module 6

Module Overview

This module focuses on the role of input and output devices in computing, emphasizing both their productivity benefits and the potential mental and physical impacts on users. Additional topics include the identification and customization of these devices, as well as understanding e-waste risks.

Icebreaker: Interview Simulation

The initial activity encourages discussion around familiar input and output devices. Students share their experiences and the impact of these devices on their productivity and health.

Module Objectives

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Differentiate between input and output devices.

  • Identify and categorize manual and digital input devices.

  • Recognize various physical and digital output methods.

  • Discuss the applications of assistive technologies in input and output.

  • Customize and manage their input and output devices effectively.

  • Understand the risks associated with electronic waste (e-waste) and develop strategies for its management.

Input and Output Devices

Input

Definition

Data is defined as a collection of unprocessed items including text, numbers, images, audio, and video. Users input data and instructions into computers using various devices.

Commands

  • A command is an instruction leading a program or app to execute a specific action.

  • Programs and apps react to user-issued commands.

  • A user response occurs when a user interacts with a displayed message, instructing the program or app to perform predefined actions.

Input Methods and Devices
Manual Input Devices

Manual input devices require direct user interaction:

  • Keyboards: Essential for typing text and commands, including a typing area, function keys, toggle keys, navigation keys, and sometimes media control buttons.

  • Pointing Devices: Facilitate screen selection. Common examples include:
      - Mouse: A device operated by hand to navigate on-screen content. Variants include:
        - Optical mouse: Employs optical sensors.
        - Laser mouse: Uses laser sensors.
        - Touch mouse: Recognizes touch inputs.
        - Ergonomic mouse: Designed for comfort.
      - Touchpad: A flat area sensitive to touch for scrolling and selection, commonly found on laptops.

Touch Screen Input

Touch screens allow direct interaction without additional devices, using gestures such as tapping, double tapping, pressing and holding, dragging, scrolling, pinching, and stretching. These interactions are common in:

  • Smartphones

  • Tablets

  • Kiosks

  • Navigation systems

  • Wearable devices

Digital Input Devices

  • Voice Input: Utilizing microphones to enter commands and text through spoken words, essential in voice recognition apps.

  • Audio Input: Capturing sounds including speech and music requires sound cards.

  • Video Input: Full-motion images are captured and stored digitally using devices such as DV cameras and webcams.
      - The process includes selecting a camera, recording, transferring, managing, editing, and distributing the video.

  • Special Effects and Gesture Recognition: Users interact by utilizing gestures picked up by sensors and cameras.

Reading Devices

  • Optical Scanner: Converts printed text and images into digital data for computer processing.
      - Quality is gauged through resolution (pixels per inch).

  • Bar Code Reader: Reads linear or 2D bar codes; QR codes store data in both axes.

  • RFID: Uses radio waves for reading tags attached to objects or individuals.

  • Magstripe Reader: Reads magnetic stripes on cards for identification and transaction data.

  • Data Collection Devices: Gather information directly where events occur, often used in environments challenging to manage conditions.

Physical Output Methods

Definitions

Output data is presented back to the user in various forms:

  • Hard Copy: A physical manifestation (printout) relative to soft copy (on-screen temporary information).
      - Formats include portrait and landscape orientations depending on content type (letters versus spreadsheets).

Types of Printers

  • Non-impact Printers: Create images without direct contact with the paper:
      - Inkjet Printers: Spray ink drops onto paper, available in various colors and sizes.
      - Photo Printers: Generally inkjet-based, designed for high-quality photo outputs.
      - Laser Printers: High-speed, high-resolution output using toner and laser beams; processes entire pages before printing.
      - 3D Printers: Create three-dimensional objects through additive manufacturing.
      - Thermal Printers: Use heat to print and are typically used for labels.

  • Impact Printers: Physically strikes ink onto the paper, ideal for multipart forms but generally noisier.

Digital Output Devices

  • Displays: Convert digital data into visual output:
      - Types include LCD, OLED, and plasma displays, characterized by resolution, refresh rate, and display quality.
      - Brightness: Measured in nits, indicating light intensity.
      - Response Time: Time taken to signal a pixel, expressed in milliseconds (ms).
      - Contrast Ratio: Determines the clarity of colors by measuring the light intensity difference.

Data Presentation Tools

  • Speakers: Enhance sound quality of computer audio through standalone or built-in systems.

  • Projectors: Enlarge digital content for presentations to a wider audience, often using interactive whiteboards.

Ethics and Issues: Assistive Technology

Goals and Devices

The aim of assistive technologies is to empower users with disabilities:

  • Adaptive Input Devices: Include eye-gaze tracking, foot mice, and sip-and-puff systems for diverse user needs.

  • Adaptive Output Devices: Use refreshable Braille displays, Braille printers, and OCR systems to ensure accessibility.

Customization and Management

Personalization of Devices

Customizing input and output settings enhances productivity by modifying system software settings, including screen brightness, desktop themes, sound schemes, and keyboard shortcuts.

E-Waste Management

Recommendations

To mitigate e-waste risks and protect user health:

  • Transition from CRT to LCD screens, maintain distance from displays, reduce wireless connections, and recycle old devices.

Case Study Activity

Mr. and Mrs. Green's TV Selection

Given their struggles with visibility, the case study illustrates the decision-making process for choosing a suitable TV display, suggesting the optimal choice is an OLED display due to its superior technology.

Self-Assessment

Reflect on various personal experiences with input/output devices, questions about the material, and prioritize significant suggestions to reduce e-waste risks.

Summary

This module offers comprehensive insights into input and output technologies, their functionalities, and ethical considerations, guiding users toward enhanced productivity and safety in the digital age.