Fundamentals of Information Technology

Unit-II

Basic Computer Organization: Role of I/O devices in a computer system. Input Units:
Keyboard, Terminals and its types. Pointing Devices, Scanners and its types, Voice
Recognition Systems, Vision Input System, Touch Screen, Output Units: Monitors and
its types. Printers: Impact Printers and its types. Non Impact Printers and its types,
Plotters, types of plotters, Sound cards, Speakers

Role of Input/output Devices ( i/o)

An input/output device, often known as an IO device,

It is any hardware that allows a human operator or other systems to interface with a
computer.

An input/output (I/O) device is a piece of hardware that can take, output, or process data.

It receives data as input and provides it to a computer, as well as sends computer data to
storage media as a storage output.

The following tasks that can be done under I/O devices

User Interaction

I/O systems provide the means for users to interact with computers, issuing commands and
receiving feedback.

They enable intuitive and efficient communication, making computers accessible and user-
friendly.
Data Acquisition

I/O systems allow computers to gather data from external sources, such as sensors or input
devices.

This data acquisition capability is crucial for fields like scientific research, data analysis, and
automation, where real-world information needs to be processed.

Information Presentation

Output systems transform raw data into meaningful information, presenting it to users in a
format they can understand.

Whether it’s through visual displays, audio feedback, or hard copies, I/O systems enable
efficient information dissemination.

Peripheral Connectivity

Input and output systems support the connection of peripheral devices, expanding the
functionality of computers.

This connectivity allows for the integration of specialized devices like graphics tablets, game
controllers, or barcode scanners, enhancing versatility and catering to specific needs.

System Integration

I/O systems facilitate the integration of diverse computer systems, enabling the exchange of
data and information between them.

This interconnectedness is essential in distributed computing, networking, and collaborative

environments, where seamless communication is required.

System Monitoring and Control

I/O systems enable the monitoring and control of computer systems and processes.

Input devices, such as sensors or probes, gather real-time data about system parameters,
environmental conditions, or user behavior.

Output systems, allows for the control and management of system operations, facilitating
tasks like system diagnostics, automation, or process optimization.

Data Storage and Retrieval

I/O systems are crucial for storing and retrieving data from various storage media.

Input devices like hard drives, solid-state drives, or optical drives facilitate the input of data
into the computer system.

Output devices, such as external drives or cloud storage, enable the retrieval and backup of
data, ensuring its availability and integrity.
Security and Authentication

I/O systems play a vital role in ensuring computer security. Input devices like biometric
scanners, smart card readers, or password prompts authenticate users, preventing
unauthorized access to systems and data.

Human-Machine Interfaces

I/O systems are at the forefront of advancing human-machine interfaces.

These advancements enhance user experience, improve productivity, and pave the way for
new applications in areas such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, or robotics.

Multimedia and Entertainment

Input devices such as game controllers or motion sensors enable interactive gaming
experiences, virtual reality applications, and media playback, enriching the entertainment
landscape.

Input Devices

It’s a device which inserts data and instructions into the computer

Following are the important input devices which are used in a computer −

Keyboard

Mouse

Joy Stick

Light pen

Track Ball

Scanner

Graphic Tablet

Microphone

Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR)

Optical Character Reader(OCR)

Bar Code Reader

Optical Mark Reader(OMR)

Keyboard

Keyboard is the most common input device which helps to input data to the computer. The
layout of the keyboard is like that of traditional typewriter,

there are some additional keys provided for performing additional functions.

S.No Keys & Description

Typing Keys
1 These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (09) which generally give the
same layout as that of typewriters.

Numeric Keypad
2
It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement. Generally, it consists of a set of
17 keys that are laid out in the same configuration used by most adding machines and
 calculators.

Function Keys

3 The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which are arranged in a row at the
top of the keyboard. Each function key has a unique meaning and is used for some
specific purpose.

Control keys

4 These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four directional arrow keys.
Control keys also include Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl),
Alternate(Alt), Escape(Esc).

Special Purpose Keys

5 Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Num
Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.

Mouse

Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control device having a
small palm size box with a round ball at its base, which senses the movement of the mouse
and sends corresponding signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.

Generally, it has two buttons called the left and the right button and a wheel is present
between the buttons. A mouse can be used to control the position of the cursor on the screen,
but it cannot be used to enter text into the computer.

Advantages

Easy to use

Not very expensive

Moves the cursor faster than the arrow keys of the keyboard.

