CHAPTER 6

OUTPUT

Overview

 Define the four categories of output

 Identify the different types of display devices
 Describe factors that affect the quality of a display device
 Identify monitor ergonomic issues
 Explain the differences among various types of printers
 Describe the uses of speakers and headsets
 Identify the purpose of data projectors, fax machines, and multifunction devices
 Explain how a terminal is both an input and output device
 Identify output options for physically challenged users

In this chapter, you learn what is output and what are output devices. Display devices are
introduced, including CRT monitors, flat-panel displays, video cards, and high-definition
television. You explore monitor quality and monitor ergonomics. Various types of printers are
presented, such as impact printers, non-impact printers, portable printers, plotters and large-
format printers, and special-purpose printers. You find out about audio output and other output
devices, including data projectors, facsimile machines, and multifunction devices. Finally, you
become acquainted with terminals and output devices for physically challenged users.

Define the four categories of output

Output is data that has been processed into a useful form called information. Four types of output
are text, graphics, audio, and video.

Text consists of characters (letters, numbers, punctuation marks, or any other symbol requiring
one byte of computer storage space) that are used to create words, sentences, and paragraphs.

Graphics are digital representations of non-text information such as drawings, charts,

photographs, and animation (a series of still images in rapid sequence that gives the illusion of
motion).

Audio is music, speech, or any other sound.

Video consists of images played back at speeds to provide the appearance of full motion.
An output device is any computer component capable of conveying information to a user.

Identify the different types of display devices

A display device is an output device that visually conveys text, graphics, and video information.
Information shown on a display device is called soft copy because the information exists
electronically and is displayed for a temporary period of time. Display devices include CRT
monitors, LCD monitors and displays, gas plasma monitors, and televisions.

A CRT monitor is a monitor that is similar to a standard television set because it contains a
cathode ray tube. A cathode ray tube (CRT) is a large, sealed, glass tube. The front of the tube is
a screen coated with phosphor material that glows as an electron beam moves back and forth,
which produces an image on the screen.

LCD monitors and LCD displays use liquid crystal to present information on the screen. A
liquid crystal display (LCD) has liquid crystals between two sheets of material. When an electric
current passes through the crystals, they twist, causing some light waves to be blocked and
allowing others to pass through, which creates the images.

Similar to an LCD display, a gas plasma monitor is a flat-panel display. A gas plasma monitor,
however, substitutes a layer of gas for the liquid crystal material. When voltage is applied, the gas
releases ultraviolet light that causes pixels on the screen to glow and form an image.

An NTSC converter converts a computer’s digital signal into an analogue signal that a standard
television set can display. High-definition television (HDTV) is a type of television set that
works with digital broadcasting signals and supports a wider screen and higher resolution than a
standard television set.

Describe factors that affect the quality of a display device

The quality of a CRT monitor depends largely on its resolution, dot pitch, and refresh rate. The
quality of an LCD monitor or display depends primarily on its resolution.

A CRT monitor’s screen is coated with tiny dots of phosphor material, called pixels, that glow
when electrically charged to produce an image.

Resolution, which describes the sharpness and clearness of that image, is related directly to the
number of pixels a monitor can display. The greater the number of pixels the display uses, the
better the quality of the image.

Dot pitch, a measure of image clarity, is the distance between each pixel on a display. The
smaller the distance between pixels (dot pitch), the sharper the image.
Refresh rate is the speed that a monitor redraws images on the screen. Refresh rate should be fast
enough to maintain a constant, flicker-free image.

The resolution of an LCD monitor or display generally is proportional to the size of the monitor
or display. That is, the resolution increases for larger monitors and devices.

Identify monitor ergonomic issues

The goal of ergonomics is to incorporate comfort, efficiency, and safety into the design of items
in the workplace. Features that address monitor ergonomic issues include controls to adjust the
brightness, contrast, positioning, and height and width of images. Newer monitors have digital
controls that allow you to fine-tune the display. Many monitors also have a tilt and swivel base so
the angle of the screen can be altered to minimize neck strain and glare. Monitors produce a
small amount of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which is a magnetic field that travels at the
speed of light. High-quality monitors should comply with MPR II, a standard that defines
acceptable levels of EMR for a monitor.

Explain the differences among various types of printers

A printer is an output device that produces text and graphics on a physical medium such as paper
or transparency film. Printed information is called hard copy because the information exists
physically and is a more permanent from of output. Printers can be grouped in two categories:
impact and non-impact.

Impact printers form characters and graphics by striking a mechanism against an ink ribbon that
physically contacts the paper.

A dot-matrix printer is an impact printer that prints images when tiny wire pins on a print head
mechanism strike an inked ribbon.

A line printer is an impact printer that prints an entire line at one time. Two popular types of
line printers are band printers and shuttle-matrix printers.

Non-impact printers form characters and graphics without actually striking the paper.

An ink-jet printer is a non-impact printer that sprays drops of ink onto a piece of paper.

A laser printer is a non-impact printer that creates images using a laser beam and powdered ink,
called toner.

A thermal printer is a non-impact printer that generates images by pushing electrically heated
pins against heat-sensitive paper. Although the print quality of standard thermal printers generally
is low, two special types of thermal printers, thermal wax-transfer printers and dye-sublimation
printers, have a much higher print quality.

Some printers are used for special purposes.

A photo printer is a colour printer that can produce photo lab quality pictures as well as printing
everyday documents.

A label printer is a small printer that prints on an adhesive type material that can be placed on a
variety of items.

A portable printer is a small, lightweight printer that allows a mobile user to print from a
notebook or handheld computer while travelling.

Plotters are sophisticated printers used to produce high-quality drawings such as blueprints,
maps, and circuit diagrams.

A large-format printer, which operates like an ink-jet printer but on a larger scale, creates photo-
realistic quality colour prints.

Describe the uses of speakers and headsets

An audio output device produces music, speech, or other sounds. Two commonly used audio
output devices are speakers and headsets.

Most personal computers have an internal speaker that outputs low-quality sound. Many users
add high-quality stereo speakers or purchase PCs with larger speakers built into the sides of the
monitor. A woofer can be added to boost low bass sounds.

A headset plugged into a port on the sound card allows only the user to hear sound from the
computer.

Identify the purpose of data projectors, fax machines, and

multifunction devices

A data projector takes the image on a computer screen and projects it onto a large screen so that
an audience of people can see the image. Two smaller, lower priced data projectors are an LCD
projector, which uses liquid crystal display technology, and a digital light processing (DLP)
projector, which uses tiny mirrors.
A facsimile (fax) machine transmits and receives documents over telephone lines. A fax modem
is a communication device that allows you to send (and sometimes receive) electronic documents
as faxes.

A multifunction device (MFD) is a single piece of equipment that looks like a copy machine but
provides the functionality of a printer, scanner, copy machine, and sometimes a fax machine.