INPUT AND Input devices are hardware components used to

input data into a computer system for

processing. The data received by these devices is
OUTPUT then handled by the computer’s processor. Input
devices are divided into two main categories:
DEVICES • Manual Input Devices: These are devices that
require human intervention to input data into
the computer. Examples include keyboards,
mice, and scanners.
• Direct Data-Entry (DDE) Devices: These
devices allow data to be entered automatically
without manual human input. Examples of
DDE devices are barcode readers and sensors
Keyboard and Keypads
• Keyboards and keypads are essential input devices used to enter fixed values,
such as characters and numbers, into a computer system. There are different
types, but this section focuses on the QWERTY keyboard and numeric keypads.
• QWERTY Keyboard:
• The most widely used keyboard layout for entering text, numbers, and
punctuation into a computer.
• It derives its name from the first six letters on the top line of alphabet keys:
Q, W, E, R, T, Y.
• Alternative keyboard layouts include:
• AZERTY: Commonly used in French-speaking regions.
• QWERTZ: Used in Central Europe.
• Dvorak Keyboard: Designed for efficiency by positioning frequently
used letter combinations together.
• Applications: Keyboards are used for tasks that involve text or numerical
input, such as typing emails, writing reports, or coding.
• Numeric keypads, often found on larger keyboards or standalone devices,
are used specifically for fast numerical data entry.
Numeric Keypads
• Found on the right side of most keyboards
and arranged in a rectangular layout with
digits from 0 to 9.
• Can also be standalone devices used for:
• Entering PIN numbers when paying by card.
• Inputting phone numbers on a telephone.
• Typing entry codes.
• Advantages: Small, easy to use, and
language-independent.
Advantages and
Advantages of Keyboards:
• Familiarity: Widely used, and most people

Disadvantages of
are accustomed to their layout.
• Ease of Use: Simple to learn and use

Keyboard
efficiently.

Disadvantages of Keyboards:
• Error-Prone: Users can easily make mistakes
when typing.
• Time Consuming: Data entry can be slow if
users are not proficient at touch typing.
• Health Concerns: Long-term use can lead to
strain injuries.
• Limited Functionality: Not suitable for
creating diagrams or artwork.
• Language Barriers: Different keyboards are
needed for different languages, as
characters vary across regions.
Mice
• A mouse is a primary pointing device for computers with a graphical user
interface (GUI). It allows users to move the on-screen pointer by gliding the
mouse over a flat surface and select items by clicking buttons.
• Types of Mice:
• Mechanical Mouse: The original design, which uses a ball and sensors to
detect movement.
• Optical Mouse: Uses an optical sensor to track movement by detecting
changes in reflected light, working best on patterned surfaces.
• Wireless Mouse: Connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, offering flexibility without
cables but requires battery maintenance:
• Rechargeable Batteries: Need periodic charging, often via the
computer.
• Replaceable Batteries: Need replacement when drained.
Touchpad
• Touchpads are built-in pointing
devices on laptops, designed for
portability when using a mouse isn't
practical. Located beside the
keyboard, they allow users to control
the pointer with finger movements.
Touchpads support multi-touch
gestures, including swiping, two-
finger scrolling, and pinch-to-zoom,
making them versatile and easy to use
without extra equipment.
JoyStick
• A joystick is a versatile pointing device that can perform the
same functions as a mouse and more. It consists of a pivoting
stick on a base, allowing movement in any direction, with the
movement’s direction and degree controlling an on-screen
object. Joysticks also have buttons for additional functions like
left- and right-clicking.
• Uses of Joysticks:
• Gaming: Controls in games, such as moving characters or
objects, enhance user experience by providing a responsive,
immersive control.
• Aircraft Control: Widely used for controlling aircraft due to their
ease of use in complex environments.
• Motorized Wheelchairs: Allow users to control movements with
minimal physical effort, offering versatile command options.
Touch Screens

• A touch screen is both an input and output device

found on devices like PCs, laptops, tablets, and
smartphones. It detects touch on the screen and
sends the location information to the processor.
• Types of Touch Screens:
• Resistive: Responds to pressure from fingers or
other objects; contact between metallic layers
creates a voltage change at the touch point.
• Capacitive: Responds to the static electricity from
an exposed finger, with sensors detecting the touch
point, commonly used in modern devices.
Scanners
• Scanners convert physical text, images,
and diagrams into digital data for computer
processing.

