Input and Output devices of computer: Functions & Questions With Example

Input and Output devices of computer: An input/output device, often known as an IO device, is any hardware that allows a human operator or other systems to interact with a computer. Input and output devices are important components of a computer. These enable the system to function properly in the absence of external assistance. The input enables the user to provide data, whereas the output completes the data-related operation. These are all auxiliary devices that connect to the device and perform all of the necessary functions.

Input Devices of Computer

The input devices enable users to send signals to the computer in order for it to complete a certain task. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) then receives the signal and transmits it to the output devices. Input devices are further classified, such as visual or auditory, discrete or continuous, and direct or indirect. Some examples of Input devices are:

Keyboard

The most commonly used type of input device is a keyboard. They link to the computer via wifi or a USB system. There are keys for everything: numbers, letters, characters, and functions. The typing keys are A-Z and the numeric keys until 09. There are different varieties of keyboards, but the most common is QWERTY.

Mouse

A mouse is a hand-held input device that allows users to move the cursor on the screen. It operates on a level surface, with a wheel positioned between the left and right buttons. Laptops have a touchpad, which serves the same purpose as of mouse  Douglas C. Engelbart was the first to invent the mouse in 1063.

Optical scanners

Optical scanners can read marks made using a pen or pencil. It is frequently used by educational institutions to examine objective test papers.

Barcode Reader

It is a reading device that is used to read barcode information on products, books, etc. Both stationary and handheld scanners scan the image by converting it to an alphanumeric value on the computer.

Microphone

It has a voice input system built in, that receives sound signals and converts them into digital form. It is a device, commonly used in music-related apps and multimedia presentations.

Scanner

A scanner is an input device that transfers information from paper to a computer much like a photocopy does. This is primarily used to modify data by converting an image to a digital format and then printing it.

Light Pen

Light Pen is a pointing device with a pen-like shape that enables users to select and even draw on the screen. The compact tube has built-in photocells and optical components that enable the signal flow to the CPU. When the button is pressed, the pen’s tip moves on the screen, and the CPU receives the signals.

Joystick

A joystick is also a pointing device that is used for moving the cursor on a display screen. However, it’s not the same as a mouse, for moving the cursor. It has a sphere-shaped ball-and-stick configuration. It is a computer tool made primarily for gaming that can move in all directions.

Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)

MICR is a device that is found in banks as banks have to deal with a large number of cheques every day. The magnetic ink in the bank’s code number and the cheque number enables machines to read the letters. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition technique is used in this procedure. It is quick and has fewer errors.

Optical Character Reader (OCR)

It is a reading device that scans printed text character by character to read it. Before storing them in the system memory, it first turns them into machine-readable code.

Output devices of computer

After the input device has processed the data, the output devices are responsible for showing the outcome. It could take the shape of an image, graphic, text, or audio file. These devices display the visual elements on the screen. Examples of output devices are:

Printers

Printers are output devices that enable the user to print data or information on paper. Impact printers, character printers, line printers, laser printers, etc are different types of printers.

Speakers

Speaker is a sound-producing output device that responds to computer commands by making a sound. Computers along with other hardware devices are also supported by them. Bluetooth-enabled wireless speakers are now available as well.

Projector

This optical device displays both stationary and moving images on the screen. They can be found in auditoriums, movie theatres, etc. It establishes a connection with the computer and extends the image’s viewing area.

Monitor

The most important output device for providing the user with a pixel-based visual is the visual display unit. Monitors are also known as Visual Display Units (VDUs). It produces images by arranging small dots, called pixels. Image sharpness is determined by these pixels.

Video Card

This component fits inside the motherboard sockets of a computer system. It improvises the look of digital content on other output devices. It becomes essential now because many people have multiple devices for personal usage nowadays.

Headphones

Another name for headphones is headsets. The only difference between headphones and a speaker is the frequency of sound. This device has a lower sound frequency and is also difficult to hear in large places such as lawns and parks. Only the individual using them can hear the sound.

Both the Input and Output devices of the computer

Some devices have features that make them suitable as both input and output devices. They have the capability to both receive and transmit data, becoming useful for both purposes.

• Headset: It has an input device (the microphone) and an output device (the speaker).
• Modems: These devices are in charge of using telephone connections to transport data from one device to another.
• Facsimile: This type of fax machine has a printer as the output device and a scanner as the input device.
• USB drive: It is a removable storage medium that can transfer data between devices and receive data from any computer.
• CD Drives: It stores information from the computer in the specified format and can also transfer information to other devices with disk space.

What is the difference between Input and Output Devices?

Input and Output devices of computer: Sample Questions

Q.1 Which of the following is a direct entry input device?

1. optical scanner
2. mouse
3. light pen
4. all of these

Sol.(d)

Q.2 Dot-matrix is a which type of device?

1. Printer
2. Scanner
3. Monitor
4. Keyboard

Sol.(a)

Q.3 What device is used for entering x – y co-ordinates?

1. Card reader
2. Joystick
3. Keyboard
4. All of these

Sol.(b)

Q.4 Which one of the following is required when more than one person uses a central computer at the same time?

1. Terminal
2. Light pen
3. Digitizer
4. Mouse

Sol.(a)

Q.5 What provides the linkage between the CPU and the users?

1. Peripheral devices
2. Storage
3. Control unit
4. Software

Sol.(a)

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