Digital Devices Peripheral Devices
Types of Peripheral Devices
Peripheral devices are devices that can be connected to a computer, such as a PC or tablet. They
can be connected either inside or outside a computer and are categorized into three types:
1. Input Devices
2. Output Devices
3. Storage Devices
Activity 01: Characteristics of Peripheral Devices
• Create posters that highlight the characteristics and uses of a variety of peripheral
devices.
1. Input Devices
Input peripherals send data to the computer, allowing users to control the computer or store
data captured from external sources.
a) Keyboard
• A keyboard uses keys that the user presses to input text or interact with software.
• Can be wired or wireless.
• Different types exist for various operating systems and languages.
• Shortcuts can be accessed via key combinations.
• Touch-typing helps increase typing speed.
b) Pointing Devices
Pointing devices allow the user to control a pointer on the screen.
Types of pointing devices
(i) Mouse: Uses an optical sensor for movement, affected by the surface.
(ii) Tracker Ball: Rolled to move the pointer, without buttons.
(iii) Track Pad: Senses finger movements, touches, and presses.
(iv) Joystick: Common in gaming to move characters.
(v) Graphics Tablet: Used with a stylus for drawing, especially by digital artists.
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Digital Devices Peripheral Devices
c) Scanner (OCR and OMR)
Scanners convert physical documents into digital images.
• OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software converts text images to text files.
• OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) software detects marks, used in multiple-choice
tests.
d) Barcode Scanner
• Reads barcodes, which represent data about items.
• Linear Barcodes and Matrix Barcodes (QR codes).
• QR codes store more data and can be scanned from any angle.
Activity 02: Matrix Codes
• Create a QR code with a plain text message and ask a friend to scan it.
e) Webcam
• Specialized cameras, often lower quality than camcorders, used for security or streaming
video.
f) Microphone
• Captures sound and converts it into a digital signal for tasks like voice recognition or VoIP
calls.
g) Touch Screen
Two types
i. Resistive
ii. Capacitive.
o Resistive screens use pressure to detect touch, suitable for single touch.
o Capacitive screens detect electrical changes when touched, allowing for multi-
touch, commonly used in smartphones.
h) Biometric Scanner
• Uses physical characteristics to identify individuals, including:
a) Fingerprint Recognition
b) Facial Recognition
c) Voice Recognition
d) Iris Recognition
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Digital Devices Peripheral Devices
Advantages of using Biometric
• More secure than passwords.
• Can speed up transactions.
Disadvantages of using Biometric
• Privacy concerns.
• Expensive and may cause discomfort.
Activity 03: Biometric Scanners
• Research and compare the advantages and disadvantages of biometric methods.
• Create a survey to gather opinions on biometric systems.
i) Card Readers
Read data from cards using methods like magnetic strips, programmable chips, and RFID/NFC.
• Magnetic strips: Least secure.
• Programmable chips: Secure, requires PIN.
• RFID/NFC: Wireless, can be used for various applications like payments.
j) Sensors
Sensors collect data about the physical environment and input it automatically to a computer.
• Common in smart devices (e.g., smartphones, smart homes).
• Can sense factors like light, temperature, motion, and pressure.
Benefits
i. Can operate in remote or dangerous environments.
ii. Continuous monitoring.
iii. Reduce human error.
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Digital Devices Peripheral Devices
2. Output Devices
Output peripherals display or communicate the results of computer processing.
a) Monitor
Displays output from the computer. Features to consider include:
• Screen size (measured diagonally)
• Resolution (measured in pixels)
• Energy efficiency
Some monitors also use touch screen technology.
Activity 04: Using Monitors
• Discuss the different uses for monitors based on size and resolution.
b) Printer
Common printer types:
1. Dot Matrix: Impact printer, noisy, makes multiple copies.
2. Inkjet: Uses liquid ink for printing, often used for photos.
3. Laser: Uses toner and is fast and efficient for high-volume printing.
Comparison
Printer Type Speed Cost Quality Use Cases
Dot Matrix Slow Low Low Multiple copies
Inkjet Fast Medium High Home printing, photos
Laser Fastest Expensive Highest Office printing
c) 3D Printer
• Creates 3D models by adding layers of material. Often used for prototypes and
complex items.
d) Plotter
• Draws high-quality images for professionals like architects and engineers.
e) Data Projector
• Used for presentations and home entertainment.
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Digital Devices Peripheral Devices
Features of Data Projector
i. Light bulb brightness
ii. Resolution
iii. Zoom functionality
iv. Portability
f) Speakers
• Output sound from the computer, often used for stereo or surround sound.
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Digital Devices Peripheral Devices
3. Storage Devices
Used to store data or software. Storage devices can be internal (directly connected to the
motherboard) or external (connected via ports).
Types of Storage Devices
(a) Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
(b) Solid State Drives (SSD)
(c) Optical Disk Drives
(d) Flash Drives
Comparison of Storage Media
Data Access Cost per
Type Max Capacity Common Use Portability
Speed GB
Personal computers,
HDD Fast Varies, up to 128 GB Medium No
servers
Varies, up to many Laptops, mobile
SSD Fastest High Yes
TB devices
CD (700 MB), DVD
Optical Slow Medium Multimedia, backups No
(18 GB)
Flash Varies, up to many
Fastest Very High Portable devices Yes
Media TB
Key Vocabulary
• Virtual memory: Space used by the computer to store instructions and programs
temporarily (in the secondary storage)
• Motherboard: The main circuit that connects all components in a computer.
Good to Know!
• The first IBM disk drive (IBM 350) could store 3.75 MB of data and was very large.
• By 2016, 256 GB microSD cards were available, capable of holding 68,266 IBM 350
disks worth of data!
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