Computer Output Device


Key Points


What is the output?

Output means something produced by a person, machine, or industry. The result of an input is the output. It happens like this- input-process-output. An input data that the computer or laptop receives, and output dada that computer sends. For example, insert the ATM Card in the ATM (input) and press the buttons of number then machine counts the money (process), and money come out from the ATM (output)


What is an output device?

An output device means equipment of computer hardware that receives data from the computer and converts it into readable form. The data converted can be in the form of text, image, graph, or chart. The output is the process of producing results from the data for getting useful information.


How does an output device work?

An output device receives information from the computer and sends it in a way or form you can see, hear, or read. It relies on other computer components like video cards, sound cards, Bluetooth communication, or ports, and they may use a wireless or wired connection.


Which is the main output device of a computer?

The monitor is the chief output device of a computer. It is commonly called a Visual Display Unit (VDU). Monitor forms images from dots known as pixels. The sharpness of the image depends upon the number of pixels.

Following are the most common output devices such as display, sound, print, and projection connected with a computer.

Types of output devices


Monitor

A computer monitor is an electronic output device that is also known as a Video Display Unit (VDU) or a Video Display Terminal (VDT). It can display text, images, graphics, videos, or information generated by a computer video card. A computer or laptop monitor is a display adapter that displays information processed by the computer's video card. Monitors have display functions that include powering it on and off, controlling brightness, contrast, and position, among others.

Monitors are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and display technologies. They can work with a computer's video card and show a real-time picture of the computer's operating system, programs, and data so users can interact with them.

Many computers have flat-screen monitors, like Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and Light Emitting Diodes (LED). Some monitors have a touch screen, which users can use in place of a mouse or keyboard.

Sound Devices

Sound devices are computer peripherals that produce, manipulate, or record sound or electronic signals representing the sound. Virtually all modern music and movie sound production is done digitally by using computer sound devices.

Headphones and speakers are examples of output devices for listening to music or other sounds from your computer. Laptops and monitors often have speakers built into them, while headphones and other speaker systems are external devices. Your computer's audio card enables audio data from your computer to travel in a digital signal through a wired or wireless connection to your speakers or headphones. Your sound device then turns that signal into analog sound waves you can hear.


Plotters

A plotter produces vector graphics drawings. Plotters draw lines on paper using a pen. In the past, plotters were used in applications such as computer-aided design, as they were able to produce line drawings much faster and of a higher quality than conventional printers. Users can use the small desktop plotters for business graphics. Although they retained a niche for producing large drawings for many years, now plotters were replaced by printers. 

A plotter is a kind of printer for computers. Plotters use vector graphics. Usually, they are used to print large paper. Plotters print things using special, colored pens. There is one called the drum plotter. Users can generally use it for making flex or maps.


Printers

A computer printer is a piece of hardware for a computer. It allows a user to print items on paper, such as letters and pictures. Mostly a printer prints under the control of a computer. Many can also work as a copying machine or with a digital camera to print directly without using a computer.

Computer printers give you a way to output pictures, text, and other information from your computer onto paper as a hard copy. Inkjet printers are ordinary for home users and use ink cartridges where tiny dots of ink are sprayed onto the page to make the image. Dot-matrix printers differ in that they use ribbons of ink and have a print head that presses on the paper. Frequently used for mass printing, laser printers use laser beams and toner to make an image by generating electrical charges.

In addition to these traditional printers, 3D printers are available that allow you to create physical objects using plastic filament and specialized computer modeling software. Often used for computer-aided design, there are also large printers called plotters that print detailed graphs and images using a pen.


Projectors

A device that projects computer output onto a white or silver fabric screen that is a wall, ceiling, or tripod mounted. Users can use it in classrooms and auditoriums for instruction and slide presentations.

A data projector has HDMI inputs for Blu-ray/DVD players, set-top boxes, and computers. Data projectors connect to your computer's graphics card and allow you to mirror your computer's screen onto an external surface like a wall or screen. They use mirrors that can split white light into blue, red, and green light that will go through a lens to magnify the image. The most common types are LCD and digital light processing (DLP) projectors, with the latter being more expensive and utilizing a color wheel filter. Companies and schools often use these output devices during meetings and classes to let a large group of people follow along with a presentation. Everyday users might use projectors to watch videos on a larger screen to view with friends and family.

Accessibility Output Devices

Other output devices of a computer include tools that help users with visual or hearing impairment to read the screen or hear some sound. Blind users may use a Braille printer to output text onto paper with embossed dots they can feel to read, or they might use displays that can display lines of text in Braille. While they're not physical tools, screen magnifying software and screen readers can make text large on a monitor or use a synthesized electronic voice that is easier to understand.


Difference between Output and Input devices

Output Device

Input Device

It outputs data and information.

It inputs data and information.

Output is from the processor.

Input is from the user.

It outputs processed data to the user.

It accepts data from the user.

It helps to display the data.

It helps to accept the data.

It sends data to the user.

It sends data from the user.

It can use friendly.

It can use friendly.

Ex. Monitor, Printer, Projector, Speaker, Headphone, Plotter, GPS, Sound Card, Video Card, etc.

Ex. Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner, Touchpad, Touch screen, Microphone, Joystick, Digital camera, Webcam, Barcode Reader, etc.

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