Ch.

2 Input and Output devices

Magnetic Stripe readers

 Used to read information on the magnetic stripe

 The stripe contains useful information such as start and expiry date

 Uses

o Credit and debit cards have magnetic stripes that are used by ATMS or EFTPOS

(electronic funds transfer point of sale) terminal

o Security cards for entering building e.g. hotel rooms

o Travel systems e.g. train and underground tickets

 Advantages

o Data entry is fast compared with keying in using a keyboard or keypad

o System is error free, no typing involved

o Information is secure since there is no typing and the information can’t be read

directly by a person

o Can prevent access to restricted/secure areas

o Magnetic stripes are unaffected by oil water and moisture

o No moving parts therefore physically robust

 Disadvantages

o If the magnetic stripe is damaged the data is lost

o Card needs to be in close contact with the reader

o Since the information is not human readable, they need to find a way to show the

information to the customer (e.g. hotel room number not printed on cards)

Chip & PIN readers

 The device has a slot where the card is placed, and the chip is read

 A small screen is part of the reader which gives instructions to the operator

 Uses

o Chip and PIN readers are used where payments are made using cards e.g. travel

agents

 Advantages

o Provide a more secure payment system than requiring a signature or using magnetic

stripe, since the PIN typed in must match up with the PIN stored on the chip

o Provide a more robust system than magnetic stripe since the chip does not need to

be in contact with the reader

 Disadvantages

o Customer needs to be careful when typing in the PIN, so nobody reads it giving an

opportunity for Fraud

 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Readers

 RFID readers work in similar ways to a bar code reader

 An RFID tag is attached to/inside a surface

 The reader reads the data held on the tag which is then input into the computer

system for processing

 Radio waves are used to transmit data thus can be used through most materials

 Uses

o Used in retail or supermarkets as barcode alternatives

o Used to identify pets

o Used in passports

 Advantages

o Can hold a lot of data

o Can be read from long distances

o Does not require direct line of sight

o Information can be read faster than barcodes

o Can alter information

 Disadvantages

o Thieves can steal information easily

o RFID tags are expensive

o Radio waves can experience interference

Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR)

 Magnetic ink character recognition is a system which can read characters printed in

a special ink

 Uses

o Used to process cheques in banking operations – cheque is read using a batch

processing method

 Advantages

o MICR offers great security than OCR since the oriented characters cannot be altered

o There is no manual input, thus errors are reduced

o If somebody writes over the magnetic ink characters, it can still be read

 Disadvantages

o Only certain characters can be read, and the number of different characters is very

limited

o It is a more expensive method than other methods used for direct data entry

Optical Mark Reader

 Optical mark recognition is a system which can read marks written in pen or pencil

 Uses

o OMR devices are used to read questionnaires, multiple choice examinations papers

and other types of forms in the form of lines or shaded areas

 Advantages

o A very fast way of inputting results of a survey

o Since there is no typing, it is more accurate than keying in data

o OMR is more accurate than OCR

 Disadvantages

o Forms need to be carefully designed to make sure that the marks/shadings are

correctly positioned to gather accurate information

o There can be problems if forms aren’t filled correctly, sometimes they must be

checked manually before being read by an OMR, this is both time consuming and

expensive

Optical Character Reader

 Optical Character recognition is a software that takes scanned text and converts it

into a computer readable form

 Uses

o Processing of passports and Identity cards

o OCR is used when scanning documents to modify them using a suitable software

 Advantages

o Much faster data entry system than manually keying in data

o Since there is no manual data entry, the number of errors is reduced

 Disadvantages

o The system has difficulty reading handwriting

o It is still not a very accurate technique

Barcode readers

 Used to read information in the form of a barcode

 Handheld scanners or wands are very common for reading barcodes

 Uses

o Used in supermarkets and other shops where the goods are marked with a barcode

o Used in libraries to scan user’s library card and barcodes on books (to keep track of

books on loan)

o Used as a safety function in many companies to ensure that electrical equipment is

checked on a regular basis

 Advantages
o Faster than keying in information, and fewer mistakes are made

o Used as a way of recording data, can improve safety

o Barcodes enable automatic stock control

o Barcode scanning is a tried and trusted technology

o When an item price is changed, only the central database needs to be updated,

there is no need to change the prices individually on each item

 Disadvantages

o Barcode scanning is an expensive system to administer since every item in the

shops needs a barcode and every barcode needs to be entered on the system

o Also, there is a need to invest in the computer technology together with staff training,

which can all be expensive

o The system is not fool proof- barcode can be swapped around on items

Output Devices & their Uses

CRT Monitor

 Cathode Ray Tube monitors

 Least expensive type of monitor, becoming rarer as TFT monitors take over

 Come in various sizes

 Picture created is made up of tiny dots (red green or blue), the intensity of the colour

of the dot determines the colour perceived by the eye

 Uses

o Primary output device for computers, user can immediately see what they are typing

in

o Used with light pens to allow designs to be created on screen

 Advantages

o Produce higher quality images than TFT monitors

o Angle of viewing is better than a TFT monitor

o They work with light pens in CAD and CAM applications (Computer Aided

Design/Manufacturing)

