Computer Input and Output Devices

Input and Output Devices

Input Devices:

• Keyboard: used to input text and commands
• Mouse: used to input graphical data and navigate
• Scanner: used to input images and documents
• Webcam: used to input video and images
• Microphone: used to input audio
• Touchpad: used to input graphical data and navigate (laptops)
• Graphics Tablet: used to input graphical data

Output Devices:

• Monitor: displays text and images
• Printer: prints text and images
• Plotter: prints large-scale graphics and designs
• Speaker: outputs audio
• Braille Reader: outputs text in Braille format for visually impaired users

Storage Devices

Primary Storage:

• RAM (Random Access Memory): temporarily stores data and programs while the computer is running
• ROM (Read-Only Memory): permanently stores data and programs, cannot be changed by the user

Secondary Storage:

• Hard Disk Drive (HDD): stores large amounts of data, relatively slow
• Solid State Drive (SSD): stores large amounts of data, relatively fast
• Flash Drive (USB): portable storage device, stores small amounts of data
• CD (Compact Disc): stores data, music, and videos, can be read-only or rewritable
• DVD (Digital Versatile Disc): stores data, music, and videos, can be read-only or rewritable

Networks and Communication

Network Topologies:

• LAN (Local Area Network): connects devices in a limited geographical area
• WAN (Wide Area Network): connects devices over a larger geographical area
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): connects devices in a metropolitan area
• Wi-Fi: wireless network technology
• Bluetooth: wireless technology for device-to-device communication

Network Communication:

• Protocols: rules and standards for data transmission
  • TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): most widely used protocol
  • HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): used for web communication
  • FTP (File Transfer Protocol): used for file transfer
• Network Devices:
  • Router: directs traffic between networks
  • Switch: directs traffic within a network
  • Modem: connects to the internet via a broadband connection

Input Devices

• Keyboard inputs text and commands
• Mouse inputs graphical data and navigates
• Scanner inputs images and documents
• Webcam inputs video and images
• Microphone inputs audio
• Touchpad inputs graphical data and navigates (laptops)
• Graphics Tablet inputs graphical data

Output Devices

• Monitor displays text and images
• Printer prints text and images
• Plotter prints large-scale graphics and designs
• Speaker outputs audio
• Braille Reader outputs text in Braille format for visually impaired users

Storage Devices

Primary Storage

• RAM temporarily stores data and programs while the computer is running
• ROM permanently stores data and programs, cannot be changed by the user

Secondary Storage

• Hard Disk Drive stores large amounts of data, relatively slow
• Solid State Drive stores large amounts of data, relatively fast
• Flash Drive (USB) is a portable storage device, stores small amounts of data
• CD stores data, music, and videos, can be read-only or rewritable
• DVD stores data, music, and videos, can be read-only or rewritable

Networks and Communication

Network Topologies

• LAN connects devices in a limited geographical area
• WAN connects devices over a larger geographical area
• MAN connects devices in a metropolitan area
• Wi-Fi is a wireless network technology
• Bluetooth is a wireless technology for device-to-device communication

Network Communication

• Protocols are rules and standards for data transmission
• TCP/IP is the most widely used protocol
• HTTP is used for web communication
• FTP is used for file transfer
• Routers direct traffic between networks
• Switches direct traffic within a network
• Modems connect to the internet via a broadband connection