Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

San Martin Integrated School – Junior High School

Technology and Livelihood Education

1st Quarter – Module 2 9

Computer Hardware

Note: Do not write anything on this module, an

answer sheet is provided. Keep it clean!
Computer Hardware
Computer Hardware is the name given to the tangible electronic components that are part of a computer system. The
key words are “tangible” and “electronic”. Tangible means something that you can physically touch and feel. Electronic
refers to a device that has circuits in it that control its operation. In this lesson, we will discuss input and output
devices.

The computer will be of no use unless it is able to communicate with the outside world. Input/Output devices are
required for users to communicate with the computer. In simple terms, input devices bring information INTO the
computer and output devices bring information OUT of a computer system. These input/output devices are also known
as peripherals since they surround the CPU and memory of a computer system.

Input devices accept user commands or data and send them to the computer for processing. Typical input devices are
keyboard, mouse, scanner and microphone. On the other hand, output devices accept results or information
generated by the computer, and presents this to the user in a variety of means (both audio and visual e.g. textual,
image, video). Typical output devices are printers, monitors and speakers. Some special devices can be used for both
input and output, such as floppy disks and hard drives. Computer input and output devices have undergone
remarkable development with advances in technology.

INPUT DEVICES
These are devices that permit the computer user to communicate with the computer. These are devices that send
data to the computer, without any input devices, a computer would only be a display device and not allow users to
interact with it. These are made into Human Data Entry Devices and Source Data Automation.

1. Human Data Entry Devices are devices that need data entered by a user. These devices allow people to
communicate with the computer. Examples are keyboard, mouse, and light pen.
2. Source Data Automation are devices that allow users to input data with minimal human intervention. These
technologies speed up data collection, reduce errors, and can gather data at the source of a transaction or other
event. Examples are ATM, scanners, cameras, and voice recognition systems.

With all the input devices available today, users may find it difficult to determine which one is best for entering data
into their personal computer. The main function of input devices is to convert people-readable form of data into a
machine-readable form that the computer can store and process.

Human Data Entry Device: Keyboard

The Keyboard is the most common type of input device. Ordinary computer keyboards have their keys arranged in called
QWERTY because of the order in which the keys appear on the first row of letters.
 Traditional Keyboards - these are full- sized, rectangular keyboards that include function, navigational, and
numeric keys. There are 101 keys arranged in five groups: alpha numeric keys, function keys, cursor movement
keys, numeric keys, and the modifier keys.
 Flexible Keyboards – these fold or roll up for easy packing or storage. They are designed to provide mobile
users with full-sized keyboard with minimal storage requirements.
 Ergonomic Keyboards - similar to traditional keyboards, the keyboard arrangement is not rectangular and a palm
rest is provided. They are designed specifically to alleviate wrist strain associated with the repetitive movements
of typing.

 Wireless Keyboards - these allow the user to communicate with computers, tablets, or laptops with the help of
radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) or Bluetooth technology.

Traditional Keyboard
Flexible Keyboard

Ergonomic Keyboard Wireless Keyboard

 Image source: http://www.technologyuk.net/computing/computer-hardware/keyboard.shtml

Human Data Entry Device: Mouse

A mouse is a pointing device. It is the next most common type of input device after the keyboard. Mouse is
moved around by the user on a flat surface next to the computer.
 Wireless Mouse - connects to a computer without the use of wires. Instead, the mouse uses some
manner of wireless technology, like Bluetooth, RF, or infrared radio waves. Usually, a USB receiver is
plugged into the computer and receives signals from the cordless mouse.
 Optical Mouse- uses an light emitting diode (LED) light as an illumination source and works well on a
mouse pad or non-glossy surface.
 Laser Mouse - uses a laser as an illumination source and works on any surface.

Wireless Mouse Optical Mouse Laser Mouse

Image source: https://red-dot-geek.com/types-of-computer-mouse/

Human Data Entry Device: Touch Sensitive

A user interacts with the computer by touching pictures or words on the screen.
 Touchpad - they are often used instead of mouse on portable computers which are laptops.
 Touch Screen - allows the user to interact with a computer by using their finger or stylus

Touchpad Touch Screen

Image Source: https://www.pikist.com/

Human Data Entry Device: Image Capturing and Audio Devices

These allow a user to send image and audio signals to a computer for processing, recording, or carrying out
commands.
 Digital Cameras - can store many more pictures than an ordinary camera. The storage depends on
the memory space. The images & videos can be transferred using a USB to the computer.
 Digital Video Cameras - unlike traditional video cameras, digital video cameras record motion digitally
on a disk or in a camera’s memory. Most have the capability to take still images as well. Webcams
are specialized digital video cameras that capture images and send them to a computer for broadcast
over the Internet.
 Microphone - used to input sound into a computer system. Microphones are often used for voice
recognition systems, which convert sounds made by a user into text on the screen or commands the
computer can carry out.