 Disadvantages

o Tend to be heavy, weight hazard if not supported properly

o Run very hot, can cause fires if left unattended – especially if they are old

o Consume more power than TFT monitors

o They can flicker, this leads to headaches and eyesight problems with prolonged use

TFT Monitor

 Thin Film Transistor monitors

 Taking over from CRT monitors as the main output device

 The progress in TFT technology is one of the reasons for the rapid development of

laptop computers

 The screen is made up of thousands of tiny pixels which are made up of transistors

controlled by a microprocessor
 Each pixel has three transistors-red, green or blue; the intensity of each determines

the colour of the pixel seen.

 Uses

o Primary output device for computers, user can immediately see what they are typing

in

o Integral part of laptop computers

 Advantages

o Lightweight, so no weight hazards like CRT monitors

o Less glare produced than in CRT monitors; also emit less radiation

o Consume much less power and generate less heat than CRT monitors

 Disadvantages

o Angle of viewing is critical; image appears unclear if viewed slightly from the side

o This is an issue if several people are looking at the screen at the same time

o They cannot yet be used with light pens,

IPS/LCD Monitor

 Front layer made from liquid crystal diodes; grouped together to form pixels (RGB or

RGBY-more vivid colours)

 Receive analogue and digital signals, although most modern projectors only work

with digital inputs

 IPS (In-plane switching) is the technology used in LCD monitors.

 Advantages

o Colour can be seen accurately from different viewing angles

o No lightening on touching

 Disadvantages
o Expensive

o High power consumption

o Slow response time

 Note: Old LCD monitors used CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) technology to

light up the screen.

LED Monitor:

 Front layer made from liquid crystal diodes; grouped together to form pixels (RGB or

RGBY-more vivid colours)

 For the image to show up on-screen a light source of LED backlight is used.

 Advantages (over LCD monitors):

o Lighter and thinner

o Longer life

o Lower power consumption

o Greater contrast and more vivid colour

o Relatively more robust

 Disadvantages

o Glare gives viewers headaches

o Images too sharp, so can cause eye strain

Touch Screen

 Automatic selection without a pointing device

 Uses

o Automatic teller machines

o EFTPOS (electronic fund transfer point of sales)

o PDA

o Smartphones

o Public information points

 Advantages

o Faster data entry

o Easy to choose options

o User-friendly and intuitive

 Disadvantages

o Limited options

o Frequent usage can lead to RSI, etc.

o Constant usage results in the screen getting dirty; visibility and sensitivity decreases

Multimedia Projector

 Receive analogue and digital signals, although most modern projectors only work

with digital inputs

 The signal source is usually from a computer, television, or DVD player

 The image from the source is magnified and projected onto a large screen

 The devices usually work with a remote control, but can also use virtual mouse

technology – cordless PC mouse (has a laser pointer)

o It is then possible to direct the presentation without being tied to the computer

o Most multimedia projectors take input from various types of video format e.g. PAL,

NTSC or SECAM

 Uses

o Used for training presentations (allows the whole audience to see the images from a

computer)

o Also used for advertising presentations (shown at exhibitions, shopping malls etc.)

o Home cinema systems (projecting the images from a DVD or television) use

multimedia projectors

 Advantages

o Enables many people to see a presentation rather than all of them crowded around a

small computer screen

o Avoids the need for several networked computers

o e.g. when looking at a video clip on the internet, everybody can see the video on the

large screen rather than logging on to several computers

 Disadvantages

o Images can sometimes be fuzzy

o Expensive to buy

o Setting up projectors can be a little difficult

Laser Printer
 Produce very high-quality hard copy output

 Print rate per page is fast if many pages are being printed

 Rely on large buffer memories – the data for the whole document is stored before

pages can be printed out

 Uses

o Used where noise levels need to be kept low e.g. in an office

o The best option for fast, high quality, high volume printing

 Advantages

o Printing is fast for high volumes, slightly faster than inkjet if only a few pages are to

be printed

o Can handle very large print jobs

o Quality is consistently high

o Toner cartridges last for a long time; laser printers can be a cost-effective option if

colour outputs are not required

 Disadvantages

o Expensive to buy

o Only fast if several copies are being made

o Colour laser printers tend to be expensive to run since four cartridges are needed as

well as diffuser kits, etc.

o Produce ozone and volatile organic compounds because of their printing method and

type of toner/ink used

o These have been linked to health hazards in the office

Inkjet Printer

 Used to produce good quality hard copies – the quality is not as good as in laser

printers but much better than that of dot matrix printers

 Do not have large buffers like laser printers, so printing is done a bit at a time

