1

Input and output

Module 1.2

z
2

Content
 Input

 Output

 Interactive whiteboards

 Input and output for physically challeng

ed users
 Input and output and health issues

 Test and improve

3

Input

z
4

Input ...
• provides running software with instructions on
what to do next

• can be data that must be processed

Data that is input may need to be used immediately

– or may be stored for processing later
5
Image capture
z

Picture data has become increasingly important in

the way we use computers

Digital cameras
• smartphone cameras
• digital (compact) cameras
• DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras
6

z
Digital cameras
Specifications that determine quality
Sensor size Lenses Optical zoom

ISO Rating Resolution

Digital zoom

Advantages
• Allows you to take many photos
• See the images immediately
• Easily transfer images to computer
(because already in digital format)
7
Scanners
z
Input device that scans images to a computer –
bar codes, photos, documents, 3D objects
 8
Image quality of scanners determined by
Software allows you to Number of different
Resolution

Colour depth
specify resolution colours that can be
represented by a pixel
DPI (dots per inch)
24 bit colour (about
The greater the DPI, 16.7 million different
the better the image colours) high enough
quality for practical purposes
The higher the DPI the The higher the colour
larger the resulting depth, the larger the
image file resulting image file
9

z
Advantages of scanners
 Large documents can be scanned into single
digital file
 Electronic copies stored digitally
 Scanned copies can be e-mailed directly
 OCR software used on documents containing
text scanned as images, to convert images into
editable documents
 Old documents can be scanned and stored
 Barcode scanners – libraries and Point of Sale
(POS) systems
 QR codes – connect to websites quickly
 Number plates of cars can be scanned and
recorded on e-toll roads
10

z Disadvantages of scanners
 Can take a lot of time –
depends on type of scanner
and its purpose
 Quality of digital image
depends largely on quality
of the original hardcopy
11

Written Module Activity

Page 30 – 31
(Question 1 – 14)
12
Biometric input
z
• Capturing unique biological features of a person
• Scanners ‘read’ and recognise any part of you
that is biologically unique (e.g. fingerprint / iris /
voice) – for identification purposes
• Fingerprint scanners on smartphones, laptops,
flash drives, etc.
• Used instead of passwords, e.g. for access
control in buildings
• Mainly for security reasons
13

z Advantages of biometric input

 Main advantage is security
 Defeating biometric security is difficult – tied to
a single person
 Only the authorised person gets access

Disadvantages / limitations of
biometric input
 Expensive to implement, maintain and use
 Needs additional hardware and software (if not
included in device)
 Medical issues might create problems, like
Eczema and fingerprints / Flu and voice
recognition / Iris and eye infection
14
Input at ATMs
z
Gets input from user (PIN, menu choices, etc.)

Other input through:

• Card reader
• Modem / network
connection
• Touch screen
• Money counter

• Money deposit slot

15

 Banking transactions at any time of day or

night
 You are not limited to your own bank or
country
16

Disadvantages / limitations of ATMs

 Can be dangerous to use an ATM (have cash –

prey to criminals)
 Skimmer installed over ATM’s card reader – add
a camera – capture card details and PIN –
pretend to ‘be you’ – steal your money
17
Input into POS systems

Barcodes
z
and RFID (Radio Frequency
Identification) tags
• Used to automatically ‘recognise’ a product or item
• Barcode scanners scan the barcode
• RFID tags store data on the tag or card – detected
wirelessly
18
Input into POS systems
z
Barcodes and RFID tags
… achieve two main goals
• Faster processing at pay points
• Better stock control
19

Barcodes and RFID tags –

How does this work?
20

z Advantages of POS systems

 Faster than typing in prices on a keyboard

 Prices updated and entered more
accurately
 Record how many items are sold and
track how much stock is left
21

z Disadvantages / limitations
of POS systems

 When system offline – difficult to function

 Expensive equipment and software required
22
• Some smartphones have an additional radio
technology built into them called NFC (Near
Field Communication).

• NFC is a standard or technology that allows

electronic devices to connect wirelessly and
exchange data, simply by touching them
together or bringing them close together.

• NFC is mainly
used for
payment
processing.
23

Written Module Activity

Page 31
(Question 15 – 23)
24

Touch screens (as input devices)

z
• Combination of a LCD and a
thin ‘touch sensing’ film

• Pen tablet computers use a

high resolution pen / stylus that
communicates with the screen
wirelessly
25
Advantages of Touch screens
z

 Allows more screen space in device

 Type of ‘immediacy’ in directly touching
the data or
controlling
components
 Intuitive – very
little training
needed
 Allows natural
input – drawing
and gestures
26

Disadvantages
z of Touch screens

 Not as fast or easy as using a physical

keyboard
 Can become dirty / oily / smudged
27

Data collection devices

z
• Meter readers to capture water
readings
• Monitor patient’s temperature,
heart rate, blood pressure
• Weather buoys in oceans collect
data on weather conditions
• Monitor temperature, pressure and
humidity in controlled environments
28
Advantages of data collection devices
z

 Data captured automatically using

sensors, without human intervention
 Data captured more accurately than by
using human input
 Data captured faster than by using human
input
29
Disadvantages / limitations of data
z
collection devices
 Sensors can fail, resulting in incorrect
data
 Only sensor-detectable data can be
collected
 Devices can be difficult and expensive
to update, repair or replace
30
Input into smartphones and consumer
z
tablets

Touch screen

Hardware buttons

Camera / video camera

Accelerometer

Microphone
31

z Alternative keyboards
• Virtual keyboards –
popping up an image of a
keyboard on the screen
• Project a virtual keyboard
onto a surface using laser
or LED lights
• Wireless technology uses
radio waves to connect
input devices to computer
device
32