Joystick

Joystick is also a pointing device, which is used to move the cursor position on a monitor
screen. It is a stick having a spherical ball at its both lower and upper ends. The lower
spherical ball moves in a socket. The joystick can be moved in all four directions.

The function of the joystick is similar to that of a mouse. It is mainly used in Computer Aided
Designing (CAD) and playing computer games.

Light Pen

Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is used to select a displayed menu item or
draw pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of a photocell and an optical system placed in
a small tube.

When the tip of a light pen is moved over the monitor screen and the pen button is pressed, its
photocell sensing element detects the screen location and sends the corresponding signal to
the CPU.

Track Ball

Track ball is an input device that is mostly used in notebook or laptop computer, instead of a
mouse. This is a ball which is half inserted and by moving fingers on the ball, the pointer can
be moved.
Since the whole device is not moved, a track ball requires less space than a mouse. A track
ball comes in various shapes like a ball, a button, or a square.

Scanner

Scanner is an input device, which works more like a photocopy machine. It is used when
some information is available on paper and it is to be transferred to the hard disk of the
computer for further manipulation.

Scanner captures images from the source which are then converted into a digital form that
can be stored on the disk. These images can be edited before they are printed.

Digitizer

Digitizer is an input device which converts analog information into digital form. Digitizer can
convert a signal from the television or camera into a series of numbers that could be stored in
a computer. They can be used by the computer to create a picture of whatever the camera had
been pointed at.
Digitizer is also known as Tablet or Graphics Tablet as it converts graphics and pictorial data
into binary inputs. A graphic tablet as digitizer is used for fine works of drawing and image
manipulation applications.

Microphone

Microphone is an input device to input sound that is then stored in a digital form.

The microphone is used for various applications such as adding sound to a multimedia
presentation or for mixing music.

Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)

MICR input device is generally used in banks as there are large number of cheques to be
processed every day. The bank's code number and cheque number are printed on the cheques
with a special type of ink that contains particles of magnetic material that are machine
readable.
This reading process is called Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR). The main
advantages of MICR is that it is fast and less error prone.

Optical Character Reader (OCR)

OCR is an input device used to read a printed text.

OCR scans the text optically, character by character, converts them into a machine readable
code, and stores the text on the system memory.

Bar Code Readers

Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded data (data in the form of light and
dark lines). Bar coded data is generally used in labelling goods, numbering the books, etc. It
may be a handheld scanner or may be embedded in a stationary scanner.
Bar Code Reader scans a bar code image, converts it into an alphanumeric value, which is
then fed to the computer that the bar code reader is connected to.

Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to recognize the type of mark made by pen or
pencil. It is used where one out of a few alternatives is to be selected and marked.

It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of examinations having multiple choice
questions.

Terminal and its types

The terminal is the device which is used to interact with the computer system.

It is a basic communication unit.

It is used to send and receive the data it generally consists of keyboard & monitor.

The keyboard is used to input data and monitor work as an output unit. Many terminals are
connected with the central computer through terminal much people can work on a single
computer on a time.
Following are some type of terminals:

Video display terminal

Teleprinter terminal

Intelligent terminal

Dumb terminal

Local terminal

Remote terminal

Video display terminal

The video display terminal is like a TV screen. This screen is called a monitor is used to
display information received from the computer. The combination of monitor & video
display unit is called the video display terminal.

It consisting of a keyboard and a CRT viewing screen, that enables the operator to see and
correct the words as they are being typed. If a system has a line printer, it can produce
printouts of “hard copy.”
Teleprinter terminal

It is an electromechanical device that can be used to send and receive typed messages
through various communications channels, in both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint
configurations

A teleprinter works on the start-stop principle. A teleprinter acts both as a transmitter and as a
receiver.

teleprinters have steadily given way to computer terminals and facsimile (fax) machines.

The teleprinter consists of the printer. The printer is used to get information on a piece of
paper from the central computer.

Two different coding schemes have been used for teleprinters. The first to be used (beginning
in the 1920s) was a variation of the Baudot Code, in which letters, numbers, punctuation
marks, and keyboard functions were represented by 32 combinations of 5 “on” and “off”
pulses.

in the 1960s, a new coding scheme, the American Standard Code for Information Interchange
(ASCII), was developed and came to be widely used by teleprinters.

