2.3. Output Devices and Their Uses

Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors uses:

• Their large screens allow complex diagrams to be created in Computer-aided design.

• Used with light pens to allow designs to be created.

Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors advantages:

• Can be seen at a wider range of angles, unlike LCDs.

• Allow the use of light pens.

Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors disadvantages:

• They are very heavy and bulky.

• They run very hot and can cause fires if left unattended.

• They use a lot more power than LCDs.

• Their flickering can lead to headaches.

• Image burn-in is a common issue.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens uses:

• Main output device for modern computers.

• Mobile phones, laptops, video games use LCD screens.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens advantages:

• Very efficient, low power consumption.

• Lightweight devices.

• Screens can be made in various sizes.

• No flickering images.

• Very sharp image resolution.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens disadvantages:

• Colour and contrast from different angles are inconsistent.

• Motion blur is a common issue.

• Lower contrast than CRT monitors.

Touch screen (as an output devices) uses:

• ATMs

• POS terminals

• Information kiosks.

Touch screen (as an output devices) advantages:

• Don’t need additional input devices.

• They are very interactive, and many functions, such as swiping, can be done.

• They add a high-tech feel to devices and interfaces.

Touch screen (as an output devices) disadvantages:

• They tend to get dirty with frequent use.

• Frequent use results in straining of arm muscles, RSI, etc.

• If large amounts of data are input/output, they aren’t very accurate, and the interface isn’t very fast.

Multimedia projectors uses:

• Training presentations to allow the whole audience to see images.

• Advertising presentations.

• Home cinema systems.

Multimedia projectors advantages:

• More people can watch as they don’t have to crowd around a laptop.

• Avoids the need for several networked computers.

Multimedia projectors disadvantages:

• Images can be fuzzy.

• Expensive to buy.

• Set-up can be complicated.

Laser printers uses:

• In uses where low noise is required.

• If fast, high quality, high-volume printing is required.

Laser printers advantages:

• Printing is fast.

• They can handle very large print jobs.

• Quality is consistently high.

• Toner cartridges last for a long time.

Laser printers disadvantages:

• They are only considerably fast if several copies are being made.

• Color laser printers are expensive to run.

• They produce ozone and volatile organic compounds because of their printing method and toner.

Inkjet printers uses:

• Where low-output volumes are required.

• Where high-quality printing is required for single pages.

Inkjet printers advantages:

• High-quality output

• Cheaper than laser printers.

• Very lightweight

• Don’t produce ozone and volatile organic compounds.

Inkjet printers disadvantages:

• Slow output if many copies are needed.

• Can’t do large print jobs.

• Printing can smudge if user isn’t careful.

• Can be expensive if used a lot

Dot matrix printers uses:

• Used in environments where noise isn’t a major issue.

• Carbon copies or multi-part outputs can be produced.

• Widely used in till receipts.

Dot matrix printers advantages:

• Can be used in varying environments unlike laser/inkjet printers.

• Carbon copies or multi-part outputs can be produced.

• Very cheap to run and maintain.

• Good for continuous printing.

Dot matrix printers disadvantages:

• Very noisy

• Initial cost is more than an inkjet printer.

• Very slow, poor-quality printing

(Graph) Plotters uses:

• Producing architectural drawings

• Producing engineering drawings

• Drawing animation characters.

(Graph) Plotters advantages:

• Very high-quality output.

• can produce large, monochrome and color drawings very accurately.

• Can print on a variety on materials.

(Graph) Plotters disadvantages:

• Very slow printing.

• Expensive equipment to purchase initially.

• Have a very large physical footprint compared to a printer.

3D printers uses:

• Custom-made prosthetic limbs.

• In aerospace, if parts of the aircraft are made using 3d printers they can be very lightweight.

• Making spare parts for items that aren’t now manufactured, e.g., parts of a vintage car.

3D printers advantages:

• Manufacturing objects has become much easier.

• Even though the initial cost is high, it is still cheaper than the more conventional way.

• Parts for machinery that aren’t available can be made.

3D printers disadvantages:

• Potential to make counterfeit items.

• Could lead to manufacture of dangerous items by almost anyone.

• Job loss potential.

Speaker uses:

• Used in all phones and most computers.

• Helps visually impaired people.

• Plays downloaded sound files.

Speaker advantages:

• Amplified sounds can be much louder than the original sound.

• Amplified sounds can be enough to be heard by a huge crowd.

• Very simple technology.

• They are especially useful for blind people, for instance, reading e-books.

Speaker disadvantages:

• Speaker output can disturb irrelevant people in the same area, e.g., an office.

• Sound quality is high only expensive speakers.

• They take up a lot of desk space.

Actuators uses:

• Used to turn on motors, buzzers, and switches.

• Allow a computer to control physical devices,

Actuators advantages:

• Allow remote operation of many devices.

• Relatively inexpensive devices.

Actuators disadvantages:

• They are an additional device in the system that could go wrong.

• As analogue devices, signals need to be converted using a DAC.