Objectives: Subunits are

• Input devices and their uses

• Direct data entry and associated devices
• Output devices and their uses
2.1 Input devices and their uses:

Keyboard Numeric keypad Mouse

To enter any text data
(Numbers, letters, special
characters) to the device in
a computer keyboard,
mobile keyboard etc.
To enter numbers or move To move the cursor, to
the cursor up, down, left, point, to scroll windows,
right in a Remote control, Select windows, Click icons,
POS device, Calculator, point and choose menus
phone etc. Options, position a pointer.

Touch pad Tracker ball Joystick

To work as an alternative
to a mouse as an inbuilt
part in a laptop.
Remote control
To choose from a menu
option for a TV, AC,
curtain, car etc.
Another alternative to a Used in computer games
mouse generally used by and simulators.
people with disability of
motor skills and difficult
to handle a mouse .
1
2.1 Input devices and their uses:
Driving Wheel
An alternative to Joystick , used
in computer games and simulators.
Touch Screen
To choose from a set of
options at an ATM, to type
in in a tablet or laptop, to
feed in input in an
interactive while board.
Scanner
To scan a hard copy
document, to scan a small
piece of information from
any part of an image, text
or even temperature.

Digital camera
To take still or moving
pictures directly into any
storage device in a
camera, mobile phone,
tablet
Web Cam
To take still pictures or
video from a fixed
position & stores directly
into a computer.
Microphone
To input voice into a device
which can be computer,
tablet or a smart phone.
Graphics tablet (digitizer)
and light pen
To input any hand written
work to the computer or
any processing device.
3D scanner 2
2.1 Input devices and their uses: Sensors
Temperature sensor
(thermistor)
To input the temperature
from the surrounding (AC)
Light(Ultra violet) sensor
To input the light intensity
from the environment.
Humidity sensor
To check the water content
in an environment around
in soil, in atmosphere, on
the surface of an object etc
Proximity sensor
To check the distance
between the sensor and
the object in a robot,
behind a car, in a parking.
Motion sensor
To detect the movement
of any object in front of a Pressure sensor
specific area like To detect the pressure imposed
surveillance or on the by an object in a smart phone, on
road at traffic signal or in an escalator or any pressure pad.
front of a door in a mall.
Touch(tactile) sensor
To detect the physical touch
Sound sensor
To detect the sound from Electromagnetic field sensor
the surrounding To detect the magnetic field
created by an electric current by
Infra-red sensor a vehicle in a road signal.
To detect a beam of light
from any infra red source Ph sensor
like in an elevator or To detect the Acidity or base level
remote control. of a liquid
Human Vital sensors
CO2, O2 sensors
Blood pressure , Glucose
To detect the levels of
detection, Heart Rate, ECG sensor,
pollution in water or in the
O2 sensor, Pulse Rate etc.
environment.
3
2.2 Direct Data entry and associated devices:
Magnetic Stripe Readers
To read data found on
magnetic stripes found on
the back of cards.
Radio Frequency Identification
readers
Reads the data stored on RFID tags
using radio waves from a distance,
very fast and in bulk(many tags can be
read at once)
Chip and Pin Readers/
bank card readers
To pay securely in a EFTPOS
counter
Contact less card readers
Point the card from a distance
of few centimeters using RFID
technology and the payment
is made. Generally used for
small payments.
Dubai Toll Gates
4
2.2 Direct Data entry and associated devices:
Magnetic Ink character Reader (MICR) Optical Mark Reader Barcode readers
To read the magnetic data stored on the (OMR) To scan the barcodes on
bottom of the bank cheques. To read the pencil a product at POS
marks and to store in
the computer.

Quick Response Code

Optical Character Reader (OCR) It scans the written content
(QR) readers
and converts into editable text.
To scan a QR code placed
for any object, recipe or
an application.

5
2.3 Output devices and their uses: Softcopy
CRT monitor
Heavy, more power consumption
but it was cheap
Other output devices
• Touch screen – to directly input and
see at the same time
• Projector – to display on a large screen
Flat screen - Liquid Flat screen – Light Emitting
Crystal Display/ In-plane Diode (LED)
switching (LCD) Smaller, lighter better
Smaller, lighter, less quality screens generally
power consumption and used in high resolution
quick response time. screens , outdoor billboards,
destination signs. Very
energy efficient but
expensive (mobile screens)
6
2.3 Output devices and their uses: Hard copy - printers
Dot matrix printer
1. Uses a ribbon which is very cheap
2. Prints multiple copies in one print
(multipart carbon copy)
3. Continuous stationary
But.. only prints texts and letters and one
letter at a time .
Generally used for bills and invoices.
Ink Jet / Desk Jet printer
1. Uses cartridge liquid ink. Hence can
dry up when not in use.
2. Very good quality and also called
photographic prints.
3. Printer is cheap to buy.
But… running cost is more and prints one
line at a time.
Generally used at home for personal use.
7
2.3 Output devices and their uses: Hard copy - printers
Laser printer
1. Uses Tonner to print which is dry
powered & lasts longer.
2. Prints good quality and a page at a
time. Hence very fast than other type
of printers.
3. Since ink does not dry up so fast, the
tonner lasts longer. Hence less
running cost.
But.. Initial cost of the printer is high.
Generally used in offices to print in large
numbers.
Wide format printer
1. Large glossy format printing is
needed.
2. It prints on a backlit paper. Hence
even if the light is focused from
behind, no shadow is created.
3. Used for Large banners and posters
Generally used for billboards, signs,
posters
8
2.3 Output devices and their uses: Hard copy - printers
3D printer Graph plotter
Printing solid objects by building layer 1. Large A0 printing
upon layer. 2. Plots using a pen.
• Prosthetic limbs 3.Exclusively used for 2D or 3D drawings
• Manufacturing Parts Generally used for engineering drawings.
• Medical Applications
• Construction
• Fashion/Arts

Thermal printers Speaker

1. Prints using laser technology To output the sound
2. The ink dries up very quickly and from the computer
evaporates. Writing does not remain for
long. Uses a continuous role of paper
3.Generally used at POS, ATM, EFTPOS etc.
9
2.3 Output devices and their uses: Actuators – Digital to mechanical activity
Motor Buzzer/Sound Heater
Spins things around Creates noise Increases
and alarm temperature

Examples
Examples In microwave when the food is Examples
Water pumps ready, Room heaters,
Open the door in car doors when the door is open, Hand driers,
Water Sprinkers In car when you exceed speed limit, Washing machine driers

Lights
Creates lights/lits light
Examples
In microwave shoes it is on,
Memory stick when it is working,
CPU when it is processing,
automatic corridor lights,
Automatic street lights
10