Output devices
Information produced by a
computer must be presented
in a useful form to be of
value to the user.
Reason for output
devices There are four types of
output devices –
visual display unit, printers,
plotters and audio output
devices.
What is output?
OUTPUT IS THE COMPUTER OUTPUT MAY BE COMPUTER OUTPUT MAY BE
INFORMATION A COMPUTER PRINTED ON PAPER/PLASTIC DISPLAYED ON A
GENERATES AS A RESULT OF (HARD COPY). MONITOR/SCREEN, OR
ITS PROCESSING. STORED ON A SECONDARY
STORAGE MEDIUM (SOFT
COPY).
Hard copy and soft copy
Hard copy is permanent Soft copy is a temporary form of
printed output from the output, as produced by a visual
display unit or audio output
computer. device.
Output device
• An output device is any
device that displays, plays
or prints the results
of processing operations
or status messages related
to that processing.
A visual display unit (VDU) is the hardware
component of a computer system that
Visual handles the display of information that users
see.
Display This information may be program output,
Unit error messages or data that is being entered
at the keyboard or input from some other
input device.
(VDU) aka
Monitor When selecting a VDU, the user should
consider three factors: monitor type, monitor
size and monitor resolution.
• Monitor type refers to the
technology that the device uses to
produce and present the output.
There are two common types of
Type size visual display units: cathode ray
tubes (CRT) and liquid crystal
and displays (LCD).
resolution • CRT monitors are no longer widely
sold, however, they exist in
sizes ranging from 10 to 22 inches.
LCD displays are available in sizes
ranging from 14 to 55 inches.
LCD and CRT
• CRTs are bigger and bulkier than LCDs, consume more power
and are prone to screen flicker.
• LCDs are also called flat panels and are more expensive
compared with CRTs but require less space on the desk or work
station.
Type size and
resolution THE RESOLUTION
OF A VDU IS THE
QUALITY OF THE
RESOLUTION IS
MEASURED IN
PIXELS.
A PIXEL IS ONE OF
THE INDIVIDUAL
DOTS THAT MAKE
IMAGE UP A GRAPHICAL
DISPLAYED. IMAGE.
Type size and resolution
The higher the resolution, the better High-resolution monitors are useful for
the quality of the image produced. very detailed graphic work and gaming.
They are two main types of
printers- Impact and Non-
Impact.
Printers Impact printers produce output
by employing a striking or
(Impact) hammering mechanism.
They are noisy but are able to
produce multiple identical
copies at the same time.
Impact printers
Some impact printers produce their output a character at a time
whilst others do so a line at a time.
Most impact printers print on fan-fold paper (or continuous forms).
Dot matrix and chain printers are two types of impact printers.
A dot matrix printer produces one
character at a time.
It does so by striking an inked ribbon on
Dot Matrix paper to create the impression.
printer
These printers are relatively inexpensive
to purchase and operate, and very
reliable.
A dot matrix printer is suitable for use in
situations that require multiple copies of
the same document.
Video of a dot matrix printer working
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=A_vXA058EDY&ab_channel=VaultDweller
Non- impact
• Non-impact printers create output on media
(paper or plastic) using a range
• of different technologies such as:
• laser: a technology used in photocopy machines
that utilises heat, light and photoconductivity.
• inkjet: nozzle-like print heads spray ink onto
paper to form characters and images.
• Thermal transfer and dye sublimation
Note brief
Most non-impact printers are page- Lasers and inkjets are two types of non-
printers as they print on cut sheet paper. impact printers.
Injekt printers
Inkjet printers are inexpensive to buy but expensive to operate as the
ink needs replacing regularly.
These printers are very versatile and can produce a range of
documents including high-quality photographs, school projects
and business presentations.
Inkjet printers can produce colour photographs (on glossy paper) of
a quality similar to those produced by a professional photo studio.
• Laser printers are flexible as they:
print both text and graphics.
• They are available in monochrome
(black and white) or colour
Laser models.
• Can print on paper of varying sizes
printers
and plastic (transparencies).
• They produce high-quality output,
are very fast, and operate quietly.
• Whilst laser printers are expensive
to buy, they are usually less
expensive to operate than inkjets.
Printer features
Feature Description
Resolution The sharpness of printed images and text depends on
the printer’s resolution.
Printer resolution is measured by the number of dots
printed per linear inch (DPI).
Print speed measured in pages per minute (ppm), lines per minute
(lpm) or characters per
seconds (cps).
Memory Colour images and graphics-intensive documents
require more memory; some
printers let you add memory to improve printing
performance.
Paper tray Sheet-feed printers are equipped with at least one tray
capacity that may hold 50–250
sheets. Some printers let you add additional paper
trays to extend the number of
prints that you can do without stopping to add paper.
