1.1.2 Hardware Components

1.1.2 Hardware Components

1. Input Devices

   • Components of the computer that allow the data and instructions to enter the computer
   • Keyboard
     • Usually 105 keys
     • QUERTY design
     • Used to introduce characters, numbers, commands and functions
     • Also found in devices like smartphones and tablets
   • Pointer
     • Used to interact with in-screen programs, options, information, files, images, etc...
     • Controls the "cursor", that is used for the reasons already mentioned
     • Most common pointer device: mouse
     • Other pointer devices: trackballs, trackpads, pointing sticks, joysticks
   • Other input devices
     • Microphone
       • Voice recording
     • Video Camera
       • Video recording
     • Digital Cameras
       • They capture images, digitaliza them, compress and save them
     • Scanners
       • Use to digitalize physical images or texts
     • Biometric Devices
       • They recognize a previously saved biological characteristic of a person to grant him/her Access to the system. (facial, voice, iris, retinal scanners are examples of thys devices)
     • Sensors
       • Used to measure different kinds of info. from the environment, e.g.: Temperature, movement, light, pressure, etc...
     • Digitalizing Tablets
       • Used to create art and drawings directly into a software in the computer, without necessity to digitalize a physical image

2. Output Devices

   • Components of the computers that show information to the user
   • Some output devices
     • Monitor
       • Displays the results of processes such as texts, images or videos. Some monitors nowadays allow data entry via touchscreens
       • Examples of Monitors
         • LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
         • Plasma monitors
         • LED (Light Emitting Diodes)
     • Printer
       • Used to display texts and graphics on paper, to physicalize digital grahpics and text
       • Types of printers
         • Laser printers
           • Most expensive, best printing quality overall
         • Ink Injection
           • Small, light, cheap, ideal for home
         • dot matrix
           • Text and graphics in black and white
         • solid ink
           • Ideal for graphic printig
         • Thermal transfer
           • Mostly used in Companies, uses expensive paper, can print color transparencies
         • Ink sublimination
           • For digital photography due to excellent colors
         • 3d
           • Prints 3d models
     • Earphones / Speakers
       • Used to play music and audio
     • Fax Machine
       • encodes and decodes graphics and text sent via telephone line, it later prints the information recieved
     • MFP (Multifunction Peripheal Devices)
       • Prints, Copies, Faxes and scans.. basically a conjunction of various devices

3. Storing Devices

   • Allows us to store information permanently and acces it at will (secondary memory)
   • Magnetic
     • Store information by magnetizing particles in the Surface of a disk or tape
   • Optical
     • Store information by scripting and reading it with a powerful laser microscope
   • Solid State
     • Fowler-Nordheim Tunneling
       • Opens gates (like in a maze) that gives us acces to a cell panel that stores the infrmation