrical signal is sent to the computer
device which then shows the characters.
 Wireless Keyboard: Bluetooth, IR technology or Radio Frequency is used to
connect the keyboard with the computer device. We can port the keyboard and
the parent system is not needed near the keyboard. These keyboards are
lightweight and smaller in size. These keyboards should have a transmitter and
trans-receiver. Transmitter sends the strokes from the keyboard as radio waves
which are received by trans-receiver kept near parent device.
 Virtual Keyboard: The keyboard used in smartphones is called a virtual
keyboard. This keyboard appears when needed and disappears when typing is
completed. This can be automatically set as per need. Also in the windows
system, we can use a virtual keyboard that appears on the screen. There is no
physical object to carry for a virtual keyboard.
 USB Keyboard: Universal Serial Bus Keyboard has a USB stick with a wire which
has to be inserted into the USB port of the system. And then the keyboard works
well. While rebooting the system, the keyboard is not supported and hence the
users may face an issue. Installation of suitable drivers helps to resolve this issue.
 Ergonomic Keyboard: This keyboard is mainly designed for users who use both
hands for typing. The advantage of this keyboard is less muscle strain and carpal
tunnel syndrome for users. The keyboard is built with the view of ergonomics.
This keyboard is expensive and not affordable for common people.
 QWERTY Keyboard: The earlier typewriters had keys in the range QWERTY due
to the arrangement of strings. Early computer keyboards were also built in the
same manner for the ease of use for typewriter users. This keyboard is the most
common one used by all of us and hence needs no introduction.
 Gaming Keyboard: The keyboard that has very few keys specific for gamers is
called gaming keyboard. Graphics are also included in the keyboard. W, S, D, A
 and arrow keys are the only keys you could find in this keyboard. The design is
so good that anyone could fall in love with the keyboard.
 Chiclet Keyboard: The keys are square-shaped with rounded edges in this
keyboard. The technology varies for devices which makes this special. Buttons
are attached with membranes of the switches in the keyboard and this is used in
almost all the devices now.
 Membrane Keyboard: These keyboards use pressure pads and have characters
printed on a flexible surface called membrane. The cost is very less for these
keyboards. But the inaccuracy in typing and gaming made them lose the
importance.
 Thumb Keyboard: The smaller keyboard with fewer keys or only numeric
characters is called a thumb keyboard. These are mostly used for arithmetic
operations and also for gaming. The size of this keyboard is just thumb-size.
 Flexible Keyboard: The keyboards made of silicone which has most of the keys
and flexible in appearance is called a flexible keyboard. The distance between the
keys are less. The keyboards are meant for rolling and are not foldable.
 Laptop Sized Keyboard: The keys are reduced and the space between keys are
less in this type of keyboard. These are specially designed for laptops. Most
keyboards do not have numeric keypads and some functions are incorporated
with other keys on the keyboard.
 Backlit Keyboard: The keys have lights which help the users to type even in the
dark. These keyboards are available in gaming and traditional keyboards.
 Magic Keyboards: These keyboards are manufactured by Mac and are
supported by the battery. The design is good and makes everyone have the feel
of the keyboard.
 Bluetooth Keyboard: The keyboard is connected with the system using
Bluetooth and hence the USB port can be used for other purposes. This keyboard
provides flexibility to the wired keyboard.
 Chorded Keyboard: A limited number of keys help the user to port the
keyboard anywhere. A combination of some keys helps to produce the desired
characteristics. The keyboard is small in size and is not commercially successful
as other keyboards.
Pointing-and-Draw Devices

Pointing Devices or Point-and-Draw Devices sometimes called a pointing tool, is

a hardware input device that allows the user to move the mouse cursor in a computer
program or GUI operating system. Used to rapidly point to and select a graphic icon or
menu item from multiple options displayed on the Graphical User Interface (GUI)of a
screen and to create graphic elements on the screen such as lines, curves, and freehand
shapes. Some commonly used point-and-draw devices are mouse, track ball, joy stick,
light pen, and touch screen. The following are the functions of a pointing device:
 Using a pointing device, you can point at or manipulate any object or text on the
screen. You could also point at and select an icon from a list of icons.
 Used to create graphic elements on the screen such as lines, curves, and freehand
shapes.
 Some commonly used devices are mouse, track ball, joystick, light pen and touch
screen.