 Therefore, printing is sometimes paused – the whole page can’t be stored in the

buffer, it must wait for the computer to send more data

 Uses

o Used where low volume outputs are needed

o Ideal for high quality printing for small print jobs or single pages e.g. for photo quality

printouts

 Advantages

o High quality output

o Cheaper to buy than laser printers

o Very lightweight and take up little space (small footprint)

o Do not produce ozone and volatile organic compounds, unlike laser printers

 Disadvantages

o Output is slow if several copies needed – there is little buffer capacity to store the

pages

o The ink cartridges run out too quickly to be used for large print jobs

o Printing can smudge if the user is not careful

o Can be expensive to run if they are used a lot – original ink cartridges are expensive

Dot Matrix Printer

 A type of impact printer

 A print head made up of a matrix of pins presses against an inked ribbon

 Uses

o Can be used in noisy environments e.g. garage workshops

o Can be used in applications were the print quality is not very important

 Advantages

o Can be used in environments which would be a problem for laser and inkjet printers

– dusty, dirty or moist atmospheres

o Carbon copies or multi-part outputs can be produced

o Very cheap to run and maintain

o Easy to use if continuous stationary is required e.g. long print jobs such as wage

slips

 Disadvantages

o Very noisy – not good in an office environment

o Cost more than an inkjet printer to buy

o Very slow

o Printing is of poor quality

Wide Format Printer

 Devices that produce hard copies but operate in a different way to printers

 Not limited to normal printer paper size and can produce highly accurate, very large

drawings and posters

 The most common types are pen plotters, electrostatic (similar method to laser

printers) and inkjet plotters

o With pen plotters, coloured pens are controlled by a computer and the paper can

move backwards and forwards to allow accurate shapes to be drawn

 Uses

o Used to produce large drawings e.g. blueprints of buildings; are often used with CAD

applications

o Used to produce large pictures for use on billboards or giant posters

 They can also print on plastic coated paper

 If the pens are replaced by cutting tools, it is possible to make large signs

 Advantages

o Can produce huge printouts

o Print quality is extremely high

 Disadvantages

o Slow in operation

o Expensive to buy and maintain

3D Printer

 A new type of printer that produces solid 3D models using modified inkjet technology

called tomography

 Very thin layers of fine powder (plaster, resin, starch) are bonded together as a 3D

model is slowly built up

 Items produced are known as prototypes

 Uses

o Used to produce prototypes which work from CAD packages, photograph images,

stored drawings etc.

o Scale models are produced in colour before the real thing is manufactured

o The ultimate objective is to produce organic objects using this layering technology

(such as replacement human organs)

 Advantages

o Save a lot of money, other methods of making prototypes are very time consuming

and expensive

o The powders used can often be ground up and reused

o Physical scale models are produced with working parts, which gives a better idea of

how the product will look

 Disadvantages

o Expensive to buy

o Slow at producing their output

o Product is sometimes a little rough, often further work needs to be done

Speakers
 Can be connected directly to a computer or are built into the monitor or casing (as in

laptop computers)

 Uses a digital to analogue converter (DAC) to convert digital data from the computer

to analogue from so the speakers can process it; the signal is then amplified through

the speakers.

 Uses

o Used to output sound from multimedia presentations

o Used in home entertainment centres

o They can help blind people through audio output of text on the screen (together with

speech generation software)

o Used to play downloaded sound files

 Advantages

o Usually long lasting and durable (if operated within their intended power levels)

o Often provided with the computer/laptop although these may not be the best quality

 Disadvantages

o Can take up a lot of desk space, compared to headphones

o Can distract people around you, everyone can hear what you are playing

o May not be able to hear the full sound spectrum, this requires multiple speakers

Actuators

 A type of controlling device

 Transducers that are used to take signals from a computer and convert them into

some form of motion e.g. operating motors, pumps, switches and valves

 Digital signals are sent from the computer to an actuator to operate a device

 Conversion of the digital signal to analogue is required first (using a DAC)

Motors

 Turned on or off by the actuator

 Uses

o Used in many domestic appliances

o Automatic washing machines (to make the drum rotate)

o Cookers (to switch on fans)

o Water pumps in central heating systems

o Automatic greenhouses to open windows and switch on fans

o Used to control robot arms in the industry

o Operate fans, disk drives and DVD drives in computers

 Buzzers

 Switched on or off by the actuator

 Uses

o Used in cookers and microwave ovens to tell the operator when the cooking process

is complete

o Used in burglar alarm systems to warn if intruders are present

Heaters

 Actuators are connected to switches which turn the heater on or off

 Uses

o Used in automatic washing machines, cookers and central heating systems

o Used in automatic greenhouses to control the temperature

Lights

 The actuator is connected to the switch that turns the lights on or off

 Uses

o Security lights

o Used in greenhouses to control the lighting conditions