Digital Camera Video Camera Web Camera Microphone

 Image Source: https://www.pikist.com/

Source Data Automation Device: Scanners

Used to input pictures or text into the computer.
 Flatbed Scanner - much like a copy machine. The image to be scanned is placed on a glass surface
and the scanner records the image from below.
 Smart Card Reader - a device that is used to read a smart card. A smart card is a plastic badge that
incorporates an installed coordinated circuit that can be a memory chip. These cards have the
capacity to store a lot of information, do encryption and validation as well. These cards include your
credit/debit card, medical insurance among others.
 Barcode Reader - an optical scanner that can read printed barcodes, decode the data contained in
the barcode and send the data to a computer. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a
lens and a light sensor translating for optical impulses into electrical signals
 Hand - held Scanner - slides across the image, making direct contact.

Flatbed Scanner Barcode Reader Smart Card Reader Hand – held Scanner

Image Source: https://www.pikist.com/

OUTPUT DEVICES
External devices that transfer information from the computer's CPU to the computer user. An output device receives
information from the computer and translates it from machine language to a form that humans can read or so that
another machine can read the information. An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to
communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) to
the outside world.

Monitor
This is the most common computer output device. It creates a visual display by the use of which users can
view processed data. Monitors come in various sizes and resolutions.
 Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor- heavy monitor displays that take up a lot of desk space. They have
largely been replaced by flat-screen monitors. However some are still used in the design industry
since the color accuracy and brightness of CRT monitors is excellent, and designers need to see true-
to-life colors.
 Flat Panel Screen - light in weight and they take up very little desk space. Modern flat-screen monitors
have a picture quality that is as good as CRT monitors.
 Digital Multimedia Projector - used in situations when a very large viewing area is required, for
example during presentations, for advertising, or in your home for watching movies. A projector
connects to a computer, a DVD player or a satellite receiver just like an ordinary monitor.
 CRT Monitor Flat Panel Screen Digital Multimedia Projector

Image Source: https://www.pikist.com/

Printer
This device generates a hard copy version of processed data, like documents and photographs. The computer

READY TO PRINT
transmits the image data to the printer, which then physically recreates the image, typically on paper.
 Inkjet Printer - produces hard copy by spraying ink onto paper and are the most commonly used type
of printer.
 Laser Printer - uses a complex system, involving a laser, to make the toner stick to the required parts
of the paper. The laser and toner system allows very fast printing compared to other printers (just a
few seconds per page).Laser printers are very common in offices since they print very quickly, are
cheap to use and are reasonably quiet.
 Plotter - create hard-copy in a very different way to printers. Instead of building up text and images
from tiny dots, plotters draw on the paper using a pen. Plotters are often used by designers and
architects since they work with huge pieces of paper, far bigger than anything a normal printer could
work with.

Inkjet Printer Laser Printer Plotter

Image Source: https://www.pikist.com/

Audio Output Devices

 Loud Speakers - They convert electrical signals into sound waves. Loudspeakers are essential for
applications such as music editing, video conferencing and watching movies.
 Headphone - a pair of small loudspeaker drivers worn on or around the head over a user's ears.

Loudspeakers Headphones
Image source: https://www.examplesof.net/2018/09/examples-of-output-devices.html#.Xs-BplQzZdg

STORAGE DEVICE
Aside from the devices attached on a PC, there are also the so called storage devices that perform a special task in
computing system. Storage device is any apparatus for recording computer data in a permanent or semi-permanent
form.
Main Memory
Sometimes known as internal memory or primary storage. Main memory is usually used to store data
 temporarily. Main memory is used to store data whilst it is being processed by the CPU. Data can be put into
memory, and read back from it, very quickly.
Examples: RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory)
 RAM - system’s short-term data storage; it stores the information your computer is actively using so
that it can be accessed quickly. RAM allows your computer to perform many of its everyday tasks,
such as loading applications, browsing the internet, editing a spreadsheet, or experiencing the latest
game. Memory also allows you to switch quickly among these tasks, remembering where you are in
one task when you switch to another task.
 ROM - computer storage containing non-volatile, permanent data that, normally, can only be read, not
written to. ROM contains the programming that allows a computer to start up or regenerate each time
it is turned on.

RAM ROM
Image Source: https://www.pikist.com/ Image Source: https://pngimage.net/rom-png/

Backing Storage: Magnetic

Backing storage (sometimes known as secondary storage) is the name for all other data storage devices in a
computer such as the hard-drive. Backing storage is usually non-volatile, so it is generally used to store data
for a long time.
Magnetic storage media and devices store data in the form of tiny magnetized dots. These dots are
created, read and erased using magnetic fields created by very tiny electromagnets.
 Hard Drive - have a very large storage capacity (up to 1TB). They can be used to store vast amounts
of data. Hard-drives are random access devices and can be used to store all types of films, including
huge files such as movies. Data access speeds are very fast. Data is stored inside a hard-drive on
rotating metal or glass discs (called ‘platters’). It acts as the main backing storage device for almost all
computers since they provide almost instant access to files and software.

