1.6.

1 Input Devices

Devices used to provide data and instructions to the computer are called Input devices.

Some important input devices are

Key board, Mouse, Scanner, MICR, Web camera, Microphone etc.

1. Keyboard: The Key board is used for typing text into the computer. It is also known as
standard Input device. A computer keyboard is similar to that of a type writer with
additional keys. The most commonly available computer keyboard has 104 keys.

There are different types of keys on the keyboard. The keys are categorized as :

• Alphanumeric keys, including letters & numbers.

• Punctuation keys, such as colon (:), semicolon (;) Question mark (?), Single & double

quotes (‗,‖)

• Special keys such as arrow keys, control keys, function keys (F1 to F12), HOME, END
etc.

2.. Mouse: It is a device that controls the movement of the cursor on a monitor. A mouse will
have 2 buttons on its top. The left button is the most frequently used button. There will be
a wheel between the left and right buttons. This wheel enables us to smoothly scroll through
screens of information. As we move the mouse, the pointer on the monitor moves in the same
direction. Optical mouse is another advanced pointing device that uses a light emitting
component instead of the mouse ball. Mouse cannot be used for entering the data. It is only
useful to select the options on the screen.

3. Scanner: It is an input device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper and
translate into digital form. The main advantage of these scanners is that the data need not be
entered separately resulting in saving lot of time.
Scanners are of two types: i) optical scanners ii)
MICR
i) Optical scanners:

a. Optical character Recognition(OCR): In this, characters are read with the help of a light.
This is used in office atomization, documentation in library etc.
b. Optical mark recognition(OMR): It is a technology where an OMR device senses the
presence or absence of a mark such as a pencil mark. OMR is used in tests such as aptitude
tests.
c. Optical barcode recognition(OBCR): Barcode readers are photoelectric scanners that
read the bar codes or vertical zebra striped marks printed on product containers. This is used in
super markets, book shops etc.
ii. MICR: This is widely used in banks to process the cheques. This allows the computer to
recognize characters printed using magnetic ink.

4. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR):: It is a character recognition technology

used primarily by the banking industry to facilitate the processing of the cheques. MICR
characters ( cheque No., Acc.No.etc) are printed in special ink usually containing iron oxide.
When a document that contains the ink needs to be read, it passes through a machine which
magnetizes the ink and there will be a reader sorter unit which translates the magnetic
information into characters. MICR provides a secure, high speed of scanning and processing
information. It scans about 2600 cheques/min.

1.6.2 Output devices

Any device that is capable of representing information on a computer is called an Output

device.

Output devices receive information from the CPU and present it to the user in the desired form.

Some important Output devices are: Monitor, Printer

1 . Terminal/Monitor: It is similar to TV screen- either a monochrome (black & white)

or Colour – and it displays the output. It is also referred as Visual Display Unit(VDU).
Several types of monitors are in use. Some of them are Colour Graphic Adapter(CGA),
Enhanced Graphics Adaptor(EGA), Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) and Super Video Graphics
Adapter (SVGA).
The screen sizes differ from system to system. The standard size is 24 lines by 80 characters.
Most systems have provision for scrolling which helps in moving the text vertically or
horizontally on the screen.
– Output device for soft-copy output (temporal screen display of output which lasts as long as
the monitor’s power is on). They are the most frequently used output devices. Some are used on
the desktop; others are portable. Two important characteristics of the monitor are size and
clarity.
Voice-output devices
 Voice-output devices make sounds that resemble human speech.
 Voice-output devices use prerecorded vocalized sounds to produce output.
 The computer “speaks” synthesized words.
 Voice output is not as difficult to create as voice input.
 Most widely used voice-output devices are stereo speakers and headphones.
 Devices are connected to a sound card in the system unit.
 Sound card is used to capture sound as well as play it back.
Examples of voice output uses:
 Soft-drink machines, the telephone, and in cars.
 Voice output can be used as a tool for learning.
 Can help students study a foreign language.
 Used in supermarkets at the checkout counter to confirm purchases.
 Most powerful capability is to assist the physically challenged.