NEW TERMINOLOGY z Wi-Fi vs Mi-Fi

• Your Wi-Fi connection is supported by a
router that has a fixed cable connection.
• In the case of Mi-Fi, we're talking about a
router that works through a mobile
connection (a SIM card, for example).
33

Written Module Activity

Page 31 – 32
(Question 24 – 31)

Activity 1 page 20
(Open Mod1_2 Act 1 from Data Folder)
34

Output

z
35

z The purpose of output is to…

• provide user with feedback in their
interaction with a computing device
• provide user with a more permanent
(non-electronic) copy of the results of
processing
• allow transmission of data between
computers / electronic devices
36

z
Types of output
Visual output
• soft copy – on a screen
• hard copy – printed onto paper

Sound output
• speakers or headphones

Touch output
• joysticks and controllers vibrate / resist the user
• mobile devices vibrate
• 3D printers create physical copies of objects

Other output
• not designed for humans
• e.g. electrical signals to control equipment
37

Display devices

• Display options that allow the user to

make choices / interact with the program
and operating system
• Display the results of processing
38
Advantages of display devices
z

 Provide immediate feedback

 Allow for interaction between user and
computer
 Display content easily changed and
updated
 Text can be enlarged for the visually
impaired / high contrast used
 39
Disadvantages of display devices
 zOutput is not permanent
 Output is difficult to share (unless it is a
data projector)
 Can lead to eyestrain / headaches
 Work not private (visible to passers-by)
 Expensive to replace
 Consumes the most electricity
 Difficult to read in very bright light
 Quality is related to size – larger size is
usually of better quality
 Larger size is more difficult to transport
(and uses more power)
40
Display devices – key specifications
z

Screen size

Resolution

Contrast ratio

Aspect ratio

Response time

Lumens for projectors

DMI and HDMI

Range of height and swivel adjustment

Viewing angle

Built-in USB ports / webcam / speakers

41

Written Module Activity

Page 32
(Question 32 – 43)
42

z Printers
43

z Laser Printers

• more reliable (e.g. don’t

have ink that can dry out)
• easier to maintain than
inkjet printers
• better for black and white
and general colour
• generally cheaper to run
44

z
Inkjet Printers
• better for photo quality prints
45

z Printer Specifications

Speed
Measured in pages per minute (ppm)

Resolution Measured in dots per inch (dpi)

Higher dpi – better quality

Monthly duty
cycle No of pages printed per month before failing

Number of
Colour cartridges AND a black cartridge – better
colours printer
No of pages in printer tray
Duplex printing
Paper options Paper sizes
Paper quality

Connects via USB port

Connections Media card slots
Additional ports for portable media devices
46

z 3D Printers
• Allow you to create physical, three-
dimensional objects using CAD / 3D
modeling software Filament
A spool of plastic wire
(called filament) provides
the printing material

Print Head
Melts the filament

Build Plate
For the printed object
47
Wireless technology in output devices
z

• Wireless technologies (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and

NFC) are used to increase flexibility and
usefulness of output devices

Wireless Printers must have wireless capability

printing Placed anywhere in range of wireless network
Any device in the network can print without cables

Sound without
Bluetooth technology – used for stereo
wires headphones, speaker systems, car audio systems
Better quality sound than small internal speakers

Some cameras / video cameras have built-in

Wireless video features that transmit images to computers
wirelessly
and images Most cameras need add-on accessories to make
this possible
48

Interactive
whiteboards
z

Example of how input

and output devices can
be combined
49
Advantages of Interactive Whiteboards
z

 Computer functions can be manipulated

on the board
 Better interaction and participation
 Notes made on
whiteboard can be
saved and accessed
 Presenting content in
multimedia format
facilitates different
learning styles
50
Limitations of interactive whiteboards
z

 Needs dimly lit venue

 Small boards are difficult to
read
 Do not use normal whiteboard
markers
 Suitable software not always
available
 Not affordable for many schools
 Repairs can be expensive
 Teachers sometimes hesitant
of using newer technology
51

Written Module Activity

Page 32 – 33
(Question 44 – 48)
 52

z
Drivers
What makes it all work?

• Software that allows a computer to

communicate with hardware or devices
and control them
• Operating systems have a large
collection of standard drivers
53

z
Plug-and-Play

• O/S automatically detects and configures

a device, so it can be used almost
immediately
• Computer checks if it has the driver to
control it (and if not, it will ask you to
install it)
54
Input and Output for
Physically Challenged
Users

z
55

z Visually impaired / Blind

• Braille keyboard and

Braille display device
• Magnification devices
• Large-key keyboards
• Braille printers
56
Hearing impaired / Deaf
z
• On screen notices /
flashing screen
instead of sound
• Vibration devices
57

z Motor control
• Eye tracking devices
• Head movement devices
• Large-key keyboards
• Large trackballs
• Joysticks
• Foot pedal control devices
• Sip and puff devices
58

Input and output and

health issues

z
59

z
Manage your work style
The way we sit and the way we use input
devices – sore neck, backache,
headaches, RSI
60

z Correct Working Position

 61

• Move around every hour or so

• Do not stare at screen for too long
Prevention

• Use keyboard shortcuts

• Do exercises to relieve tension in joints
• Do not turn up volume of headphones
to drown out surrounding sound
• Adjust monitor settings and
position, so as not to hurt your eyes
Interesting Facts
• The study and design of the
workplace and the
equipment used in the
workplace for the comfort
and safety of people in their
work environments.
64

z Ergonomic Devices
65

Written Module Activity

Page 33
(Question 49 – 54)
66

Activity 2 page 27
(Open Mod1_2 Act 2 from Data Folder)
67

Test and Improve

z
Page 28 – 30
Use the summary for your own revision