Perform Computer Operations (PCO) Lesson 4

Perform Computer Operation

Trainer: Mr. Beeneil A. Quitola

Qualification Title: N/A NC Level: N/A Total Training Hours: 20

Name of TVI: Angelita V. Del Mundo Foundation (AVM Foundation) Inc.
Competency/ies to be Achieved LEARNING OUTCOMES:
and Learning Outcomes At the end of this module you MUST be able to:
1. Plan and prepare for task to be undertake
2. Input data into computer
3. Access information using computer
4. Produce/output data using computer system
5. Maintain computer equipment and systems

Learning Activities/ Tasks 1. Read Information Sheet

Training Period / Training
Duration
Training Method
Method of Assessment
Learning/Training Resources
2. Answer Self-Check
3. Perform Task Sheet
Week 5
Blended Learning (Online & Modular - Print)
Written test, Practical/ Performance Test & Interview
CBLM
Learning Management System (LMS)

What is Output?

Output is data that has been processed into useful form, now called Information.

Types of Output
Hard copy:
printed on paper or other permanent media

Soft copy: displayed on screen or by other non-permanent means

Categories of Output

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Text documents Graphics Multimedia
including reports, letters, etc. charts, graphs, pictures combination of text,
graphics, video, audio

The most often used means of Output are the printer for hard copy and the computer screen for soft copy. Let's look at the features of
each.

Lesson 4 Output Device Printer Features

The job of a printer is to put on paper what you see on your monitor. How easy this is to do and how successfully it is done determines
whether or not you are happy with which printer you chose.

Monitor screens and printers do not use the same formatting rules. In the olden days of computers, the way something looked on the
screen could be VERY different from how it would look when printed.

Early word processors didn't have a way to show what the printed version would look like. Now a word processor that doesn't have print
preview, would be laughed off the shelf. Nowadays we expect to see a WYSIWYG view (What You See Is What You Get), where you see almost
exactly what the document will look like in print, while you are still working on it.

How fast?
The speed of a printer is measured in: cps = characters per second
lpm = lines per minute
ppm = pages per minute
The faster the printing, the more expensive the printer.

What paper type used?

Continuous-Form Paper
Advantage: Don't need to put in new paper often
Disadvantage: May need to separate the pages and remove the strips of perforations from the edges.

Single Sheet
Advantage: Can change to special paper easily, like letterhead or envelopes.
Disadvantage: Must add paper more often.

What print quality?

LQ Letter Quality = as good as best typewriter output
NLQ Near Letter Quality = nearly as good as best typewriter output Draft used internally or for a test print

The better the quality, the slower the printing.

A more numerical measure of print quality is printer resolution. Measured in dots per inch (dpi), this determines how smooth a diagonal
line is when printed. A resolution of 300 dpi will produce text that shows jagged edges only under a magnifying glass. A lower resolution than this will
produce text with stair-step edges, especially at large sizes. Even higher resolutions are needed to get smooth photo reproduction.

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Professionals in graphics use 1200 to 2400 dpi printers. Draft quality on such a printer would be 600 dpi.

What will it print?

Printers vary in what varieties of type they can print. You must know the limits of your printer to avoid unhappy surprises! Modern printers
can handle most anything, but older printers may not. Yes, there are still old, clunky computers and printers in use out there in the real world.

Typeface Set of letters, numbers, and special characters with similar

design

Styles Bold, italic, underlined...

Size Is measured in points
One point = 1/72 of an inch like: 12 pt 18 pt 24 pt 36 pt
Use 10 or 12 pt for writing a letter or report.
Font A complete set of letters, etc. in the same typeface, style, and
size
Color Printing in color takes longer, uses more expensive inks/toner,
looks best on more expensive papers, but can add a lot to the
quality of the output
Graphics Pictures add a lot to a
document, but not all printers can
print graphics.

Will it fit?
The footprint, or the physical size of a printer, determines where it can be placed.
You must consider several things:

Where will you put it?

On top of a table or cabinet or on a shelf or in a drawer?? Is there enough space for
the printer and for the blank paper and the printouts?

Blank paper If the blank paper is in a drawer or tray under the printing mechanism,
can you pull the drawer all the way out? If the paper is in an upright stack on top of
the printer, is there room for your hand and the paper as you put it blank pages?

Where does the printed page wind up? On top of the printer or out in front of it?
There must be a good match between the space you need to work with the printer
and the spot you choose to put it! Otherwise, your print-outs may wind up puddled
on the floor or you could bash your knuckles whenever you put in a stack of blank
paper.

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What kind of cable connection?

Serial cable Sends data only 1 bit at a time

Printer can be up to 1000 feet away from the computer.
Maximum data transfer speed = 115 kilobits/s (.115Mbits/s)

Parallel cable Sends data 8 bits at a time

Printer must be within 50 feet of the computer.
Maximum data transfer speed: 115 kilobytes/s (.115MBYTES/s).
This is 8 times faster than the maximum serial speed.
Newer printers may need bi-directional cable so that the printer can talk back to the computer.
Such a cable is required if the printer can give helpful error messages. It's startling, but nice, the
first time your computer politely says "Ink is getting low" or "Please place paper in the AutoSheet
feeder."
Oddly, Windows XP does not support spooling for a parallel
connection to a printer. Spooling is what allows you to do other things on the
computer while the printer is processing and printing the document. WinXP does spool when the
printer uses a USB connection.