2 . Printer:
Printers
– Outputs printout on paper often referred to as hard-copy output.
Categorized according to:
(i) Printing capacity
o Character printers – Print one character at a time.
o Line printers – Print one line at a time.
o Page printers – Print a whole page at a time.
(ii) Mode of printing
o Dot matrix printers
Form images via pins striking a ribbon against a paper. The print head typically have 9 or 24
pins. The images are relatively of poor quality since dots are visible upon close inspection.
Though inexpensive compared to other types, they are noisy and low-end models are slow
(speed varies with price).
o Ink jet printers
Form images by “shooting” tiny droplets of ink on paper. They offer relatively good image
quality with so many small dots that they are not noticeable, even upon close inspection. They
are relatively quiet compared to dot matrix and most can print color images.
o Laser jet printers
Form images using copier technology – a laser/LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights up dots to be
blackened and toner sticks to these dot positions on the paper. They have excellent image
quality – so many small dots that they are not noticeable, even upon close inspection. They are
quieter than ink jet printers.
o Thermal Printers
Form images using heat elements and heat – sensitive paper. It is very quiet and not widely used
by home PC users. Some very expensive colour models are available. “Ink” in these computers
is wax crayons.
Plotters
Plotters are typically used for design output. They are special-purpose output devices used to
produce charts, maps, architectural drawings and three-dimensional representations. They can
produce high-quality multi-colour documents or larger size documents. Plotters produce
documents such as blueprints or schematics.
A printer is an external output device that takes data from a computer and generates
output in the form of graphics / text on a paper".
There are two types of printers namely:
a) Impact printers
It provides prints by the printing head element coming into contact with the stationary in an
inked ribbon.

Examples:

 Dot matrix- they provide character prints inform of dots

 Ink jet-they uses the concept of spraying ink on the paper.
 Line- prints lines of characters and the include
 Drum printer
 Chain
 Daisy wheel
b) Non-impact printers

They provide prints by the printing head element not coming into contact with the stationary.

Examples:

 Thermal printers-they uses the principle of heat to produce prints.

 Laser beam-they convert data into a beam of light which encodes data forming images as
printouts.
 Xerographic-it’s a large printer similar to a photocopier for producing multiple copies of
documents.
 Electrostatic-they use electrostatic charges to form characters in a line.
Differences between impact and non-impact printers

Impact Non-impact
Cheap Expensive
Slow Faster
Use inked ribbon Use thermal principle
Noisy Quiet
Multiple copy production is possible Multiple copy production is impossible

Factors to consider when choosing a printer to buy

 Cost
 Speed
 Durability
 Efficiency
 Volume of printing
 Portability
 Printout quality
 Maintenance capabilities
Input devices/output devices/both input & output devices
INPUT OUTPUT BOTH
Cameras Monitor Touchscreen
Graphics tablets Printers Modems
Video capture hardware Plotters Headsets
Trackballs LCD projection panels Audio cards/sound cards
Barcode readers Computer output microfilm
Digital cameras Speakers
Gamepads Headphones
Joystick Visual display unit
Keyboard Film recorder
Mouse Microfiche
Scanner
Webcam
Touchpads
Pen input
Electronic white board
Magnetic tape drive
OMR(optical mark recognition)
MICR(magnetic ink character
recognition)

STORAGE DEVICES

When working on the computer, all work is entered into the computer's memory. In order to
store your work for future retrieval, you must “save” your work to a storage device before
turning the computer off. When your work is saved it creates a computer “file”. The most
common storage devices are hard disks and floppy disks. If you only save your work on the hard
disk, you run the risk of losing your data, either through viruses, which attack the hard disk, or to
hard disk failure or crashes. It’s very important to back up your important files onto other
media, such as floppy disks.

1. Floppy Disk -- A removable disk that stores information magnetically, also called a diskette. You can
use a floppy disk to exchange information between computers, or to make a backup of your files.
Floppy disks are 3.5 inches in diameter and they are enclosed in a rigid plastic shell. A “double-
density” (DD) diskette has a storage capacity of 740 KB while a “high-density” (HD) diskette has a
storage capacity of 1.44 MB. To protect your floppy disks, keep them away from heat, drinks, and
magnets. Use a felt tip pen to label a disk and write on the label before you attach it to the disk.