Intelligent terminal

If the microcomputer is connected to the central computer & microcomputer act as a terminal
of the central computer. It termed an intelligent terminal. The intelligent terminal can process,
store, & receive information to & from other terminals & central computer.

The device is often a combination of a display and keyboard with at least one built-in
microprocessor to provide facilities such as editing and prompts for the operator.
Modern application terminals for banking, retail, and industrial data collection are other
examples of intelligent terminals.

Dumb terminal

A dumb terminal has only input and output units to send and receive information to and from
other terminals. They are depended on the central computer for their work.

Dumb terminals were most commonly found in large organizations with the need to process
immense numbers of data transactions, such as financial institutions.

Local terminal

A terminal is simply a text-based interface to the computer. In a terminal, you can type
commands, manipulate files, execute programs, and open documents. When working in a
terminal, the current directory is called your working directory. A terminal will usually start
in the top-level directory of your account.
The local terminal is directly connected to the central computer through cables. This type of
networking is known as a local area network (LAN). Local terminal are used in signal
building or office

Remote terminal

The terminal that is a long distance away from the central computer is known as remote
terminals. They are connected to the central computer through telecommunication lines. The
remote terminal is mostly intelligent terminals.

For example, the keyboard, mouse, and monitor associated with the remote session are
physically located on another system with a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) remote
terminal.
Scanner and its types

A scanner is an electrical device that reads and converts documents such as photos and pages
of text into a digital signal. This changes the documents in a form that can be viewed and or
modified on a computer system by using software applications. T

There are numerous kinds of scanners available in the market that have different resolutions.

Types of Scanners
Flatbed Scanners

Sheetfed Scanners

Handheld Scanner

Drum Scanner

Photo Scanner

Flatbed Scanners

The most popular type of optical scanner is a flatbed scanner, which scans documents on a
flat surface. These scanners do not require the document to be moved and are capable of
capturing all of the document's elements.

Flatbed scanners come in a couple of different sizes for standard paper and are effective for
delicate materials, like documents that are fragile, including also vintage photographs and
papers.

These scanners are also effective for scanning books, articles, newspapers, and even DVD
cases. If you have purchased a high-resolution scanner, they are also better for scanning
photos as well. Because each object to be scanned must be put onto the flatbed and processed
on this scanner, it is a time-consuming option. It is a superior option for individuals who need
to scan a large number of papers.

Unlike other types of scanners, the process of scanning documents of the flatbed scanner is
very easy. Users merely need to place the paper on the glass and close the lid to scan the
document.

Sheetfed Scanners
A scanner that allows the only paper to be scanned, known as sheetfed scanners. These
scanners are a little smaller than regular flatbed scanners, and they feature a lesser image
resolution.

They are great for scanning enormous amounts of paper. These scanners are useful if you
have a limited amount of room to deal with. They are commonly used by businesses to scan
office papers,

but they are less commonly used by archives and libraries to scan books, and they're built
specifically for scanning loose sheets of paper

Sheetfed scanners allow you to scan multiple documents at once instead of turning pages
manually after each scan. Like photocopiers, these scanners allow you to insert papers into a
feeder tray and then scan one page at a time. Also, comparing other kinds of scanners,
Sheetfed document scanners can be a bit more costly. But the extra investment could be
beneficial if time is of concern.

Handheld Scanner

A portable scanner is a compact manual scanning device that functions similarly to a flatbed
scanner. It is positioned above the thing to be scanned

The handheld scanner, on the other hand, is dragged over the page to be scanned. It scans
physical documents into their digital forms, which makes it capable of storing, modifying,
forward, and emailing digitally. As flatbed scanners take up more space; therefore, when
space is concerned, the handheld scanner is a mainly useful device.
When utilising a portable scanner, the hand must remain firm at all times, making it a
difficult operation. Even a little bit of movement of the hand can cause deformation of the
scanning pictures.

Drum Scanner

A scanner that uses a photomultiplier tube to capture the highest resolution from an image is
known as a photomultiplier tube scanner. It scans with a photomultiplier tube rather than a
charge-coupled device. A charge-coupled device is a gadget that is commonly seen in flatbed
scanners.

When the scanner starts to scan the image, the beam of light moves over the image, and
photomultiplier tubes (PMT) pick up its reflection and process it.

Drum scanners are noted for their high resolution, which may reach more than 10,000 dots
per inch (dpi). Furthermore, due to their cost and large size, they are not more popular than
flatbed scanners in the market.

