HARDWARE DEVICES

HARDWARE DEVICES

1. INPUT DEVICES

   • Keyboard
     • wired
     • wireless
       • eg. bluetooth
     • gaming
       • colour coded
   • Pointing devices
     • mouse
       • optical (red laser)
       • mechanical (roller ball)
       • multi button
     • touchpad
       • some can zoom in or scroll
       • can be disabled if necessary
     • joystick
       • stick to control cursor on screen
       • used mainly for gaming
     • stylus pen
       • used directly on screen or connected tablet
       • can be used as a mouse or to notate
     • trackball
       • stationary mouse with rotating ball
   • Scanner
     • scanned using a laser
     • scans or copies documents into the computer
   • Microphone
     • allows voice to be interpreted by the computer
     • can communicate with others through software
     • can communicate with device
   • Webcam
     • allows you to display yourself on another computer screen
     • good for online meetings/telecommuting
     • online dating, skype etc

2. OUTPUT DEVICES

   • Printers
     • Laser printer
       • toner and drummer with lasers
       • can be put on the networlk
       • paper usually comes out the top
     • Inkjet
       • no laser, toner or drum,
       • small dots shot onto the paper
       • uses ink cartridges
       • inexpensive
       • very popular within households
     • Thermal
       • burning special paper
       • used in department stores and restaurants
       • used to print receipts
       • inexpensive
       • speedy
   • Display Devices
     • Flatscreen
       • thin
       • lightweight
       • portable
       • better picture
       • very popular
       • LCD = Liquid Crystal Display
       • LED = Light Emitting Diodes
     • CRT
       • Cathode Ray Tube
       • heavy burn in (when image is burned into the screen)
       • glass screen causes glare
     • Projector
       • good for large screens
       • expensive bulbs
       • bulb needs to have a high enough number of lumens
       • more lumens = brighter = more expensive
     • Speakers
       • allows you to hear audio

3. INPUT + OUTPUT DEVICES

   • Fax
     • facsimilies
     • allows you to send/receive printed messages
     • modems built in to send/receive messages
     • need to be connected to a phone line
   • External Storage
     • Thumb Drive/Memory Stick
       • great portable storage for everyday use
       • sizes vary from 1Gb to 256Gb
       • can install programs and OS
       • can transport files
       • can easily spread malware/viruses etc
     • External Hard Drive
       • like a thumb drive but much higher capacity
       • requires power supply to work
       • can be used for backup purposes
       • file archiving
       • transporting large files
     • CD/DVD/BlueRay
       • used to be very popular for the amount of data they could hold
       • CD = 700Mb
       • DVD = 4.7-9.4 Gb
       • BlueRay = 25-128 Gb depending on technology
     • Network attached Storage
       • anyone on this network can access it
       • dedicated system just for storage on a network
       • can be used in enterprise settings as part of SAN (Storage Area Network)
       • popular in homes with enthusiasts and SOHO (small businesses) settings
     • Memory Card
       • used in devices that require storage eg. digital cameras, camcorders, phones, etc
       • many different types
       • used to expand memory in some cases
       • SD cards currently very popular
       • needs an adaptor for example to read the card outside the original device
     • Mobile Media Players
       • allows you to take the media with and you and listen/watch on the go
     • Smart Phone
       • multiple functions
       • can act as mobile media player
       • can save info to device
       • can pull info from device
   • Touchscreen Display
     • true interaction with computer/system
     • very popular
     • can be standalone device eg. a PC
     • can be a television device
     • used commonly on kiosks
   • Headsets with microphone/speakers
     • input = speaking
     • output = listening