Every disk must be formatted with the operating system used by the computer in order to allow
storage of files. The operating system is the “language” of the program—the disk must be in the
same language as the computer in order to communicate. Examples of operating systems are
DOS, Windows, Macintosh OS, and Windows NT. When you purchase disks, be sure to
purchase them for the operating system you are using (IBM/PC Compatible or Apple/Macintosh).
Today, most floppy disks come already formatted. However, it is a good idea to run scandisk on
a disk before using as a means of checking the disk for bad sectors. See Section M. for
instructions on how to run scandisk on a floppy. Disks can be reused as long as there are no bad
sectors on the disk.
Disks are inserted into the disk drive with the metal part first, label up.

Not Write
Protected
Write Protected

Every disk comes with a write-protect tab. The tab provides protection against erasing or replacing
information on a floppy disk. You can write-protect a 3.5 inch floppy disk by moving the plastic tab up to
the write-protected position (open hole). No information can be altered on the disk when it is write-
protected.
 2. Hard drive-- The primary device that
a computer uses to store information.
Most computers come with one or two hard
drives, called drive C and drive D,
located inside the computer case. The
terms hard drive and hard disk are used
interchangeably. Today's hard disks
provide fast retrieval and can hold

several gigabytes of information as compared to megabytes on floppy disks.

The Read/Write Heads are energy converters: they transform electrical signals to magnetic
signals, and magnetic signals back to electrical ones again. They are in essence tiny
electromagnets that perform this conversion from electrical information to magnetic and back
again. There is normally one head for each surface used on the drive.
If the heads contact the surface of the disk while it is at operational speed, the result can
be loss of data, damage to the heads, damage to the surface of the disk, or all three. This
is usually called a head crash, two of the most frightening words to any computer user.
:^) The most common causes of head crashes are contamination getting stuck in the thin
gap between the head and the disk, and shock applied to the hard disk while it is in
operation.

3. Zip disks -- Zip disks store 100 - 250 MB of data (depending on the type of drive purchased)
and cost about $11 to $19 each. A special 3.5" removable disk drive is needed to retrieve the
information from the computer and write to the zip disk. An external zip drive can be moved
from one computer to another. Due to the large storage capability of zip disks and mobility
of the drives, they are gaining popularity as storage and backup mediums.

CD-ROMS—Compact disks can store approximately 650-800 MB of data or 74-80 minutes of

music. Most software programs today are shipped on CD-ROMs instead of floppy disks. All
computers today come with CD-ROM drives that are part of the computer’s multimedia
configuration. They are connected to a sound card, which provides the computer with stereo
speaker capabilities, allowing for musical CD-ROMs to also be played on your computer. These
drives are read only and cannot be used for recording data.
◙ Only retrieve data that’s pre-recorded by the manufacturer. Like a musical CD-ROM,
the information is pressed on one side (the side opposite
the label).
◙ CD-ROM’s are inserted into the CD-ROM drive with the
label side up.
◙ Pressing the button opens and closes the drive.
◙ Handling and storage of CD-ROM’s are the same as
musical CD-ROM’s and floppy disks.
◙ Avoid putting fingers on the information side. Hold the CD-ROM by the edges when
handling. Protect CD-ROM’s by making sure the data side does not get scratched
and by providing proper storage (store them in the case they came in).

4. Read/Write CD-ROMS—CD-ROM drives that write, rewrite and record data. Two types
of CD-ROM disks are used in these drives: CD-Recordable (CD-R) and CD-Read/Write
(CD-R/W). CD-R/W’s can only be “read” by CD Read/Write drives, while CD-R disks can
be read by most CD-ROM drives. You can download CD-RW UDF Reader software from

