CLASSIFICATION OF PERIPHERAL DEVICES

DEVICE CATEGORY PURPOSE

Keyboard Input To type/enter data
Screen Output Display video and graphic output generated by a
computer
HDD Storage Store hard disk media
Mouse Input Control the movement of the pointer
Printer Output Display generated output onto sheets of paper
3D Printer Output Create real life versions of digital models
Plotter Output Draw HQ images onto large sheets of paper
Tracker Ball Input Rolled to move the mouse pointer (doesn’t have buttons
to press)
SSD Storage Store flash memory media
Microphone Input Capture sound and convert to electric signals
Tracker Pad Input Detects finger contact and translates into a function on
the screen
Projector Output To project computer output onto a screen/ wall
Web Cam Input Digital video camera where image captured is viewed by a
computer
Joystick Input / Output Used in game controllers to move sprites in a game
(vibrating feeling
when playing)
Smart Board Input / Output Inputs and outputs information from the computer system
on the same screen. (Used in news reporting, weather
forecasting)
Graphics Tab Input Draw detailed digital designs on it with a stylus
Scanner Input Record physical documents as images
 OCR Input Identification of printed or written text characters by a
computer and saving of them as a text file
OMR Input Interpret pencil marks on a piece of paper. (Ex:
Recognizing and recording responses to a multiple choice
test)
Flash Drive Storage Contain flash memory media
Optical Disk Drive Storage Contain optical disk media
Magnetic Tape Storage To store data in large organizations
Barcode Reader Input Reads barcodes to identify items for sale
Touch Screen Input/output Senses touch and display output on the screen
Biometric Scanner Input Input biometric attributes to authenticate access
QR code reader Input Take a piece of information from a media and put it in to
your cell phone
Smart Card Input Used as a method of identification and authentication
with all personal data
Modem Input/output Send and receive data to and from a computer
Card Reader Input Store data on a card that is carried by a user
RFID Input Identify RFID tags to decode and identify a product
(livestock management)
Sensor Input Detect physical events or changes in its environment
MICR Input To authenticate checks
Speaker Output Allow computer to output sound
Control Output Components of a system that make something happen in
Device/Actuator the real world