Photo Scanner

A type of optical scanner that is mainly used to scan photographs. Photo scanners provide
high resolution and color depth. They are smaller as compared to general-purpose scanners.

Advantages of scanner
Reliability: Unlike some modes of data transmission, scanning simply involves the
conversion of physical images to digital ones. In the case of scanning, the role of the end-user
is limited.

Quality: Scanners are capable of reproducing images with high resolution and accuracy.
Scanning, as opposed to fax machines, ensures the highest possible resolution for digital
photos, whereas fax machines may struggle to replicate correct details. Scanners are also
more useful in the photography and engineering fields.

Efficiency: Modern scanners comes with ease of use as well as convenience. And, they are
designed to offer better speed and efficiency.

Cost-saving: The conversion of physical files into digital forms is one of the biggest
advantages of scanning. Using a scanner offers environmental benefits as well, since it helps
to conserve physical space that would otherwise be utilised for storage.

Ease of use: Scanners are electronic devices that are very easy to use. In modern times, the
scanners that are built into multifunction printers can be used freely without instruction or
worry.

Pointing Devices

A pointing device is a type of input devices that allows a user to interact with a computer by
moving a cursor on a monitor to select icons and trigger desired actions.

types of pointing devices are

mouse

trackpad

trackball,

touchscreen,

lightpen,

stylus pen,

pointing stick.

Their main advantage is they are user-friendly, versatile, and can be used for dimensional
movements.
Functions of pointing devices

The devices can be used for a variety of purposes by users operating the computer. Some of
the functions include.

Click: this is pressing the button on the pointing device to initiate a command. The click can
be single, double, or triple click. It can also be left or right click.

Select: this is to highlight the content or an area on the screen. It is done by holding down the
mouse button and moving the cursor over the content to be highlighted.

Drag: this goes hand in hand with drop. This is where you hold an item or icon on the screen
and you want to move it to another location. You click hold and move the mouse button then
release it in the right location.

Move cursor: cursor is a movable point that is used to show where the pointing device is
currently located and where the command given will take place. A pointing device is used to
move that insertion point.

Point: this generally means using the pointer on the screen to show or point to an object.

Scroll: This is moving the content of a document either vertically or horizontally.

Computer mouse: this is the most common pointing device that is used on personal
computers, servers, and all other types of computers. It is made up of 2 buttons (right and
left) for clicking and a wheel in between for scrolling horizontally or vertically

Touchpad/trackpad: This is the most common on portable devices like laptops and it is used
as a substitute for the mouse. It is a touch-sensitive component to is used to move the cursor
on the screen. It is usually accompanied by 2 buttons on the side for clicking, although you
can click by tapping on the pad.
Trackball: it is an input device that looks like an upside-down mouse. It has a ball on the top
that is moved with a finger to move the position of the cursor on the screen. It is more
ergonomically fit than a mouse to reduce repetitive strain injuries.

Touchscreen: this is becoming a common input component to most devices. The screen is
sensitive to touch and it works both as a display and input device.

Light pen: this is a pen that is used to draw or make other gestures on a touch-sensitive
screen. They are old technology and they were mostly used on the CRT monitor screens.
Stylus pen: they replaced the light pen and they are used in most modern touch-sensitive
screens.

Pointing stick/Trackpoint: it is a small size pointing device that is positioned on some laptops
within keyboard keys. The pointing stick is the size of a pencil eraser. It is placed between G,
H, and B keys on the keyboard. It is positioned within the keyboard so that the user’s finger
doesn’t need to move to the touchpad to move the cursor.

Voice Recognition Systems

Voice recognition is the process of converting a voice into digital data.

These Systems interact with technology simply by speaking to it,

It enables hands-free requests, reminders and other simple tasks.

There are two types of speech recognition. One is called speaker–dependent and the other is
speaker–independent. Speaker–dependent software is commonly used for dictation software,
while speaker–independent software is more commonly found in telephone applications.

This software uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and natural language
processing (NLP) techniques to process natural language speech and convert it into readable
text with high accuracy.

Speech recognition software works by dissecting a speech recording into its separate sounds,
analysing each sound, and then using algorithms to discover the words most likely to fit that
sound in the target language. Finally, the program converts the sounds into text.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Using a computer is made simple for everyone with Dragon speech recognition software. As
you speak, it is typing. You can control your mouse, open files, start programs, create and
edit documents and emails, and more with your voice. People unable to move their arms or
hands can still type, cut, paste, or scroll using speech input.
Windows Speech Recognition

It worked in every program and browser I tried, making it a useful tool to have on hand.