USB cable Printer must be within 5 meters (16.5 feet) of the computer, when connecting straight to the
computer.
[You can hook up several 5 m. cables and USB hubs in a chain - up to 25 meters.]
Maximum data transfer speed: 12 megabits/s (1.5 MBYTES/s) Lots faster!

Best choice:
The new USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection is likely your best choice, if your printer can use it. It is faster and a USB
connector can be unplugged and re-plugged without turning off the system. USB ports are rapidly replacing parallel ports.
The printer cannot handle the data as fast as the USB port can send it. The real limit on how fast a printer works is in how
fast printer can get the characters onto the paper. Serial cable may have to be used if a printer is shared in a fairly large
office, due to the length of cable needed.

Printer Types

Any of the current types of printers satisfies the work and cost requirements for someone. Each has strengths and weaknesses. Choose
your type of printer based on which of the features previously discussed are important to your work, then choose the specific printer that best suits
both your tasks and pocketbook.

Impact Printers
With this type of printer something strikes paper & ribbon together to form a character, like a typewriter.

Advantages: Less expensive

Fast (some types)
Can make multiple copies with multipart paper
Disadvantages: Noisy!
Print quality lower in some types. Poor graphics or none at all.

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Types of Impact Printers
Dot Matrix Forms characters using row(s) of pins, 9, 18, or 24 which impact the ribbon on top of the paper. Also
called pin printers. The more pins, the smoother-looking the characters.
Most dot matrix printers have the characteristics below:
Bi-directional - prints left to right and also right to left
Tractor feed - uses sprockets to pull continuous-feed paper
Friction feed - uses pressure to pull single sheets
Advantages: Inexpensive
Can do multi-copy forms
Disadvantages: Can be slow
Loud
Graphics of low quality, if possible at all
A dot-matrix y & an
enlargement

Animation showing how

columns of pins print the
letter y
(courtesy of Bill Lewis)

Chain and Uses characters on a band or chain that is moved into place before striking the characters onto
Band Printers the paper.
Advantages: Very fast up to 3000 lpm (lines per
minute)
Disadvantages: Very expensive Very loud

Non-Impact Printers

This type of printer does not involve actually striking the paper. Instead, it uses ink spray or toner powder.
Advantages: Quiet!
Can handle graphics and often a wider variety of fonts than impact printers.
Disadvantages: More expensive Slower

Types of Non-Impact Printers

Ink Jet Sprays ink onto paper to form characters
Advantages: Quiet
High quality text and graphics. Some can do color.

Disadvantages: Cannot use multiple-copy paper Ink can smear

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Thermal Uses heat on chemically treated paper to form characters. Fax machines that use rolls of paper are also of this
type.
Advantages: Quiet
Disadvantages: Relatively slow
Expensive, requiring special paper
Cannot use multiple-copy paper

Page Works like a copy machine, using toner and a heat bar. Laser Printer printers are in this category.
Advantages: Quiet
Faster than other non-impact printers, from 4 to 16 ppm (pages per minute)
High quality print and graphics. Some can do color.
Disadvantages: More expensive than impact printers Cannot use multiple-copy paper

Thus, Things to Consider When Choosing a Printer:

How much output?
Quality of output needed?
Location of printer?
Multiple carbon copies needed?
Expense of ink or toner?
Number of cartridges?
What speed is needed?
Is heavy-duty equipment necessary?
Resolution needed Photo
quality?
How big a footprint can be handled? Is
loudness important?
How much does a cartridge cost and how many pages will it produce? How is that
number measured??
Photo inks are more expensive!
Just one 3-color cartridge or separate black and color cartridges or a cartridge for
each color(best , if you can afford it!)

DO NOT RETURN THIS MODULE.

KEEP IT AS NOTES FOR FUTURE TOPICS & ASSESSMENTS.

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Lesson 4 Output Device Printer Features Assessment

Name: Date:
Section: Score:

IDENTIFICATION: Identify the word/term that is defined or described by the following statements/examples. (5 Points)
1. ____________________, Forms characters using row(s) of pins, 9, 18, or 24 which impact the ribbon on top of the paper.
2. ____________________, Sprays ink onto paper to form characters.
3. ____________________, Uses characters on a band or chain that is moved into place before striking the characters onto the paper.
4. ____________________, Uses heat on chemically treated paper to form characters. Fax machines that use rolls of paper are also of this
type.
5. ____________________, Works like a copy machine, using toner and a heat bar. Laser printers are in this category.

ESSAY: Discuss briefly and give or enumerate examples. (15 Points).

 Things to consider when choosing or buying PRINTER.

PLEASE RETURN THIS ACTIVITY SHEET TO YOUR TEACHER

FOR CHECKING AND RECORDING PURPOSES.