Types of Pointing Devices:

 Mouse: A mouse moves the graphical pointer by being slid across a smooth
surface. The conventional roller-ball mouse uses a ball to create this action: the
ball is in contact with two small shafts that are set at right angles to each other.
As the ball moves these shafts rotate, and the rotation is measured by sensors
within the mouse. The distance and direction information from the sensors is
then transmitted to the computer, and the computer moves the graphical pointer
on the screen by following the movements of the mouse.

 Trackball: A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball held by a socket

containing sensors to detect a rotation of the ball about two axes—like an
upside-down mouse with an exposed protruding ball. The user rolls the ball with
 the thumb, fingers, or the palm of the hand to move a pointer. Compared with a
mouse, a trackball has no limits on effective travel; at times, a mouse can reach
an edge of its working area while the operator still wishes to move the screen
pointer farther. With a trackball, the operator just continues rolling, whereas a
mouse would have to be lifted and re-positioned.

 Joystick: A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base

and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. A joystick, also
known as the control column, Joysticks are often used to control video games,
and usually have one or more push-buttons whose state can also be read by the
computer. A popular variation of the joystick used on modern video game
consoles is the analog stick. Joysticks are also used for controlling machines such
as cranes, trucks, underwater unmanned vehicles, wheelchairs, surveillance
cameras, and zero turning radius lawn mowers.

 Light pen: A light pen is a device similar to a touch screen, but uses a special
light-sensitive pen instead of the finger, which allows for more accurate screen
input. As the tip of the light pen makes contact with the screen, it sends a signal
back to the computer containing the coordinates of the pixels at that point. It can
 be used to draw on the computer screen or make menu selections, and does not
require a special touch screen because it can work with any CRT display.

 Touch pad: A touchpad or trackpad is a flat surface that can detect finger
contact. It is a stationary pointing device, commonly used on laptop computers.
At least one physical button normally comes with the touchpad, but the user can
also generate a mouse click by tapping on the pad. Advanced features include
pressure sensitivity and special gestures such as scrolling by moving one's finger
along an edge

 Touch Screen: A touchscreen is a device embedded into the screen of the TV

monitor, or system LCD monitor screens of laptop computers. Users interact
with the device by physically pressing items shown on the screen, either with
their fingers or some helping tool. A touchscreen is a device embedded into the
screen of the TV monitor, or system LCD monitor screens of laptop computers.
Users interact with the device by physically pressing items shown on the screen,
either with their fingers or some helping tool.
 Analog Stick: An analog stick, sometimes called a control stick, joy stick or
thumb stick, is an input device for a controller (often a game controller) that is
used for three-dimensional input. An analog stick is a variation of a joystick,
consisting of a protrusion from the controller; input is based on the position of
this protrusion in relation to the default "center" position. While digital sticks
rely on single electrical connections for movement (using internal digital
electrical contacts for up, down, left and right), analog sticks use continuous
 electrical activity running through potentiometers. The analog stick has greatly
overtaken the D-pad in both prominence and usage in console video games.

 Pointing Stick: A pointing stick is an isometric joystick used as a pointing device,

as with a touchpad or trackball, and typically mounted in a computer keyboard.
Movements of the pointing stick are echoed on the screen by movements of the
pointer (or cursor) and other visual changes. The pointing stick operates by
sensing applied force, by using a pair of resistive strain gauges. A pointing stick
can be used by pushing with the fingers in the general direction the user wants
the cursor to move. The velocity of the pointer depends on the applied force so
increasing pressure causes faster movement.

 Stylus: A stylus is a small pen-shaped instrument that is used to input

commands to a computer screen, mobile device or graphics tablet. The stylus is
the primary input device for personal digital assistants and smartphones that
require accurate input, although devices featuring multi-touch finger-input with
capacitive touchscreens are becoming more popular than stylus-driven devices
in the smartphone market.
Handheld Devices

A handheld is any portable device that can be carried and held in one's palm. A
handheld can be any computing or electronic device that is compact and portable
enough to be held and used in one or both hands. A handheld may contain cellular
communication, but this category can also include other computing devices. The
following are the functions of a Handheld Devices.