5. Cartridge tapes—These
CD/DVD-ROM are magnetic tapes similar
(internal) to cassette tapes used as a
Open/Close
storage and backup device.
button Backup and retrieval of
stored information is
CD-Writer
slower with tapes because
(internal) the information is stored
sequentially. The computer
Open/Close must search in sequential
button
order to find the desired
Zip 100mb Drive information, rather than by
sectors. The advantage of
tape cassettes is that they can
be purchased with large
Headph Power
Light storage capacities (1 – 4
one Jack
GB’s) allowing the entire
contents of the hard drive to
easily fit on one tape.
6. USB/Flash Drive (Jump/Thumb Drive) - is a plug-and-play portable storage device that
uses flash memory and is lightweight enough to attach to a key chain. A keychain drive can
be used in place of a floppy disk, Zip drive disk, or CD. When the user plugs the device into
their USB port, the computer's operating system recognizes the device as a removable drive.
Unlike most removable drives, a keychain drive does not require rebooting after it's attached,
does not require batteries or an external power supply, and is not platform dependent. Several
keychain drive manufacturers offer additional features such as password protection, and
downloadable drivers that allow the keychain drive to be compatible with older systems that
 do not have USB ports. Keychain drives are available in capacities ranging from 8 MB to 2
gigabytes, depending on manufacturer, in a corresponding range of prices.

Auxiliary/Secondary Storage devices

Secondary storage devices store a larger amount of data or instructions than does main memory,
on a more permanent basis. On a per megabyte basis, secondary storage is also cheaper than
primary storage. Secondary storage is also infinitely extendable, unlike main memory, which is
finite. Secondary storage is not volatile. Secondary storage is also more portable than primary
storage – that is, it is possible to remove it from a computer and use the device and its contents
in another.
Types of secondary storage devices
 Magnetic disks – Stores bits as magnetic spots. Magnetic disks are similar to magnetic
tapes in that areas are magnetized to represent bits. However the disks’ read/write head
can go directly to the desired record, allowing fast data retrieval. Magnetic disks can
range from small and portable, such as diskettes with 1.44MB of storage capacity, to
large capacity fixed hard disks, which are more expensive and less portable.
o Floppy disks (diskettes)
 5 ¼ floppy disks
 3 ½ floppy disks – The most common size with a capacity of 1.44
MB. They are not very fast and durable.
o Hard disks/Fixed disks – Also called hard drives. Their capacity range from
20 to 120 GB. They are fast and durable though not foolproof. Most are
internal, but disks that use removable cartridge are available. Disk
compression can be used to increase capacity but slows performance.
 Optical Disks – Store bits as “pits” and “lands” on surface of disk that can be detected (read)
by a laser beam.
o CD-ROM (Compact-Disk Read Only Memory) – Only read and cannot
be erased for rewriting. Has a capacity of 650 MB
o CD-R (Compact-Disk Recordable) / WORM (Write Once, Read Many) –
Usually blank at first and can be written only once. Has a capacity of 650
MB
o CD-RW (Compact Disk ReWritable) – Can written and read more than
once. Has a capacity of 650 MB.
o DVD-ROM (Digital Video Disks) – They are similar to CDs except that
it has high quality sound and high-resolution video. Has a normal
capacity of 4.7 GB and up to 17 GB if double-sided with double layering.
Uses laser technology. They are a relatively new technology usually used
in the entertainment industry.
 Magnetic Tapes – Magnetic tape is similar in composition to the kind of tape found in
videotapes and audiotapes. A plastic film is coated with iron oxide, which is magnetized to
represent bits.
o Tape cartridges – Used in personal computers. Has up to 20 GB per tape
(probably even more).
o Tape reels – Used in minicomputers and mainframes.
 Other Backup Options
o Zip drive/disk – Uses special diskettes that hold 100 MB, 250 MB or 750
MB
o SyQuest drive – Uses special cartridges that hold 200 MB
 RAID - RAID stands for redundant arrays of independent or inexpensive disks. RAID
technology is fault tolerant; that is, it allows data to be stored so that no data or transactions
are lost in the event of disk failure. RAID involves using multiple hard disks in a special
 controller unit and storing data across all the disks in conjunction with extra reconstruction
information that allows data to be recovered if a hard disk fails.
 Storage Area Network (SAN) – A storage area network connects servers and storage devices
in a network to store large volumes of data. Data stored in a storage area network can be
quickly retrieved and backed up. The use of storage area networks is likely to increase in
the near future.
 Computer Output Microfilm (COM) -Companies that must store significant numbers of
paper documents often use computer output microfilm. These devices transfer data directly
from the computer onto the microfilm, thus eliminating the intermediate step of printing the
document on paper. Newspapers and journals typically archive old issues in this manner,
although some are now using optical storage devices.
Storage capacity abbreviations
 KB - kilobyte - 1000 (thousand)
 MB - megabyte - 1,000,000 (million)
 GB - gigabyte - 1,000,000,000 (billion)
 TB - terabyte - 1,000,000,000,000 (trillion)
Communication devices
 Modem - Modems allow computers (digital devices) to communicate via the phone
system (based on analog technology). It turns the computers digital data into analog,
sends it over the phone line, and then another modem at the other end of the line turns
the analog signal back into digital data.
 Fax/modem - basic digital/analog modem enhanced with fax transmission hardware that
enables faxing of information from computer to another fax/modem or a fax machine
(NOTE: a separate scanner must be connected to the computer in order to use the
fax/modem to transfer external documents)