We can launch files and navigate between applications with simple instructions, the built-in
speech-to-text capability unlocks a new level of productivity. You may narrate emails or
make voice notes, for instance.

Google's Voice Search

With Google Voice Search, users may use Google Search on a computer or mobile device by
speaking, instructing the device to search for information after hearing their instructions.

This feature, which was formerly known as Voice Action, allowed users to speak commands
to Android phones.

The biggest benefit is that you can multitask and do whatever you want while Google
answers your queries thanks to its hands-free search functionality.

Philips Speechlive

Philips SpeechLive is a browser-based dictation and transcribing tool that turns your speech
into text. It offers both an optional human transcribing service and a speech-to-text add-on.
Siri

Siri is an in-built, voice-controlled personal assistant for Apple users. Siri is Apple's voice-
recognition and artificial intelligence-powered personal assistant for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and
watchOS devices (AI).

Once stored in the servers, the speech input is processed through a series of flowcharts
generated by a large database of questions and answers.

Vision Input System

A vision-input system allows a computer to accept input just by seeing an object.

Computer vision can automate several tasks without the need for human intervention. As a
result, it provides organizations with a number of benefits: Faster and simpler process -
Computer vision systems can carry out repetitive and monotonous tasks at a faster rate, which
simplifies the work for humans.
Computer vision is one of the fields of artificial intelligence that trains and enables computers
to understand the visual world. Computers can use digital images and deep learning models
to accurately identify and classify objects and react to them.

The idea behind computer vision is to instruct computers to interpret and comprehend images
on a pixel-by-pixel basis. This is the foundation of the computer vision field. Regarding the
technical side of things, computers will seek to extract visual data, manage it, and analyze the
outcomes using sophisticated software programs.

How Does Computer Vision Work?

With the help of pre-programmed algorithmic frameworks, a machine learning system may
automatically learn about the interpretation of visual data.

Computer Vision Applications

Self-Driving Cars

With the use of computer vision, autonomous vehicles can understand their environment.
Multiple cameras record the environment surrounding the vehicle, which is then sent into
computer vision algorithms that analyzes the photos in perfect sync to locate road edges,
decipher signposts
Facial Recognition

Facial recognition programs, which use computer vision to recognize individuals in

photographs, rely heavily on this field of study.

Augmented & Mixed Reality

Augmented reality, which allows computers like smartphones and wearable technology to
superimpose or embed digital content onto real-world environments, also relies heavily on
computer vision.

Healthcare

Computer vision has contributed significantly to the development of health tech.

Touch Screen

A touch screen is a type of display that can also be used as an input device. It enables users to
engage with computers by touching images or phrases on the screen.

For navigating a GUI, the touch screens are alternative to a mouse or keyboard and also offer
an easier way to give input. The various devices, such as smartphones, information kiosks,
computers, laptop displays, tablets, and cash registers, all have a touch screen.

all touch screens can only detect input when your finger is in direct contact with the screen.
However, a computer mouse uses a cursor that allows the user to view the information by
moving the pointer over an object but not clicking it.

Touch screens are intuitive, especially for younger generations of users.

Having one touch screen instead of several buttons can make a device smaller.

Cheaper to design and manufacture a device with one screen instead of one with a screen and
buttons.

The touch screen is a popular type of input device. Below are some places and examples
where touch screens may be used.

All-in-One computer

Arcade game

ATM

Car GPS
Camera

Car stereo

Cash register

Digital camcorder

E-book

Electronic whiteboard

Surface acoustic wave

A SAW (surface acoustic wave) or surface wave touch screen sends ultrasonic waves and
detects when the screen is touched by registering changes in the waves.

Monitor?

A monitor is an electronic output device that is also known as a video display

terminal (VDT) or a video display unit (VDU). It is used to display images, text, video, and
graphics information generated by a connected computer via a computer's video card.

Types of Monitors

There are several types of monitors; some are as follows:

1. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors

It is a technology used in early monitors. It uses a beam of electrons to create an image on the
screen. It comprises the guns that fire a beam of electrons inside the screen. The electron
beams repeatedly hit the surface of the screen. These guns are responsible for generating
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colors, and more other colors can be generated with the help of
combining these three colors
Flat Panel Monitors

These types of monitors are lightweight and take less space. They consume less power as
compared to CRT monitors. These monitors are more effective as they do not provide
harmful radiation. These monitors are more expensive than CRTs. The flat-panel monitors
are used in PDA, notebook computers, and cellular phones.