 Notes can be digitized

 Used for sending and receiving invoices
 Used for asset management
 For scanning barcodes
 Watch television through the medium of internet by IPTV
 Can sync information or data and share stuff
 Can provide educational materials to others

Types of Handheld Devices

 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): Personal digital assistants were designed to

replace non-electronic day planners. Many PDAs can work as an address book, a
calculator, a clock, and a calendar. Some also have games on them. Newer PDAs
are now called smartphones and have Wi-Fi, touch screens, can read e-mail,
record video, play music and make phone calls.
 Cell phone: Cell phone is a phone with access to a cellular radio system so it can
be used over a wide area, without a physical connection to a network; a mobile
phone.
  Pocket PC: A Pocket PC (P/PC, PPC), also known by Microsoft as a Windows
Mobile Classic device, is a kind of personal digital assistant (PDA) that runs
the Windows Mobile operating system. It has some of the abilities of modern
desktop PCs.
 Smartphone: A smartphone is a mobile phone that can do more than other
phones. They work as a computer but are mobile devices small enough to fit in a
user's hand.
 Tablet computer: A tablet computer (sometimes called a tablet) is a type of
computer that can be carried easily. Unlike a laptop it has no physical keyboard
or trackpad, though users sometimes add those things. Users control a tablet
mostly by using its touchscreen with multi-touch technology similar to a
smartphone. The screen can be anywhere from 7 inches (18 cm) (sometimes
called a phablet) to 12 inches (30 cm) in size, but many have a screen size of
about 10 inches (25 cm) diagonal.
 Smartwatch: A smartwatch is a computerized wristwatch that can do things not
related to showing the time. While early models could perform basic tasks, such
as calculations, language translations, and game-playing, since the 2010s
smartwatches are effectively wearable computers. Many run mobile apps, using
a mobile operating system. Some smartwatches function as portable media
players, with FM radio and playback of digital audio and video files via a
Bluetooth or USB headset.
 Bluetooth headset: A headset that provides a two-way connection to the user's
cellphone via Bluetooth. Fitting in one ear only, the part that is pressed slightly
into the ear canal typically comes with removable small, medium and large tips.
For the best fit, custom ear pieces can be molded to the individual's ear.
Optical Devices
In general, optical or optical technology refers to anything that relates to light or
vision, whether it be visible light or infrared light that performs a specific function. For
example, optical fiber, like that shown to the right is a type of wire commonly made out
of glass or plastic that carries light signals. These signals can be interpreted by a
computer as data (binary) and is one example of how data can be transferred over a
network. The following are the functions of an optical devices.
  Scanner equipped with a character recognition software (called OCR software)
that converts the bit map images of characters to equivalent ASCII codes
 Enables word processing of input text and also requires less storage for storing
the document as text rather than an image
 OCR software is extremely complex because it is difficult to make a computer
recognize an unlimited number of typefaces and fonts
 Two standard OCR fonts are OCR-A (American standard) and OCR-B (European
standard)