Types of Scanners:
• Flatbed Scanners: Use a flat glass surface
for scanning documents. The scanner
shines a light on the document, and
reflected light is converted into digital data.
• Handheld Scanners: Used for scanning
smaller areas by rolling the device across
the text.
 Digital Cameras
• Digital cameras capture images that are stored digitally on memory cards or hard disks
and can be displayed on screens. The camera lens focuses light onto a sensor covered
with pixels that detect light intensity and color (red, green, blue). Higher pixel counts
result in more detailed images. Digital cameras connect to computers via USB,
Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi for easy image transfer.
Advantages of Digital Cameras:
• Instant preview and deletion of unwanted images.
• Easier manipulation of images compared to film.
• Images can be incorporated into digital documents.

Disadvantages of Digital Cameras:

• Storage devices (memory cards) may fill up or become corrupted.
• Battery limitations can prevent further photo capture.
Video Cameras
• Video Cameras: Video cameras capture moving images (video) that can
be stored electronically on memory cards or fed directly into a computer
for immediate use and editing.

Advantages of Video Cameras:

• Capture moving images, not just still photos.
• Record audio alongside video, creating a realistic depiction of events.

Disadvantages of Video Cameras:

• Large file sizes for video storage.
• May require costly editing software.
• Applications: Used for leisure, commercial video production, security
(CCTV), and other purposes. Video capture is also possible with digital
cameras and mobile phones.
Webcams
• Webcams are video cameras without storage,
directly connected to computers. They can be
built into laptops or attached externally to
desktops.
Primary Uses:
• Personal video calls (e.g., Skype) and video
conferencing.
• Live streaming to websites for real-time
viewing of specific scenes.
Applications: Often used for birdwatching
(nests), traffic monitoring, and wildlife
observation.
Microphones
• Microphones convert sound waves into digital data, allowing sound input
into computers.
• Uses of Microphones:
• Video-Conferencing: Enables clear audio in virtual meetings.
• Presentation Enhancement: Adds spoken narration to presentations.
• Voice Commands: Allows control of computers through spoken instructions.
• Dictation: Facilitates text input by transcribing speech.
• Accessibility:
• Useful for disabled individuals who cannot use traditional input devices,
providing an alternative method for data input
Sensors

Sensors detect and respond to environmental changes (e.g., light,

temperature, motion, pressure).
• Advantages: More reliable, accurate, and can operate in
inaccessible areas.
• Disadvantages: Require power, and malfunctions in remote
locations may go unnoticed.
• Types & Applications:
• Temperature Sensors: Used in washing machines, climate
control, greenhouses, and scientific experiments to manage
temperature.
• Pressure Sensors: Used in burglar alarms to detect intrusions
based on pressure changes.
• Light Sensors: Used in cars to control headlights and in security
systems to detect movement by sensing light interruptions.
Direct Data Entry and
Magnetic Stripe Readers
Direct Data Entry:

Involves entering data automatically without manual input, often used in

business for handling large volumes of similar data.
Magnetic Stripe Readers:

Found on credit cards, bank cards, hotel key cards, and library cards.

Store small amounts of information, suitable for tasks that don’t require
extensive data.
How Magnetic Stripes Work:

Information is encoded on the card’s stripe (e.g., room number, stay

duration).
When swiped, the reader verifies data with the system, allowing access or
completing a transaction.
 Chip and Pin Readers
Overview:

Chip and PIN readers are devices used for secure credit and debit card transactions. Cards now include a secure computer chip in addition
to a magnetic stripe.
Function: The chip stores encrypted data, including the user’s PIN and transaction details, offering enhanced security.

How It Works:

User inserts the card into the reader, which accesses the chip’s data.

The user enters their PIN on a keypad.

The entered PIN is compared with the stored PIN, allowing the transaction to proceed if they match.

Advantages of Chip and PIN:

Enhanced Security: The chip is difficult to read and clone, making data more secure.

Greater Data Capacity: The chip can hold more information than the magnetic stripe.

Convenience: Wireless readers allow the device to be brought to customers (e.g., in restaurants).

Disadvantages of Chip and PIN:

Risk of 'Shouldering': People nearby may observe the PIN entry.

PIN Memory Issues: Forgetting the PIN means the card cannot be used until reset.
RFID (Radio-Frequency
Identification)
• RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) readers scan
RFID tags, which store unique identifiers for the objects
they are attached to.
• Commonly used on items like supermarket goods,
shipping containers, contactless payment cards, and
animal tags.

