Chapter 7 : Input and Output

What is Input ?

Input is any data and instructions entered into the memory of a computer. Input method that commonly used by user are keyboard, pointing devices, touch screens, pen input, motion input, voice input, video input, scanners and reading devices.

A keyboard is an input device that contains keys users press to enter data and instructions into a computer or mobile device. An ergonomic keyboard has a design that reduces the chance of repetitive strain injuries. Ergonomics incorporates comfort, efficiency, and safety into the design of the workplace.

A pointer is a small symbol on the screen whose location and shape change as a user moves a pointing device. For example of pointing devices is a mouse. A mouse is a pointing device that fits under the palm of your hand comfortably. There were several type of mouse which is optical mouse, laser mouse and touch mouse. Besides, touchpad, pointing stick, and trackball also some example of pointing devices. A touchpad is a small, flat, rectangular pointing devices that is sensitive to pressure and motion. A pointing stick is a pressure sesitive pointing devices shaped like a pencil eraser that is positioned between keys on mobile computer keyboard. A trackball is a stationary pointing devices with a ball on its top or side.

With pen input, you touch a stylus or digital pen on a flat surface to write, draw, or make selections. We can see example of pen input if our friends use Samsung galaxy notes. A graphics tablet, also called a digitizer, is an electronic plastic board that detects and converts movements of a style or digital pen into signals that are sent to the computer.

With motion input, sometimes called gesture recognition, users can guide on-screen elements using air gestures. Sometimes we play a game with motion input that need our gesture to move in the game.

Voice input is the process of entering input by speaking into a microphone. Voice recognition, also called speech recognition, is the computer or mobile device’s capability of distinguishing spoken words.

Audio input is the process of entering any sound into the computer such as speech, music, and sound effects. Music production software allows users to record, compose, mix, and edit music and sounds.

Video input is the process of capturing full-motion images and storing them on a computer or mobile device’s storage medium.

A webcam is a type of digital video (DV) camera that enables a user to capture video and still images, conduct video conferences, make video calls, send email messages with video attachment and broadcast live images.

A scanner is a light-sensing input device that reads printed text and graphics and then translates the results into a form the computer can process. A flatbed scanner works in a manner similar to a copy machine except it creates a file of the document in memory instead of a paper copy. An optical reader is a device that uses a light source to read characters,  marks, and codes and then converts them into digital data that a computer can process. For example, optical character recognition can recognize out specific plat number on car. Optical Mark recognition (OMR), this usually used in marking exam OMR paper in huge quantites. A bar code reader, also called a bar code scanner uses laser beams to read bar codes. A QR code stores information in both a vertical and horizontal direction. Magstripe readers read the magnetic stripe on the back of cards such as credit cards, entertainment card ( watching movies ), bank cards, and identification cards.

What is Output ?

Output is data that has been processed into a useful form. The example of output devices are display, printers, speakers, headphones, earbuds, data projector, and games devices.

A display visually conveys text, graphics, and video information. A monitor is a display that is packaged as a separate peripheral device. Today’s monitors use a digital signal to produce a picture. To display the highest quality images, the monitor should plug into a DVI port, and HDMI port and a display port. Home users sometimes use a digital television (DTV) as a display. HDTV is the most advanced form of digital television. A Smart TV is an Internet-enabled HDTV.

A printer produces text and graphics on a physical medium. A nonimpact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually contacting the paper. Follows are the well known printer. Ink-jet printer, photo printers, laser printers, all-in-one printers, thermal printers, label printers, impact printers, and mobile printers.

Many users attach surround sound speakers or speaker systems to their computers, game consoles, and mobile devices to generate higher-quality sounds. Headphones are speakers that cover or are placed outside of the ear. Earbuds (also called earphones) rest inside the ear canal.

A data projector is a device that takes the text and images displaying on a computer or mobile device screen and projects them on a larger screen.

Joysticks, wheels, gamepads, and motion-sensing game controllers can be considered output devices when they include force feedback. Its a technology that send resistance to the devices in response to actions of the users.

In our development of technology, there were assistive technology input and output to help blind people in this world. Braille input and Braille printer were being invented.