Computer Input & Output Devices
Easy Study Notes - Exam Preparation
PART 1: INPUT DEVICES (How we give data to computer)
Input devices are tools we use to send information INTO the computer.
1. Keyboard
• Used to type letters, numbers, and symbols
• Like a typewriter but for computers
• Has special keys: Function keys (F1-F12), Delete, Backspace, Arrow keys
• Can be wired (with cable) or wireless (no cable, uses Bluetooth)
• Mobile phones use: Slide-out keyboard, On-screen keyboard, or Keyboard dock
• Daily life example: Typing a WhatsApp message or writing a Word document
2. Mouse (Pointing Device)
• A device you slide on a table to move the cursor on screen
• Used to: select things, move files, click buttons
• Types of mice:
◦ Old mouse = uses a ball inside to track movement
◦ Optical/Laser mouse = uses light to track movement (no ball)
◦ Touch mouse = supports swipe gestures like a phone
• Daily life example: Clicking on a YouTube video or dragging a file to a folder
3. Pen / Stylus
• A pen-shaped device used to write or draw on screen
• Also called: digital pen, electronic pen, tablet pen
• Uses: drawing, signing documents, writing notes on tablets
• Types:
◦ Digital Writing System: Writes on special paper, sends to computer
◦ Graphics Tablet: Flat touch pad connected to computer via USB
◦ Signature Capture Device: Used at shops to record your signature
• Daily life example: Signing on a delivery app screen or drawing in Photoshop
4. Touch Screen
• Screen you can touch with fingers to give commands
• Very common on smartphones, tablets, laptops
• Multi-touch: recognizes more than one finger at a time (like pinch-to-zoom)
• Table PC: A large computer screen built into a table
• Daily life example: Using your phone to scroll Instagram or tap apps
5. Other Pointing Devices
• Trackball: Like an upside-down mouse, ball on top - you roll it with fingers
• Touch Pad: Flat surface on laptops, swipe finger to move cursor
• Gaming Devices: Joystick, gamepad, steering wheel, guitar controller
• Daily life example: Using a laptop touchpad or playing a racing game with a
steering wheel
6. Perceptual Computing (Advanced Input)
• Control computer using 3D gestures, voice, and facial expressions
• No need to touch anything (noncontact system)
• Allows full body input from a slight distance
• Daily life example: Xbox Kinect where you move your body to control a game
7. Scanners (Optical Scanners)
• Reads printed text or images and sends them to computer as digital file
• Types: Flatbed scanner, Portable scanner, 3D scanner, Receipt scanner
• Scanning quality measured in DPI (dots per inch) - more DPI = better quality but
bigger file
• Daily life example: Scanning your ID card or a receipt at a pharmacy
8. Readers
• Barcode Reader: Reads barcodes (the black lines on products)
• Common barcodes: UPC (on products), QR codes (on menus/ads), ISBN (on
books)
• Daily life example: Cashier scanning product at a grocery store
• RFID Reader: Reads tiny chips inside tags using radio waves
• Tag does NOT need to be visible, just nearby
• Uses: tracking packages, toll booths, hospital patient tracking, border security
• Daily life example: Motorway toll collection or passport scanning at airports
• OMR (Optical Mark Reader): Reads marks on special forms
• Daily life example: Scoring a multiple-choice exam sheet
• OCR (Optical Character Recognition): Converts scanned text into editable text
• Daily life example: Scanning a printed document and editing it in Word
• MICR Reader: Reads special magnetic characters printed on checks
• Daily life example: Bank processing a cheque/check
• Biometric Reader: Reads fingerprints or voice to identify a person
• Daily life example: Unlocking your phone with fingerprint, or ATM with thumb
9. Digital Cameras
• Takes pictures and records them as digital files
• Digital Still Camera: Takes photos, measured in megapixels, stores on memory
card
• Digital Video Camera: Records videos (camcorders, webcams)
• Uses: Surveillance cameras, video calls (Zoom/Teams), face recognition
• Daily life example: Front camera on your phone for selfies or video calls
10. Audio Input
• Microphone/headset: Records your voice into the computer
• Voice input: Spoken words converted to digital format
• Used for: Podcasts, voice calls (VoIP), speech-to-text
• Speech recognition: Computer understands and converts voice to text
• Daily life example: Talking to Google Assistant / Siri, or recording a voice note
11. Mobile Deposits (Special Input - Camera)
• Take photo of a cheque using smartphone camera
• App sends the image to your bank automatically
• Daily life example: Depositing a cheque at home without going to the bank
PART 2: OUTPUT DEVICES (How computer shows us results)
Output devices show or produce the results from the computer.