Touch Screen Monitors

These monitors are also known as an input device. It enables users to interact with the
computer by using a finger or stylus instead of using a mouse or keyboard. When users touch
the screen by their finger, it occurs an event and forward it to the controller for processing
LED Monitors

It is a flat screen computer monitor, which stands for light-emitting diode display. It is
lightweight in terms of weight and has a short depth. As the source of light, it uses a panel of
LEDs. Nowadays, a wide number of electronic devices, both large and small devices such as
laptop screens, mobile phones, TVs, computer monitors, tablets, and more, use LED displays.

OLED Monitors

It is a new flat light-emitting display technology, which is more efficient, brighter, thinner,
and better refresh rates feature and contrast as compared to the LCD display.

DLP Monitors

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, developed by Texas Instruments. It is a

technology, which is used for presentations by projecting images from a monitor onto a big
screen.
Impact Printer and its types

A printer is a hardware output device that is used to generate hard copy and print any
document.

It is a type of printer that works by direct contact of an ink ribbon with paper. These
printers are typically loud but remain in use today because of their unique ability to
function with multipart forms. An impact printer has mechanisms resembling those of a
typewriter.

Impact Printers Types

, Dot-matrix printers,

Daisy-wheel printers

line printers.

Dot-matrix printers,

A dot matrix printer is an impact printer that prints using a fixed number of pins or wires

Each pin makes a small dot on the paper. The combination of these dots forms a dot matrix
image. They were also known as serial dot matrix printers
 Dot matrix printers can print multiple sheets at once, printing directly onto the white front
sheet, then following on to the coloured carbon copies behind. In general, dot matrix printers
are more reliable than laser or inkjet machines,

• It can used to print multi-part forms or carbon copies.

• Low printing cost per page.
• It is reliable and durable.
• The Dot-matrix printer is small in size.
• This printer was ideal for rare use.
• These printers can print both text and graphics.

Daisy wheel Printers

The wheel is used in a computer printer called a daisy-wheel printer. To print, the wheel is
rotated until the correct character faces the paper; a hammer strikes the character against an
ink-coated ribbon and paper. The daisy wheel is mounted on a carriage that types the
characters in lines.
 Advantages of the Daisy wheel printer:
• It is cheap to buy and maintain.
• Can create carbon copies.
• Low maintenance.
• Low cost.
• It is better quality.
• Can use fanfold paper and heavy paper grades.
• Better print quality than dot matrix printer.

Line Printers

Line matrix printers are used for high-speed printing applications They are used to produce
invoices, bank statements, product shipment and transportation documentation as well as
product compliance labels. They can Print 300 to 3000 Lines per Minute. So that they are
very fast. Large Computer system typically use Line Printer.

Line Printers are of two Types.

a) Drum Printers: – Drum Printer consists of a Drum Which Consists of a Number of
Characters; those are Printed on the Drum. n this Paper is placed between the Ribbon
and the Head or Hammer there are many hammers on the Front of Drum. In this Drum
Rotates at a Very High Speed and character is printed by activating the Appropriate
Hammer.
b) b) Chain Printers: These are also Line Printers, which Prints one Line at a Time. All
the Characters are printed on the Chain and the Set of Characters are placed on the
Chain. There are 48 and 64 and 96 Characters set Printers are Available.
Non-Impact Printers:
It is a type of printer that does not hit or impact a ribbon to print. They used laser,
xerographic, electrostatic, chemical and inkjet technologies. Non-impact printers are
generally much quieter. They are less likely to need maintenance or repairs than earlier
impact printers.

Types

Inkjet printers and Laser printers.

Inkjet printers

Use ink to print text, graphics, and images onto various types of paper. These printers are
most common in homes and small offices, though many commercial printing companies use
industrial inkjet printers to produce high-quality brochures, flyers, and other pieces.

advantage of inkjet printing

Compared to earlier consumer-oriented color printers, inkjet printers have a number of

advantages.

They are quieter in operation than impact dot matrixor daisywheel printers.

They can print finer, smoother details through higher resolution. Consumer inkjet printers
with photographic-quality printing are widely available.

In comparison to technologies like thermal wax, and laser printing, inkjets have the
advantage of practically no warm up time, and often lower cost.