Computer Memory
Memory capability is one of the features that distinguish a computer from other electronic
devices. Like the CPU, memory is made of silicon chips containing circuits holding data
represented by on or off electrical states, or bits. Eight bits together form a byte. Memory is
usually measured in megabytes or gigabytes.
A kilobyte is roughly 1,000 bytes. Specialized memories, such as cache memories, are
typically measured in kilobytes. Often both primary memory and secondary storage capacities
today contain megabytes, or millions of bytes, of space.

MEMORY OF THE COMPUTER

Memory or storage capacity is one of the important components of a computer. Any storage
unit of a computer system is classified on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Access time: This is the time required to locate and retrieve stored data from the storage
unit in response to program instructions.

2. Storage capacity: It is the amount of data that can be stored in the storage unit.

3. Cost per bit of storage.

 Types of Memory
Volatile Non Volatile
Memory
types
RAM ROM

DRAM SRAM EDO PROM EPRO

M

1. RAM (Random Access Memory) /RWM (Read Write Memory) – Also referred to as
main memory, primary storage or internal memory. Its content can be read and
can be changed and is the working area for the user. It is used to hold programs
and data during processing. RAM chips are volatile, that is, they loose their
contents if power is disrupted. Typical sizes of RAM include 32MB, 64MB,
128MB, 256MB and 512MB.
a. EDO – Extended Data Out
b. DRAM – Dynamic RAM
c. SDRAM – Synchronous
2. ROM (Read Only Memory) – Its contents can only be read and cannot be changed.
ROM chips is non-volatile, so the contents aren’t lost if the power is disrupted. ROM
provides permanent storage for unchanging data & instructions, such as data from the
computer maker. It is used to hold instructions for starting the computer called the
bootstrap program.
ROM: chips, the contents, or combination of electrical circuit states, are set by the
manufacturer and cannot be changed. States are permanently manufactured into the chip.
PROM: the settings must be programmed into the chip. After they are programmed,
PROM behaves like ROM – the circuit states can’t be changed. PROM is used when
instructions will be permanent, but they aren’t produced in large enough quantities to
make custom chip production (as in ROM) cost effective. PROM chips are, for
example, used to store video game instructions.
Instructions are also programmed into erasable programmable read-only memory.
However, the contents of the chip can be erased and the chip can be reprogrammed.
EPROM chips are used where data and instructions don’t change often, but non-
volatility and quickness are needed. The controller for a robot arm on an assembly line
is an example of EPROM use.
a. PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) – It is written onto only once using
special devices. Used mostly in electronic devices such as alarm systems.
b. EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) –Can be written onto
more than once.
3. Cache Memory - Cache memory is high-speed memory that a processor can access more
quickly than RAM. Frequently used instructions are stored in cache since they can be retrieved
more quickly, improving the overall performance of the computer. Level 1 (L1) cache is
located on the processor; Level 2 (L2) cache is located between the processor and RAM.