Types of Optical Devices

 Optical carrier: Short for optical carrier, OC is a term used to specify a speed of
fiber-optic networks. Below is a listing of OC types and the corresponding speeds
for each of those types.
o OC-1 = 51.85 Mbps
o OC-3 (STS-3 or STM-1) = 155.52 Mbps
o OC-12 (STS-12 or STM-4) = 622.08 Mbps
o OC-24 (STS-24 or STM-8) = 1.244 Gbps
o OC-48 (STS-48 or STM-16) = 2.488 Gbps
o OC-192 (STS-192- or STM-64) = 9.952 Gbps
o OC-255 = 13.21 Gbps
o OC-768 = 40 Gbps
 Optical Character Recognition: Short for optical character recognition or
optical character reader, OCR is taking an image of letters or typed text and
converting it into data the computer understands. A good example is companies
and libraries taking physical copies of books, magazines, or old printed material
and using OCR to put them onto computers. While far from perfect, OCR is
currently the best method of digitizing typed pages of text.
Methods of input
Data are generally passed to the computer by using a scanner or other
hardware device, like a digital camera. Some computer fax applications use OCR
to transform incoming faxes from graphics files into word processing documents.
 Optical communications: Optical communications is any communication that is
achieved using light pulses, lasers, or optical fibers.
 Optical disc: Alternatively referred to as a disc drive, optical media, optical
storage, Optical disc drive, and optical disk, an optical disc is any media read
using a laser assembly. The most common types of optical media are Blu-ray,
CDs, and DVDs. Computers can read and write to CDs and DVDs using a CD writer
or DVD writer drive, and a Blu-ray is read with a Blu-ray drive. Drives such as a
CD-R and DVD-R drive that read and write information to discs are known as MO
(magneto-optic). There are three main types of optical media: CD, DVD, and Blu-
ray disc. CDs can store up to 700 megabytes (MB) of data, and DVDs can store up
to 8.4 GB of data. Blu-ray discs, which are the newest type of optical media, can
store up to 50 GB of data. This storage capacity is a clear advantage over the
floppy disk storage media (a magnetic media), which only has a capacity of 1.44
MB. Another advantage that optical media have over the floppy disk is that it can
last up to 7 times longer, due to its improved durability.
 Optical drive: Short for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, a CD-ROM is an
optical disc that contains audio or software data whose memory is read-only. A
CD-ROM Drive or optical drive is the device used to read them. CD-ROM drives
have speeds ranging from 1x to 72x, meaning it reads the CD roughly 72 times
faster than the 1x version. As you would imagine, these drives are capable of
playing audio CDs and reading data CDs, including CD-R and CD-RW discs. A CD-
ROM drive cannot read a DVD, including movie DVDs and data DVDs. The DVD
format is different than a CD, and a CD-ROM drive is not designed to read the
format of a DVD. A DVD-ROM drive is required to read a DVD.
 Optical drive audio connector: Alternatively referred to as the optical drive
audio connector, the CD-IN is a four-pin connector found on a computer's
motherboard or sound card that connects an optical drive's audio. The picture
shows a black four-pin connector and an example of what this connector looks
like on a computer motherboard. For example, CD-IN could connect the four-pin
cable on the back of a CD-ROM drive to the corresponding audio connection on
the motherboard, permitting direct playing of CD audio.
 Optical mouse: The optical mouse is a computer mouse first introduced by
Microsoft on April 19, 1999, that utilizes LEDs (light-emitting diodes) or a laser
 to track movement. These differing technologies are identified by examining the
bottom of the mouse. As shown, the optical-mechanical mouse has a ball, and the
optical mouse has a light instead.
 Optical reader: An optical reader is a device found in scanners that captures
information on paper and translates that image into digital information the
computer understands and can display.
 Optical scanner: When referring to hardware, a scanner or optical scanner is a
hardware input device that optically "reads" and image and converts it into a
digital signal. For example, a scanner may be used to convert a printed picture,
drawing, or document (hard copy) into a digital file which can be edited on a
computer. The picture shows an example of a flatbed scanner, the Epson V300.
Other types of computer scanners:
A handheld scanner should not be confused with a barcode reader.
o Sheet fed scanner - scans paper by feeding it into the scanner
o Handheld scanner - scans text and images by dragging the device over the
page you want to scan
o Card scanner - designed to scan business cards
 Optical zoom: It allows you to zoom in (or out) on the subject in the LCD or
viewfinder. This will enable you to get a closer view of the subject before taking
your picture. Optical zoom changes the magnification of images with the actual
optical glass before the images reach the imaging sensor. Optical zoom allows for
better photo quality than digital zoom.

Audiovisual Input Devices

Audio-visual input devices are devices that capture audio (sound) and/or visual
(i.e. image or video) inputs, generating a signal that can be accessed by other devices.
The input device may not necessarily produce a signal but just record the input onto a
storage medium, an example of this would a camera. In other cases, the input device,
such as a microphone, may produce a signal that can be picked up by an another device
such as a mixing console before being outputted to speakers.

Types of Audiovisual Input Devices

  Video Cameras: Video cameras are usually an example of an independent audio-
visual device and do not produce an output signal. Instead, they normally save
the audio and video content from the camera straight onto the device storage.
However, in some instances you may find an audio-visual system has two
different systems, one for video and one for audio. In this case you will see the
video feed from the video camera being outputted to a system that is combining
the video with the audio from a high quality audio feed - mainly seen in halls
with audio systems. Sometimes you see this with webcams, webcams may record
the video whilst the audio input may come from another audio input device such
as a desk microphone or a headset microphone.
 Microphones: Microphones, as an input, tend to produce an output signal that is
picked up and either combined with video or outputted to speakers. Some
microphones do not produce output signals and, like video cameras, save the
audio onto the device storage.
 Cameras: Most of the time cameras save the images onto the device storage that
can later be accessed from a computer. In some instances, with tethered
photography, the camera outputs the photo straight to the computer so the raw
image can quickly be viewed by the photographer.
 Scanners: Scanners are also a good example of an audio-visual input device.
Scanners are effectively high quality cameras that take a document and produce
an image of it that can be accessed on a computer. There also more advanced
scanners such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scanners and Optical Mark
Recognition (OMR) scanners. OCR scanners are scanners that identify characters
(i.e. text) on a document and convert them into a format editable on a computer
through word processing software. OMR scanners are able to recognize data by
looking for data entered by the user through scanning boxes that have been
highlighted in pencil as pictured below