Backing Storage: Optical

Optical storage devices save data as patterns of dots that can be read using light. A laser beam is the usual
light source. The data on the storage medium is read by bouncing the laser beam off the surface of the
medium.
 Compact Disc - Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) – these discs can hold around 800MB of data. The
data cannot be altered (non-volatile), so cannot be accidently deleted. CD-ROMs are used to
distribute all sorts of data: software (e.g. office applications or games), music, electronic books (e.g.
an encyclopedia with sound and video.)
 Digital Versatile Disc - Read-Only Memory (DVD-ROM) – these discs can hold around 4.7GB of data.
DVD-ROMs are used in the same way as CD-ROMs but, since they can hold more data, they are also
used to store high-quality video.
 Blu – Ray – these discs are a replacement for DVDs. It can hold 25 - 50GB of data. Blu-Ray discs are
used in the same way as DVD-ROMs but, since they can hold more data, they are also used to store
very high-quality, high-definition (HD) video.
 High-density DVD (HD-DVD) - these discs can hold around 15GB of data. HD-DVD discs are used in
the same way as DVD-ROMs but, since they can hold more data, they are also used to store very
high-quality, high-definition (HD) video.
 CD-R and DVD-R – these discs can have data burnt (copying or writing information) onto them, but
not erased. You can keep adding data until the disc is full, but you cannot remove any data or re-use
a full disc.
 CD-RW and DVD-RW - unlike CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, can have data burnt onto them and also erased
so that the discs can be re-used.

Backing Storage: Solid State

The term ‘solid-state’ essentially means ‘no moving parts’. Solid-state storage devices are based on electronic
circuits with no moving parts (no reels of tape, no spinning discs, no laser beams, etc.) Solid-state storage
devices store data using a special type of memory called flash memory.
 Flash Drive - also known as pen drive or USB flash disk or thumb drive. This portable storage device
contains only an integrated circuit memory chip that is used to store data. Flash drives usually have
 plastic or aluminium casings surrounding the memory chip.
 Secure Digital (SD) Card – stores amount of information used for mobile devices such as cameras
and smart phones.
 Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Card – a tiny, portable memory chip that stores information
about you as a cell phone user.
 Smart Card - A plastic card with a built-in microprocessor, used typically for electronic processes such
as financial transactions (ATM cards), personal identification, and satellite TV.
 Portable Hard Drive - one that is placed into a small case along with some electronics that allow the
hard-drive to be accessed using a USB or similar connection. Portable hard-drives allow very large
amounts of data to be transported from computer to computer.

TLE 9 - ACTIVITY SHEET

1st QUARTER - MODULE 2
Name: ________________________ Section: __________
Subject Teacher: Sir. Erl Casiño Score:

Activity 1. Identification. Write down the input device appropriate for the following scenarios.
___________ 1. John needs to record a video tutorial for his YouTube Channel.
___________ 2. Reina wants to capture sound on her computer.
___________ 3. Teacher instructed Eien to digitize a chapter of the book.
___________ 4. The cashier in Wanton Restobar received Mr. Lee’s credit card to pay for his meal.
___________ 5. Cashier Anna wants to scan the price of a product.
___________ 6. Yanina is needs to write her book review.
___________ 7. Raffy was told to select an object on the screen.
___________ 8. Students are required to record their voices over a TV program.
___________ 9. Migoy has to scroll his online activity in his laptop.
___________ 10. Joaquin took photos for his Science project.

Activity 2. Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the best answer from among the given choices.
_____ 1. What does a storage device provide?
a. A place to show data. b. A place to store currently worked on information.
c. A place to store information. d. A place to input information.

____ 2. Which of the following would the clerk uses to check out item in a grocery store?
a. Barcode scanner b. Monitor
c. Printer d. Microphone

____ 3. Which of the following are two output devices?

a. Speakers and printer b. Keyboard and DVD-ROM
c. Monitor and scanner d. Mouse and keyboard

____ 4. What kind of information can be found in a ROM?

a. Software b. The operating system
c. MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint d. Basic Input/Output System

____ 5. Which of the following in NOT an input device?

a. Stylus b. Microphone
c. CD d. Barcode reader

____ 6. Which of these storage devices can hold the most data?
a. DVD b. Hard drive
c. RAM d. Flashdrive

____ 7. Which of the following would an architect use to print large floor plans?
a. Monitor b. Printer
c. Plotter d. Stylus

____ 8. Which of the following stores computer's operating system and applications as well as personal
files including photographs, documents and music?
a. Hard drive b. Flashdrive
c. DVD d. RAM

____ 9. What are examples of storage devices?

a. Keyboards, flash drive, printer b. Flash drive, RAM, DVD-ROM
c. Mouse, MICR, RAM d. Hard drive, DVD-ROM, flash drive

____ 10. What does RAM stand for?

a. Retrieve Alternate Memory b. Reserve Accelerator Memory
c. Read Always Memory d. Random Access Memory