• Components of RFID
• Scanning Antenna: Sends signal to activate the tag.
• Decoder: Interprets data from the tag.
• RFID Tag: Stores data; can be either passive (powered
by reader) or active (powered by battery).
OCR

• OCR (Optical Character Recognition) converts printed text into digital

text by scanning and recognizing characters. This process allows
documents to be quickly digitized and used in word processing, saving
time compared to manual retyping. Advantages include speed, reduced
typing errors, and cost-effectiveness for low-accuracy tasks. However,
OCR may be unreliable with poor-quality or unusual fonts and often
requires manual checking for full accuracy, which can be costly and
time-consuming. OCR is widely used in digitizing documents like
passports and identity cards.
 • Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) is a
scanning technology used to detect and
record the positions of marks on paper,
capturing information for tasks like scoring
exams, processing ballots, and tracking
attendance. OMR is fast and generally
OMR more accurate than manual input but
requires well-aligned, clean forms to avoid
misinterpretation. Its limitations include
the inability to read text and the potential
for paper jams due to high-speed
processing.
Bar Code Reader

• A bar code is a series of black and white lines

of varying thickness, representing digits that
create a code for identifying products.
Scanned with lasers, bar codes allow fast and
accurate data entry, minimizing human error.
They are commonly used in retail and libraries.
A typical bar code contains a country origin
number, manufacturer number, item number,
and check digit, but it does not include the
price.
QR Codes
• QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes
that store information like links, text, and
phone numbers, accessible by scanning
with a smartphone camera and app. They
are widely used in advertising to quickly
direct users to websites. QR codes are
versatile, store large amounts of data, and
can be scanned from any angle. However,
they require a smartphone with a camera
and are relatively new, so not everyone is
familiar with them.
 Advantages
and
Disadvantages
of DDE
Methods
Output Devices

Output devices are required so that the

results of computer processing can be
processed directly (e.g. by controlling
motors) or be displayed to the users of
the system
Monitors
• Monitors are also called computer screens or displays.
• They allow users to view and interact with the computer's interface and software
using input devices (e.g., keyboards and mice).
• Evolution of Monitor Technology
• Older Monitors (CRT Technology)
• Built with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) similar to early TV sets.
• Characteristics:
• Heavy and bulky structure.
• Occupied significant desk space.
• Modern Monitors (LCD, TFT, LED Technology)
• No longer use CRTs, making them thin and lightweight.
• Can be used for various devices such as smartphones and smartwatches.
• Types of Modern Display Technology
• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): Uses liquid crystals to display images.
• TFT (Thin Film Transistor): LCD covered with a thin layer of transistors.
• Common in laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.
• Wall-mountable due to lightweight design.
• Takes up minimal desk space.
• Produces less glare, reducing eye strain.
• LED (Light Emitting Diode): Uses LEDs to display images, often combined with
LCDs for enhanced brightness and energy efficiency.
Touch Screens

• Touch screens are monitors that serve

as both output and input devices,
allowing users to interact with the
operating system and software directly
on the screen, eliminating the need for
mice or other pointing devices. This
dual functionality makes them
convenient and user-friendly,
particularly for mobile devices.
Multimedia
Projectors
• Multimedia projectors display computer
images onto large surfaces, useful for
presentations to large audiences. The
projection size depends on the projector's
brightness. They can be portable or fixed
but rely on a costly, fragile bulb that may
be damaged if moved while hot.
Laser Printer
A laser draws the output on a drum, giving
specific areas a positive electric charge.

Toner (ink powder) sticks to charged areas

on the drum.

The drum transfers toner to paper, and a

fuser heats the paper to bind the toner,
creating a printed copy.
Color printing is possible with four separate
drums for each color toner.
Inkjet Printers
• Use nozzles to squirt ink onto paper, with different
nozzles for different colors.
• A stepper motor moves the paper while the print head
moves across, placing ink precisely to create the
output.
Dot-Metric Printers
• Use pins to press an inked ribbon against paper, creating
colored dots that form patterns to produce the output.
• Advantages
• Suitable for dusty and dirty environments.
• Can print on continuous or single sheets of paper.
• Low printing cost per page.
• Known for reliability and durability.
• Disadvantages
• Slow and noisy operation.
• Poor quality output with limited color options.
• Generally more expensive than inkjet printers.
3D Printers
• 3D printing creates three-dimensional objects
from digital designs, often using CAD software or
3D scanners.
• Builds objects in an additive process, layering
materials (e.g., resin) to form the final structure.
• Applications
• Widely used in medicine to produce items like
bones for implants.
• Capable of printing complex items with moving
parts, e.g., custom-designed bicycles.
• Used in diverse fields to produce car parts, food
items (like chocolate), and prosthetic limbs.
Speakers
• Speakers play sound for multimedia
presentations, music, and other
audio from computers.

Special Uses and Accessibility

• Speakers support blind users
through screen reader software that
reads aloud on-screen content.
• Assist users who have difficulty with
keyboard/mouse input by using
dictation and playback functions.