Input+and+Output+Devices


 * Input and Output Devices﻿ == ==

What is Output?
|| ===Input=

Storage
|| ||   || **Output** is data that has been processed into useful form, now called **Information**

Types of Output
printed on paper or other permanent media || displayed on screen or by other non-permanent means ||
 * [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/hard.jpg width="100" height="100" align="center" caption="printed copy gif"]] || **Hard copy:**
 * [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/soft.jpg width="100" height="115" align="center" caption="screen display gif"]] || **Soft copy:**

Categories of Output
charts, graphs, pictures || **Multimedia** combination of text, graphics, video, audio ||
 * [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/txt.jpg width="77" height="100" align="center"]] || [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/gra.jpg width="100" height="100" align="center" caption="chart gif"]] || [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/multi.jpg width="125" height="112" align="center" caption="multimedia - sound and graphics"]] ||
 * **Text documents** including reports, letters, etc. || **Graphics**

The most used means of Output are the printer and the computer screen. Let's look at the features of each.

The job of a printer is to put on paper what you see on your monitor. How easy this is to do and how successfully it is done determines whether or not you are happy with your printer choice. Monitor screens and printers do not use the same formatting rules. In the olden days of computers, the way something looked on the screen could be VERY different from how it would look when printed. Early word processors didn't have a way to show what the printed version would look like. Now a word processor that doesn't have print preview, would be laughed off the shelf. Most have a WYSIWYG view, where you see almost exactly what the document will look like in print, while you are still working on it. ||
 * = PRINTER =


 * == How fast? == || The speed of a printer is measured in: || **cps** || = characters per second ||
 * **lpm** || = lines per minute ||
 * **ppm** || = pages per minute ||
 * The faster the printing, the more expensive the printer. ||  || [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/speeeed.jpg width="150" height="74" align="middle" caption="Speed gif"]] ||

What paper type used?

 * **Continuous-Form Paper** || [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/stack.jpg width="106" height="90" align="center" caption="continuous paper gif"]] ||
 * || //Advantage:// || Don’t need to put in new paper often ||
 * //Disadvantage:// || May need to separate the pages and remove the strips of perforations ||  ||
 * **Single Sheet** || [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/single.jpg width="75" height="103" align="center" caption="single page gif"]] ||
 * || //Advantage:// || Can change to special paper easily, like letterhead or envelopes ||
 * //Disadvantage:// || Must add paper more often ||  ||

What print quality?
A more numerical measure of print quality is **printer resolution**. Measured in **dots per inch** ( **dpi** ), this determines how smooth a diagonal line the printer can produce. A resolution of 300 dpi will produce text that shows jagged edges only under a magnifying glass. A lower resolution than this will produce text with stair-step edges, especially at large sizes. Even higher resolutions are needed to get smooth photo reproduction. Professionals in graphics use 1200 to 2400 dpi printers.
 * LQ || Letter Quality = || as good as best typewriter output ||
 * NLQ || Near Letter Quality = || nearly as good as best typewriter output ||
 * Draft |||| used internally or for a test print ||
 * The better the quality, the slower the printing. ||

What will it print?
Printers vary in what varieties of type they can print. You must know the limits of your printer to avoid unhappy surprises! || One point = 1/72 of an inch like: 12 pt 18 pt 24 pt 36 pt Use 10 or 12 pt for writing a letter or report. ||
 * Typeface || Set of letters, numbers, and special characters with similar design
 * Styles || **Bold**, //italic//, __underlined__... ||
 * Size || Measured in points
 * Font || A complete set of letters, etc. in the same typeface, style, and size ||
 * Color || Printing in color takes longer, uses more expensive inks/toner, looks best on more expensive papers, but can add a lot to the quality of the output ||
 * Graphics ||  || Pictures add a lot to a document, but not all printers can print graphics. || [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/paint.jpg width="100" height="65" align="center" caption="painter's palette with various colors"]] ||   ||



Input Devices


 * === Input ===

Storage
|| ||

Everything we tell the computer is **Input**.

Types of Input
**Data** is the raw **facts** given to the computer. **Programs** are the sets of **instructions** that direct the computer. **Commands** are special codes or **key words** that the user inputs to perform a task, like RUN "ACCOUNTS". These can be selected from a menu of commands like "Open" on the File menu. They may also be chosen by clicking on a **command button**. **User response** is the user's answer to the computer's question, such as choosing OK, YES, or NO or by typing in text, for example the name of a file.

Keyboard
The first **input device** we will look at is the **Keyboard**.



POINTING DEVICES
A variety of pointing devices are used to move the cursor on the screen. The most commonly used ones have two or three buttons to click and for special functions.

There are new mice that don't have a ball. They use a laser to sense the motion of the mouse instead. High tech! || || Repeated motion can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome ||
 * ** Mouse ** || A ball underneath rolls as the mouse moves across the mouse pad. The cursor on the screen follows the motion of the mouse. Buttons on the mouse can be clicked or double-clicked to perform tasks, like to select an icon on the screen or to open the selected document.
 * ||||  || //Advantage:// || Moves cursor around the screen faster than using keystrokes. ||
 * //Disadvantage:// || Requires moving hand from keyboard to mouse and back.

|| Is not as tiring since less motion is needed. || Repeated motions of the same muscles is tiring and can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. ||
 * ** Trackball ** || Instead of moving the whole mouse around, the user rolls the trackball only, which is on the top or side. || [[image:http://teachmecomputers.tripod.com/tr.jpg align="center" caption="trackball"]]
 * ||||  || //Advantage:// || Does not need as much desk space as a mouse.
 * //Disadvantage:// || Requires fine control of the ball with just one finger or thumb.
 * Input / Output and Storage Devices**||~ **Input**
 * ~ **Output** ||~ **Storage** ||
 * Keyboard || Monitor || Floppy Disk ||
 * Mouse || Printers (all types) || Diskette ||
 * Trackballs || Audio Card || Hard Disk ||
 * Touchpads || Plotters || Disk Cartridge ||
 * Pointing Sticks || LCD Projection Panels || CD-ROM ||
 * Joysticks || Computer Output Microfilm (COM) || Optical Disk ||
 * Pen Input || Facsimile (FAX) || Magnetic Tape ||
 * Touch Screen || Speaker(s) || Cartridge Tape ||
 * Light Pen || . || Reel Tape ||
 * Digitizer || . || PC Card ||
 * Graphics Tablet || . || *RAID ||
 * Scanner || . || *Memory Button ||
 * Microphone || . || *Smart Card ||
 * Electronic Whiteboard || . || *Optical Memory Card ||
 * Video Cards || . || . ||
 * Audio Cards || . || . ||

Watch this short video and do the activity. []