Definition:

“ A computer is an electronic
device which collect data processit
and give output.”
Examples of input devices:

Key board:
The Keyboard is the standard data input and operator control device for a
computer.

A standard QUERTY keyboard

It consists of the standard QWERTY layout with a numeric keypad and additional
function keys for control purposes.

Mouse:
The Mouse is a popular input device. You move it across the desk and its
movement is shown on the screen by a marker known as a 'cursor'.

You will need to click the buttons at the top of the mouse to select an option.
A computer mouse

Joystick:
The joystick is a rotary lever. Similar to an aircraft's control stick, it enables you
to move within the screen's environment, and is widely used in the computer
games industry.

A joystick

Touch screen:
A Touch Sensitive Screen is a pointing device that enables the user to interact
with the computer by touching the screen.
 A touch sensitive monitor

There are three forms of touchscreen: pressure-sensitive, capacitive surface and

light beam.

Space mouse:
The Space mouse is different from a normal mouse as it has an X axis, a Y axis
and a Z axis. It can be used for developing and moving around 3-D environments.

A space mouse

Examples of output devices:

Monitor:
Visual Display Units (VDU) or monitors are used to visually interface with the
computer and are similar in appearance to a television.

A cathode ray monitor A plasma monitor

Visual Display Units display images and text which are made up of small blocks
of coloured light called pixels. The resolution of the screen improves as the
number of pixels is increased. Most monitors have a 4:3 width to height ratio.

Printer:
Impact Printers use a print head containing a number of metal pins which strike
an inked ribbon placed between the print head and the paper.

An impact printer showing detail of print head

Some print heads have only 9 pins to make the dots to build up a character; some
have 24 pins which produce a better resolution.
Robots:
Robots are able to perform a variety of tasks as a result of executing instructions
contained within a program.

We are still a long way from the science fiction robots and androids portrayed by
the film industry.

A robot arm

Robots in a business sense mean automated machines designed to perform

mundane operations which require accuracy, such as assembling cars.

They are seldom manufactured to resemble the human form.

Voice:
Voice synthesis has a robotic sound due to the difficulties of replicating the
complexities of human speech and pronunciation.

Voice answer back (VAB) is used to respond to telephone enquiries, such as the
speaking clock.

A speak and spell toy

Educational applications include "Speak & Spell" and arithmetic trainers.

Plotter:
In drum plotters the pen is moved in a single axis track and the paper itself
moves on a cylindrical drum to add the other axis or dimension.

A drum plotter

The size of the graph is therefore limited only by the width of the drum and can be
of any length.