Section 2: Input and output devices
Candidates should be able to:
(a) identify the following input devices:
keyboards, numeric keypads, pointing devices (including mouse, touch pad and tracker ball), remote
controls, joysticks, touch screens, magnetic stripe readers, chip readers, PIN pads, scanners, digital
cameras, microphones, sensors, graphics tablet, MICR, OMR, OCR, barcode readers, video cameras,
web cams, light pens
(b) identify suitable uses of the input devices stating the advantages and disadvantages of each
(c) identify the following output devices: monitors (CRT, TFT), projectors, printers (laser, ink jet and dot
matrix), plotters, speakers, control devices –– motors, buzzers, lights, heaters
(d) identify suitable uses of the output devices stating the advantages and disadvantages of each:
Device Use
Keyboard: Entering text into a word processing document. Applications where text has to be created rather than copied
Numeric Keypad: Applications where only numeric data is to be entered. Inserting personal identification number (PIN) for Chip and PIN credit/debit cards, or when using an ATM machine to withdraw money or check a bank balance
Pointing devices: All applications which require selection from graphical user interface.
For example: the selection of data from a set list or menu
Mouse-In most PCs
Touchpad-On laptop computers
Trackerball-For use by people with limited motor skills e.g. young children or people with disabilities
Remote control: Using remote control devices to operate TVs, video players/recorders, DVD players/recorders, satellite receivers, HiFi music systems, data or multimedia projectors
Joystick: Used by a pilot to fly an aeroplane or flight simulator. Used in
car driving simulators and for playing games
Touch screen: Selecting from a limited list of options e.g. certain POS uses such as cafes, tourist information kiosks, public transport enquiries. May be used for handwriting recognition in a PDA or Tablet PC
Magnetic Stripe Readers: At POS terminals, ATMs and in security applications
Chip readers and PIN pads: Payment cards, ID cards, door control systems, public transport tickets
Scanners: Entering hard copy images into a computer
Digital cameras: Taking photographs for input to computers, for input to photo printers
Microphones: Recording of voices for presentation software
Sensors:
-Temperature Sensor: Automatic washing machines, automatic cookers, central heating controllers, computer-controlled greenhouses, scientific experiments and environmental monitoring
-Pressure sensor: Burglar alarms, automatic washing machines, robotics, production line control, scientific experiments and environmental monitoring
-Light sensor Computer controlled greenhouses, burglar alarm systems, robotics, production line control, scientific experiments and environmental monitoring
Graphics Tablet: Inputting freehand drawings or retouch photographs
Optical Mark Reader: Inputting pencil marks on a form such as a school register, candidate exam answers, any application involving input of a choice of options
Optical Character Reader: Inputting text to a computer ready for processing by another software package such as word processors, spreadsheets, databases etc.
Bar code Reader: Inputting code numbers from products at a POS terminal, library books and membership numbers
Video camera: Inputting moving pictures, often pre-recorded, into a computer
Web cams: Inputting moving pictures from a fixed position into a computer
Light pen: Where desktop space is limited, it is used instead of a mouse or for drawing applications where a graphics tablet might be too big
CRT Monitor: Applications where space is not a problem. Applications where more than one user may need to view screen simultaneously such as in design use,
e.g. when several designers may need to offer suggestions on a prototype
TFT Monitor: Applications where space is limited such as small offices. Applications where only one person needs to view the screen such as individual workstations
Multimedia Projector: Applications such as training presentations, advertising presentations and home cinema –– it displays data from computers, pictures from televisions and video/DVD recorders
Laser printer Applications which require low noise and low chemical emissions,
e.g. most networked systems. Applications which require rapid, high quality and high volumes of output, e.g. most offices and schools
Inkjet printer: Applications which require portability and low volume output, where changing cartridges is not an issue e.g. small offices and stand alone systems. Applications which require very high quality output and where speed is not an issue, e.g. digital camera applications
Dot Matrix Printer: Applications where noise is not an issue and copies have to be made, e.g. industrial environments (multipart forms, continuous stationery, labels etc.), car sales and repair companies, manufacturing sites
Graph plotter: CAD applications, particularly where large printouts are required such as A0
Speakers: Any application which requires sound to be output such as multimedia presentations and websites including encyclopaedias. Applications that require musical output such as playing of music CDs and DVD films
Control devices in Control applications
Motors Automatic washing machines, automatic cookers, central heating controllers, computer-controlled greenhouses, microwave ovens, robotics, production line control
Buzzers Automatic cookers, microwave ovens
Heaters Automatic washing machines, automatic cookers, central heating controllers
