Output Devices

OUTPUT DEVICES

Monitors

A monitor, also called a visual display unit (VDU), displays the output of a computer’s processing operations

Monitors are important because they make the information produced by the computer visible to the user.

Monitor type, size, and resolution.

CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors
LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors
LED (light-emitting diodes) monitors)

LCD Monitors

LCD monitors, also called flat panel displays, are more expensive than CRTs, but are lighter, more compact, and consume less power

LED Monitors

An LED monitor is a flat screen display that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as pixels to create visuals.

What to look for when choosing a monitor

Resolution - a measure of the clarity and sharpness of an image as displayed on the monitor. It is measured in pixels. The higher the resolution, the better the image quality.

Size - the size of a monitor is measured diagonally, from one corner to the other. Common desktop screen sizes are from 14 inches to 19 inches. Larger sizes are also available.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a key characteristic of a CRT monitor?

• It is lightweight and energy-efficient.

• It offers a wider viewing angle than LCD monitors.

• It uses a cathode ray tube to produce an image.

• It is commonly used in modern laptops.

Multiple Choice

What does LCD stand for in the context of monitors?

• Light Capacitance Display

• Liquid Crystal Display

• Low Consumption Display

• Laser Cathode Display

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an advantage of LCD monitors over CRT monitors?

• Lower cost

• Better image quality

• More compact size

• Higher refresh rate

Multiple Choice

What type of monitor is typically found in smartphones?

• CRT

• LED

• Plasma

Multiple Choice

When selecting a monitor you should consider resolution, monitor type and screen size.

• True

• False

PRINTERS

Printers produce a permanent copy, on paper, of information output from a computer (hard copy). This information could be text, graphics, or images.

There are two main categories of printers: impact and non-impact.

Impact printers use a striking or hammering mechanism to produce output. These printers are noisy, but reliable.

Impact Printers

1. Dot matrix printers use pins to print a pattern of dots on paper.5 Dot matrix printers can be used for multi-part stationery (such as invoices), but the print quality is low.

2. Line printers print a line at a time, which makes them faster than character printers. Line printers are typically used for printing large volumes of text.

Non-impact printers create output on media (paper or plastics) using heat, light or ink. They are quieter and faster than impact printers.

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Examples of non-impact printers

1. Inkjet printers - spray tiny drops of ink to create a page. They are relatively inexpensive and produce good quality printouts, including high-quality photographs.

2. Laser printers - are more expensive than inkjet printers, but they produce higher resolution and are much faster. They are commonly used in businesses and workplaces where quality and speed are important.

3. Thermal printers - use heat on chemically treated paper to form characters. They are commonly used in automatic banking machines (ABM) receipts, debit or credit card slips and even some ultrasound scanned images are printed using thermal printers.

When selecting a printer you should consider:

-Resolution: the sharpness of printed images and text.

-Print speed: measured in pages printed per minute (ppm).

-Memory: the amount of memory available to the printer.

-Paper tray capacity: how many sheets of paper the printer can hold.

-Price: the cost of the printer and replacement ink/toner.

-Colour or black and white: whether the printer can print in colour
or only in black and white.

Plotters

A plotter is a specialist output device that produces high-quality graphical output on different types of materials, commonly paper.

They work by moving a pen across a page to create a drawing and are invaluable to architects and designers for producing blueprints and architectural designs.

A plotter is more suitable than a printer in situations that require high quality and a large output size.

Audio Output Devices

​Audio output devices enable the user to play and hear sounds. These devices receive sound in the form of electronic signals from the computer and convert them into sound waves that the user can hear.

Multimedia projectors

These devices can project computer output onto a large screen, making it suitable for presentations and other group settings.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of impact printers?

• They are noisy.

• They use a striking or hammering mechanism.

• They can produce carbon copies.

• They are typically faster than non-impact printers.

Multiple Choice

What type of impact printer uses a pattern of dots to create an image?

• Line printer

• Dot matrix printer

• Inkjet printer

• Laser printer

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an advantage of laser printers over inkjet printers?

• Higher resolution

• Lower cost

• More compact size

• Quieter operation

Multiple Choice

What type of printer uses heat to create an image on chemically treated paper?

• Inkjet printer

• Laser printer

• Thermal printer

• Plotter

Multiple Choice

Plotters are specialised devices for producing large-format, high-quality graphics, such as blueprints and architectural designs.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following audio output devices allows for private listening?

• Speakers
• Subwoofer
• Soundbar
• Headphones

Multiple Choice

What type of output device is used to project a computer's display onto a large screen?

• Printer
• Projector
• Monitor
• Speaker

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a factor to consider when selecting a printer?

• Resolution

• Print speed

• Screen size

• Paper tray capacity

Multiple Choice

What type of output is produced by a thermal printer?

• Hard copy

• Soft copy

• Audio output

• Video output

The End