Some types of industrial inkjet printers are now capable of printing at very high speeds, in
wide formats, or for a variety of industrial applications ranging from signage, textiles,
ceramics and 3-D printing into biomedical applications
Laser printer

Laser printers is an output device which uses electrostatic digital printing process to
produce high quality of graphics and texts.

Working of a laser printer can be described as a three-step process. The process of printing
a document on a laser printer goes through the following major stages :
• Receiving data from the host PC
• Processing the received data into dots
• Converting dots into permanent image on paper
Different Laser printers implement these steps in various ways, but they are fundamentally
the same.
Converting dots into permanent image on paper :
Inside a Laser printer the image formation process revolves around the Organic Photo
Conductive (OPC) drum. The conversion of the raster dots in printer buffer into a complete
image on paper consists of the following six steps :
• Cleaning of the OPC Drum.
• Conditioning of the OPC Drum.
• Writing the image onto the OPC Drum using Laser.
• Developing the image on the OPC Drum with Toner.
• Transferring the toner image from OPC drum to the paper, and
• Fusing the image permanently on the paper.

Plotter and its tpes

A plotter is a machine that produces vector graphics drawings.

It interprets computer commands and makes line drawings on paper using multicolored
automated pens. It is capable of producing graphs, drawings, charts, maps etc.

Three types of plotters are most popular for their ability to allow you to create different
designs. This group includes the

drum plotter,

flatbed plotter,

inkjet plotter.

drum plotter,

It is a piece of computer gear that converts computer commands into paper line drawings. It
draws a line with one or more automatic pens.

Different sorts of printer designs that draw on paper that is wound around a drum are referred
to as "drum printers." The plot is produced in one direction by the drum, while the other is
produced by the pens moving in the opposite way

Flatbed plotters

A flatbed plotter works with paper that is put on a flat surface in a stationary position. In this
plotter, the writing pen moves in both the x and y axes. Flatbed plotter pens are available in a
number of sizes and colours.
Inkjet Plotter

The inkjet plotter, as the name implies, sprays microscopic droplets of ink onto paper to form
an image, text, or pattern. Inkjet plotters are a popular choice for graphic designers and
advertising agencies; they are commonly used for a large printer, like billboards, banners, and
big signs that are used for roadside indication.

Applications of Plotters

o Draw charts
o Computer-aided designs
o Architectural Blueprints
o Textile Printing
 o Banners and Billboards
o Electric circuit layouts
o Geographical layouts

Speakers

Speakers are used to connect to a computer to generate sound, which are one of the most
common output devices. Some speakers are designed to connect with any kind of sound
system, while some can be hooked up only with computers. With the computer speaker, the
computer's sound card creates a signal that is used to produce sound. The primary objective
of speakers is to offer audio output for the listener.

Rating a speaker

Speakers are rated in distortion, watts, frequency response, and total harmonic.

o Frequency response: It is produced by speakers, which is the rate of the lows and
highs of the sound.
o Watts: For the speakers, it is the amount of amplification.
o Total harmonic distortion (THD): It is the amount of distortion created with the
help of amplifying the signal.

Floor Standing Speakers

The floor-standing speaker is more suitable for a home studio type of setup or home theater
system for your listening pleasure. In the room, they will be completely visible as they have
about 4 feet tall.

Loudspeakers
 Since the beginning of radio, the loudspeakers have been a staple of family life; these are
some of the most common household speakers. These speakers were used to get sound from
your television or stereo for older generations. In modern times, they also come in small sizes
to produce a quality sound; even they can fit into your pocket.

Soundcard

It is a small box that enables connection to computer with the help of USB or FireWire port,
instead of an internal expansion slot.

it contains a feature that is not included by a standard sound card, such as physical volume
control knobs and extra inputs and outputs.

sound card is a computer component responsible for generating and recording audio. It
enables users to connect analog speakers, headphones and microphones to their computer.
Most modern computers have a built-in sound card in the motherboard.

advantages of a sound card

• It provides better sound quality than the built-in audio hardware.
• It allows you to use multiple devices at once.
• Some models even include an amplifier for connecting external speakers directly without
needing a separate speaker system.
Sound cards may include digital signal processors (DSPs), surround sound capabilities,
digital inputs and outputs, a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), and gold-plated
contacts. Some advanced sound cards feature multiple sound chips to provide higher data
rates.