Lesson 3: Input, Output, and Storage

I. Input Devices Enable a user to input data and commands for the computer to be processed

A. THE KEYBOARD
➢Most widely used input device
➢Electric signals: represent a key that is sent to the computer
➢ Divided into sections:
1. Typewriter Keys: These are the standard alphabetic and numeric characters.
2. Function Keys: are special keys that perform specific function for application.
3. Numeric Keypad: used for mathematical operations
4. Directional keys: used to move the cursor around the screen

B. THE MOUSE:
i. It is a pointing device, that rolls around a flat surface and controls the location of the pointer on the
screen.
ii.Performs the following functions:
1. Pointing: placing the on-screen pointer at a specific place
2. Clicking: Pressing and releasing the mouse button
3. Dragging: holding down the mouse button and drag objects to new location
4. Double Clicking: Pressing and releasing twice.
5. Right-Clicking: pressing the right mouse button

iii.Other devices that control the on-screen pointer:

1. The trackball:
a. This is like a mouse turned upside down. You roll a ball around with fingers to control
the location of the pointers. Mostly found in notebook computers.
2. Joystick and wheel: Joysticks consist of a metal or plastic handle mounted on a base
a. Used for video games
b. Have buttons that can be pushed to control input/output

c. POINTING STICK: A pressure-sensitive device that resembles a pencil eraser, mostly on notebook computers
d. GRAPHICS TABLET: A flat drawing surface and the figure or writing can be input to the computer for processing
e. TOUCH DISPLAY: Screens that contain pictures or shapes that the user can press to input the data
f. TOUCHPAD: Used mostly in notebooks or laptops.
g. AUDIO/VOICE INPUT: usually require a microphone and special voice recognition software to be installed. Use to
input sound/voice.
h. SCANNERS: they can convert a graphical image into a digital image and input it to the computer
i. Image Scanners: images and text
ii.Bar Code Scanners: read product codes
iii.Magnetic Scanners: read the magnetic strip in a credit card. Images can be input directly to the
computer.
i. VIDEO INPUT: Input from a camcorder or VCR using video capture cards.
j. BIOMETRIC INPUT: Uses fingerprint, face, handwriting, voice for identification

k. MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES:

i. Small, portable disks that hold limited amount of data
ii.Hard disks: large capacity and fast access storage devices
iii.Zip disks: Auxiliary storage devices that hold large quantities of data/ portable
iv.Magnetic Tape Drives: Used to make system backups and to store large quantities of data.
 L. SOLID-STATE STORAGE MEDIA
i. Non-volatile removable media
ii.Miniature mobile media
1. Uses integrated circuits
iii.USB flash drive
1. Connects to the computer via a USB port
M. OPTICAL STORAGE DEVICES

i. CD-DA: Audio Cd
ii.CD-R: allows you to read and write it to a compact disk
iii.CD-ROM: hold large amounts of data, but is read-only access
iv.CD-RW: Can be written on several times
v.DVD-ROM: Read-only DVD format
vi.DVD-R: Similar to CD, but holds more data; read-only
vii.DVD-RW: Can be written on several times
viii.PhotoCD: Used for storing digital photographs on a CD

II. Caring for storage media:

n. Keep away from magnetic fields.
o. Avoid extreme temperatures.
p. Never try to disassemble the case.
q. Remove media from drive when not being used.
r. Write-protect important data.
s. Hold optical disks at their edges.
t. Never remove the media from the drive if the access light is on.
u. Keep disks in a sturdy case when transporting them.

III. Output Devices enable the computer to give or show the results of its processing

v. MONITORS:

i. This is used to display video output to a user.

ii.This produces soft copy
iii.Monitors may be monochromatic or color.
1. Monochromatic monitors display output in a single-color display.
iv.Factors that influence the quality of monitors:
1. Screen size: The diagonal measurement in inches of the display area
2. Resolution: The number of pixels that can be displayed in the display area
3. Dot pitch: The distance between each pixel in the display area

W. PRINTERS

i. Used to create a hard copy of a document or image.

ii.Printers vary by speed, quality, and price.
iii.The most popular types of printers:
1. Laser: Produce images using the same techniques as copier machines
2. Ink jet: Use fine nozzles to spray ink onto the page as the paper passes through
3. Dot matrix: Work similarly to a typewriter in that ink is transferred to the paper by some part of
the printer striking a ribbon to transfer an image

X. SPEAKERS AND HEADSETS

Y. FAX MACHINES AND FAX MODEMS
Z. MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICES
AA. CONTAIN A VARIATION OF OUTPUT OPTIONS
 ab. DATA PROJECTOR

IV. Connecting I/O Devices to the computer:

➢ Input and output devices must be connected to the computer before they can be used.
i. Plug the device into an existing socket or port on the back of the computer.
ii.Install an expansion card with the port you need included on the back of the card.
iii.Connect wirelessly.