Input and Output Devices are hardware components used to interact with a computer or electronic system. They help in communication between the user and the system.
Input Devices:
Input devices allow users to send data or commands to the computer for processing. These devices enable the computer to receive information from the outside world.
Common Input Devices:
- Keyboard: Used to input text, numbers, and other commands through keys.
- Mouse: A pointing device that allows users to interact with the computer screen by moving a pointer or cursor.
- Scanner: Converts physical documents and images into digital format that a computer can read.
- Microphone: Used to record sound, which can be processed and stored by the computer.
- Touchpad: A touch-sensitive surface, commonly found on laptops, used to control the pointer by moving fingers across the pad.
- Webcam: Captures video or images and sends them to the computer, often used for video calling or recording.
- Joystick: An input device used mainly in gaming or simulation, allowing movement control.
- Digital Camera: Captures still images or videos and transfers them to the computer.
- Barcode Reader: Scans barcodes on products and inputs the data into the computer.
Output Devices:
Output devices allow the computer to communicate information to the user in a readable or perceivable form. These devices display or produce results based on processed data.
Common Output Devices:
- Monitor: Displays text, images, and videos on the screen. It is the primary visual output device for a computer.
- Printer: Produces hard copies of digital documents or images on paper.
- Speakers: Output sound or audio from the computer, often used for music, speech, or alerts.
- Projector: Displays the output from a computer onto a large surface, commonly used in presentations.
- Headphones: Provide audio output directly to the user’s ears.
- Plotter: Produces high-quality graphics and drawings on paper, often used for architectural or engineering purposes.
Difference Between Input and Output Devices:
| Input Devices | Output Devices |
|---|---|
| Allow users to send data to the computer. | Allow the computer to send data to the user. |
| Examples: Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner. | Examples: Monitor, Printer, Speaker. |
| Help in entering information into the system. | Help in displaying or presenting the processed data. |
Input-Output Devices (I/O Devices):
Some devices serve as both input and output devices, allowing for two-way communication. Examples include:
- Touch Screen: A display that serves as both input (touching the screen) and output (showing information).
- Modem: A device used for transmitting and receiving data over the internet.
In summary, input devices are used to provide data to a computer, while output devices are used to display or communicate the results of computer processing to the user.
Leave a Reply