2.2 Output Devices

Any piece of computer hardware equipment which converts information into

human-readable form. It can be text, graphics, tactile, audio, and video. Some of the
output devices are Visual Display Units (VDU) i.e. a Monitor, Printer, Graphic Output
devices, Plotters, Speakers etc.
COMMONLY USED OUTPUT DEVICES
 Monitors
 Printers
 Plotters
 Screen image projector
 Voice response systems
Types of Output

 Soft-copy output: Not produced on a paper or some material that can be

touched and carried for being shown to others and temporary in nature and
vanish after use examples are output displayed on a terminal screen or spoken
out by a voice response system.
 Hard-copy output: Produced on a paper or some material that can be touched
and carried for being shown to others. Permanent in nature and can be kept in
paper files or can be looked at a later time when the person is not using the
computer examples are output produced by printers or plotters on paper.

Soft Copy Devices

Soft copy output devices give screen displayed output that is lost when the
computer is shut off. Soft copy devices allow the viewing of information that can be
rearranged, modified or corrected to suit your needs. Some examples of soft copy
output devices are monitors, projectors, video display terminals.

Types of Soft Copy Devices:

 Monitors: can be defined as: “It is a soft-copy, standard output device, used to
graphical type output” It is widely in use and also known as Display Unit, Screen,
Display Screen, Video Display Terminal (VDT), Video Display Unit (VDU),
Screens, Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) etc.
 Speaker: “It is a soft-copy, standard output device, which is used to give the
output of sound type of data” Speakers are known as the Voice Output Devices or
Voice Response System. Like monitors, voice response systems provide a
temporary, soft copy output.
  PC Projector: Portable computers are rapidly replacing old fashioned slide
projectors and overhead projectors. A PC projector plugs into computers video
output port and projects the video output onto an external surface.
Hard Copy Devices

Devices that provide output on printed paper or other permanent media that is
human readable (tangible). Examples of devices that produce hard copy are printers,
plotters and microfiche. Examples of hard copy documents would include a flyer, a
letter, a book, a card, and so on.

Types of Hard Copy Devices

Printers

All the printers irrespective of the technology used can be categorized as:

 Impact Printers: Impact printers are those printers in which there is a direct
contact between the printing head and the paper on which the print is produced.
They work by striking a head or a needle against an inked ribbon which leaves a
mark on the paper. These printers produce a lot of noise when printing, because
of the head striking the paper. Examples are Dot Matrix, Daisy Wheel and Line
printers.
o Dot-Matrix Printers
o Line Printers
 Non-Impact Printers: In the case of non-impact printers the printing head never
comes in direct contact with the paper. These printers work by spraying ink on
the paper and electrostatic or electromagnetic charge is used in these printers,
examples are Ink-Jet and Laser printers.

Ink-Jet Printers

There are two main inkjet technologies currently used by printer manufacturers

 Thermal bubble - This method is commonly referred to as bubble jet. In a

thermal inkjet printer, tiny resistors create heat, and this heat vaporizes ink to
create a bubble. As the bubble expands, some of the ink is pushed out of a nozzle
onto the paper. When the bubble "pops" (collapses), a vacuum is created. This
 pulls more ink into the print head from the cartridge. A typical bubble jet print
head has 300 or 600 tiny nozzles, and all of them can fire a droplet
simultaneously.
 Piezoelectric - This technology uses piezo crystals. A crystal is located at the
back of the ink reservoir of each nozzle. The crystal receives a tiny electric
charge that causes it to vibrate. When the crystal vibrates inward, it forces a tiny
amount of ink out of the nozzle. When it vibrates out, it pulls some more ink into
the reservoir to replace the ink sprayed out.

Plotters

Another hard copy output device is plotter. Plotter is a printing device which can
draw continuous lines. This is useful to print vector graphics rather than raster graphics
unlike normal printers. Plotters are widely used in applications like CAD. Plotters print
by moving one or more pen across the surface of a piece of paper. This means that
plotters are restricted to line art, rather than raster graphics as with other printers. Pen
plotters can draw complex line art, including text, but do so slowly because of the
mechanical movement of the pens. They are often incapable of efficiently creating a
solid region of colour, but can draw an area by drawing a number of close, regular lines.
Plotters offered the fastest way to efficiently produce very large drawings or colour
high-resolution vector-based artwork when computer memory was very expensive and
processor power was very limited.