Study session 1.

1: Concept of system theory

Section and Subsection Headings
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Learning Outcomes
2.0 Main Content
2.1 Basic Concepts
2.2 Input Devices
2.3 Output Devices
2.4 Processing Devices
3.0 Conclusion
4.0 Self Assessment
5.0 Additional Activity
6.0 References

1.0 Introduction
In today's world, we use computers for all our tasks. Our day-to-day activities: paying bills, buying
groceries, using social media, seeking entertainment, working from home, communicating with a
friend, etc., can all be done using a computer. So, it is important not only to know how to use a
computer, but also to understand the components of a computer and what they do.

1.1 Learning Outcomes

After studying this session, I expect you to be able to:
1. Define a computer.
2. List and explain the various types of input, output and processing devices we have.

2.0 Main Content

2.1 Basic Concepts
A computer is an electronic device that accepts data from the user, processes it, produces results,
displays them to the users, and stores the results for future usage.
Data is a collection of unorganized facts & figures and does not provide any further information
regarding patterns, context, etc. Hence data means "unstructured facts and figures".
Information is a structured data i.e., organized meaningful and processed data. To process the data
and convert into information, a computer is used.
Functions of Computers
A computer performs the following functions −
Receiving Input
Data is fed into computer through various input devices like keyboard, mouse, digital pens, etc.
Input can also be fed through devices like CD-ROM, pen drive, scanner, etc.
Processing the information
Operations on the input data are carried out based on the instructions provided in the programs.
Storing the information
After processing, the information gets stored in the primary or secondary storage area.
Producing output
The processed information and other details are communicated to the outside world through output
devices like monitor, printer, etc.

2.2 Input Devices

Input device enables the user to send data, information, or control signals to a computer. The
Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer receives the input and processes it to produce the
output.
Some of the popular input devices are:
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Scanner
• Joystick
• Light Pen
• Digitizer
• Microphone
• Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
• Optical Character Reader (OCR)
• Digital Camera
• Paddle
• Steering Wheel
 • Gesture recognition devices
• Light Gun
• Touch Pad
• Remote
• Touch screen
• VR
• Webcam
• Biometric Devices
1) Keyboard
The keyboard is a basic input device that is used to enter data into a computer or any other
electronic device by pressing keys. It has different sets of keys for letters, numbers, characters, and
functions. Keyboards are connected to a computer through USB or a Bluetooth device for wireless
communication.

Figure: 1.1 Qwerty Keyboard

2) Mouse
The mouse is a hand-held input device which is used to move cursor or pointer across the screen.
It is designed to be used on a flat surface and generally has left and right button and a scroll wheel
between them. Laptop computers come with a touchpad that works as a mouse. It lets you control
the movement of cursor or pointer by moving your finger over the touchpad. Some mouse comes
with integrated features such as extra buttons to perform different buttons.
Figure: 1.2. Optical Mouse

3) Scanner
The scanner uses the pictures and pages of text as input. It scans the picture or a document. The
scanned picture or document then converted into a digital format or file and is displayed on the
screen as an output. It uses optical character recognition techniques to convert images into digital
ones.

Figure: 1.3 Flatbed Scanner

4) Joystick

Figure 1.4: Joystick

A joystick is also a pointing input device like a mouse. It is made up of a stick with a spherical
base. The base is fitted in a socket that allows free movement of the stick. The movement of stick
controls the cursor or pointer on the screen.
5) Light Pen
A light pen is a computer input device that looks like a pen. The tip of the light pen contains a
light-sensitive detector that enables the user to point to or select objects on the display screen. Its
light sensitive tip detects the object location and sends the corresponding signals to the CPU. It is
not compatible with LCD screens, so it is not in use today. It also helps you draw on the screen if
needed. The first light pen was invented around 1955 as a part of the Whirlwind project at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Figure 1.5: Light Pen

2.3 Output Devices

The output device displays the result of the processing of raw data that is entered in the computer
through an input device. There are a number of output devices that display output in different ways
such as text, images, hard copies, and audio or video. They bridge the gap between digital data and
human perception, letting users engage with computer-generated information. Understanding the
many forms of output devices and their importance in computing is essential for making informed
decisions while selecting the right devices for certain applications.
Categories of Output Devices
Output devices can be categorized into four main types based on the nature of their output.
o Visual Output Devices: These devices display processed data as text, images, or video.
Examples include monitors and projectors, which allow users to view information on
screens or project it onto larger surfaces.
 Figure 1.6: Visual Output Devices

o Data Output Devices: These devices provide machine-readable output for further
processing or storage. Plotters and 3D printers fall into this category, allowing users to
create physical representations of data or objects.

Figure 1.7: Data output Devices

o Print Output Devices: Printers produce hard copies of processed data, such as documents,
images, or graphics. They allow for physical documentation and distribution of
information.
o Sound Output Devices: These devices deliver audio output for listening or
communication purposes. Speakers and headphones/earphones enable users to hear the
sound, whether Music, speech, or other audio content.
Figure 1.8: Sound Output Devices

2.4 Processing Devices

Before data is transmitted to an output device from an input device, such as a keyboard, it must
pass through an intermediary step in a computer (e.g., a monitor). A processing device is any piece
of hardware inside a computer that interprets and modifies incoming data at this level. The device
for processing is the CPU.
Any internal component of a computer that enables the interpretation and manipulation of
incoming data is referred to as a processing device when this phase is being carried out. In this
article, we'll walk you through the definition of processing devices for computers as well as
their types, purposes, and other applications. The processing device is a physical element of the
computer that assists in managing information storage and retrieval. Processing equipment is
crucial to the processing processes of a computer. By following the program's instructions, these
devices process data. Any instruction, whether it involves input-output activities, logical
comparisons, or numerical computations, can be carried out by a CPU. They provide the
coordination of all other computer units' tasks, and they make sure everything runs well.
There are a number of different computer processing devices as listed below.
• GPU
• Microprocessors
• Sound Card
• Video Card
• CPU
• Clock
• Chipset
• Motherboard
• Data bus
• Expansion slots
• Address bus
• Random Access Memory
3.0 Conclusion
In this session, you have seen that all coded data entered by users through input devices such as
the mouse, keyboard, trackball, and other devices is processed by processing units in the computer
system. This data is processed into information that is subsequently delivered to output devices
like a display, speaker, printer, etc., after being transformed. Data is initially obtained from
the input devices and then passed through an intermediate level before being output on the right
output devices.

4.0 Self Assessment

1. What are input, output and Processing Devises?
2. List and explain 7 of each.

5.0 Additional Activity

https://youtu.be/nMjc5OyNvws
https://youtu.be/UspJfdmgB6w

6.0 References
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/computer_fundamentals/computer_output_devices.htm
https://www.javatpoint.com/output-devices
https://turbofuture.com/computers/Computer-Basics-10-Examples-of-Output-Devices
Braden, Richard P. Mouse, timer, and keyboard inputs: For users of Microsoft Visual C++
development system for Windows. Plano, TX: Wordware Pub., 1995.
Doyle, Leo F. Computer peripherals. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice Hall, 1996.