12. Display Devices (Monitors & Screens)
• Shows output visually on a screen
• Monitor = display for a desktop computer
• Display screen = built into laptops, phones, tablets, smartwatches, TVs
• Also found in: digital photo frames, e-book readers, kitchen appliances, billboards
• Display types:
◦ Color vs. Monochrome (color vs. black/white)
◦ CRT = old, big, heavy monitors (like old TV)
◦ Flat-panel = modern, thin, light monitors
• Screen Resolution: Number of pixels (tiny dots) on screen - more pixels =
sharper image
• Screen Size: Measured diagonally from corner to corner
• Daily life example: Watching a YouTube video on your laptop screen
13. Video Adapters & Connections
• Video card = determines how good graphics look on screen
• VGA, DVI, HDMI = common ways to connect monitor to computer
• USB display adapters also available now
• Wired display: connected by cable; Wireless display: via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
• Daily life example: Connecting laptop to a projector or big TV via HDMI cable
14. Flat Panel Display Technologies
• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): Uses liquid crystals + backlighting - very common
• LED: Used for backlighting LCD panels, also in alarm clocks, decorative lights
• OLED (Organic LED): Thinner than LCD, wider viewing angle, used in phones
and cameras
• Special OLEDs:
◦ FOLED (Flexible OLED): Can bend - used in flexible/foldable screens
◦ TOLED (Transparent OLED): See-through display
◦ PHOLED: More efficient, converts more energy to light (less heat)
• IMOD: Uses external light like a mirror - visible even in sunlight - good for phones
• Plasma: Uses gas layers between glass - being replaced by LCDs
• E-Paper: Used in e-readers (Kindle), easy to read in sunlight, very low power
• Daily life example: Your phone screen is OLED, Kindle uses E-Paper
15. Wearable & Special Displays
• Wearable display: Projects images onto glasses (like Google Glass)
• Touch/Gesture displays: Kiosks, gaming devices, mobile phones, tablets
• Daily life example: Smart glasses used in warehouses or by surgeons
16. Data and Multimedia Projectors
• Projects computer output onto a wall or screen
• Found in: classrooms, conference rooms, cinemas
• Pico projectors: Pocket-sized, connect to phones
• Hologram projectors: Display 3D images in air
• 3D projectors: Need 3D glasses to view
• Daily life example: Teacher using a projector in class or home theater setup
17. Printers
• Converts digital files into printed paper output
• Types by technology:
◦ Impact printer (Dot Matrix): Strikes a ribbon to print - used for multi-copy
forms
◦ Non-Impact: Ink-jet and Laser - quieter, better quality
• Laser Printer:
◦ Uses toner powder (like a photocopier)
◦ Standard for offices and business documents
◦ Prints one full page at a time
◦ Faster and better quality than ink-jet
◦ Resolution: 600 to 2,400 DPI
◦ Daily life example: Printing job application documents at a print shop
• Ink-Jet Printer:
◦ Sprays tiny ink droplets to make images
◦ Uses ink cartridges
◦ Usually prints in color
◦ Popular for home use - cheaper to buy
◦ Slower than laser printers
◦ Daily life example: Home printer used to print photos or school homework
• Printer Features:
◦ Print Resolution: Measured in DPI - 300 dpi (general), 1200 dpi (photos),
2400 dpi (professional)
◦ Print Speed: Measured in PPM (pages per minute) - 15 to 65 PPM
◦ Personal printer: connects to one computer
◦ Network printer: connects to whole office network, can do cloud printing
◦ Multifunction / All-in-one: Can print, copy, scan, and fax
• Special Purpose Printers:
◦ Barcode/label/postage printers
◦ Photo printers
◦ Wide-format ink-jet printers (for banners/posters)
◦ 3D printers: Can print physical 3D objects up to basketball size!
◦ Daily life example: Getting a printed receipt at a shop = label printer; printing a
3D toy model = 3D printer
18. Audio Output
• Speakers and headphones play sound from the computer
• Daily life example: Listening to music on Spotify or hearing notification sounds
QUICK EXAM TIPS
• Input = data GOES INTO computer | Output = results COME OUT of computer
• Laser printer = office/business | Ink-jet = home use
• DPI = quality of print/scan | PPM = speed of printing
• RFID = radio waves, no line of sight needed | Barcode = must be visible
• OCR = turns scanned image of text into editable text
• OLED = thinner & better than LCD | E-Paper = Kindle-style, low power
• Biometric = fingerprint/voice for security (phone unlock, ATM)
• 3D printer = prints real physical objects, not just paper