Chapter 2

Peripheral Devices

Whats inside and on the CD?

This chapter provides an overview on:
Keyboard and mouse
Specialized input devices
Trackpads
Digital cameras
Joysticks
Display devices and printers
Voice synthesizers and plotters
Technologies that provide easiest connections
Component purchasing
Tips to help when shopping for a computer, software, and
peripheral devices
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 2

What is a peripheral device?

A peripheral device is any input or output component
that connects to a computer
Standard components include:
Keyboard
Mouse
Display unit
Printer

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What is a peripheral device?

Specialized peripheral devices include:
Playing games
Monitoring home security
Capturing video images
Specialized peripheral devices are key components of largescale computers
High-speed printers for mass mailings
High-speed optical character readers in banks
Computer-controlled robots for:
Arc welding
Circuit board assembly
Painting
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 2

What is a peripheral device?

Handheld scanning devices keep track of package
deliveries
UPC scanners in check-out lanes

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for standard

input devices?
The keyboard is the most important input device on
desktop and notebook computers
Design of keyboard is based on typewriters
QWERTY layout
Additional keypad for editing
Function keys for computer-specific tasks
Numeric keypad

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for standard

input devices?

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for standard

input devices?
Pointing devices manipulate on-screen pointer
Mice
Trackballs
Pointing sticks
Trackpads
Joysticks

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for standard

input devices?

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for specialized

PC input devices?
A joystick looks like cars stick shift
Controls objects on screen
Can be adapted for physical challenges that
make it difficult to use keyboard
A digital camera used to capture still images
Easily transferred to computer
Produce images that can be stored,
manipulated, posted on the Web, and
transmitted as email attachments

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for specialized

PC input devices?
A digital video camera captures moving
images
Easily transferred to computer
Easily edited on computer
A graphics tablet features pressure-sensitive
surface and pen for free-hand drawing
A digitizing tablet provides flat surface for
vector drawing such as blueprints and technical
drawings

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for specialized

PC input devices?
A touch-sensitive screen can detect the location
of a fingertip or stylus within the screen area
A scanner converts images into bitmap graphics
that can be viewed and edited with graphic
software
Can capture old photographs
Scanned Text can be manipulated if scanner
has optical character recognition

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for specialized

PC input devices?
Standard microphone is used to collect audio input and is
part of sound card
Some software has speech recognition to allow for
voice commands instead of keyboard and mouse
Handy for narrations on Web sites and videos
Require lots of storage space

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the most popular display

technologies?
LCD display produces image by manipulating light within
layer of liquid crystal cells
CRT display device, such as glass tube on standard TV
Plasma screen creates image by illuminating miniature
colored fluorescent lights in panel-like screen

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the most popular display

technologies?
Performance of display device is factor of:
Screen size
Dot pitch
Response time
Color depth
Contrast ratio
Screen resolution

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the most popular printer

technologies?
Todays printers typically use ink jet or laser technology
An ink jet printer has nozzle-like print head that sprays
ink to form characters and graphics
Inexpensive choice of most home and small
business applications
Print high quality images produced by digital
cameras and scanners
A laser printer uses same technology as photocopier
More expensive
Choice for business printers that produce high
volumes
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 2

What are the most popular printer

technologies?
When selecting printer consider:
Print resolution
Print speed
Duty cycle
Operating costs
Memory
Duplex printing
Networkability

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

What are the options for specialized

output devices?
Upgrade computers speaker system for better sound
quality
A plotter is a special printer for line drawing such as
blueprints
A voice synthesizer converts digital text into audio
output
A computer projection device displays computergenerated images on large screen

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

How do I connect peripheral devices

to my computer?
Installation is a pathway to transmit data between device and
computer
Wired connection may require only connecting wire to
computer or may require adding expansion card to system
unit
Most computers include a variety of built-in ports for
connecting devices
Today, USB (universal serial bus) is the preferred way to
connect devices
Wireless connection typically requires transceiver on both
devices
Infrared light
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 2

How do I connect peripheral devices

to my computer?

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

How do I connect peripheral devices to my

computer?
If peripheral device requires a port not on your computer,
you install an expansion card

Some devices require software, called device driver, to

set up communications

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

How do I select components for my

computer system?
Guidelines for purchasing peripheral devices:
Consider the tasks for which youll use the computer
Determine your budget
Select a computer platform
Choose a desktop, notebook, or tablet configuration
Select processor type and speed
Select an operating system

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2

How do I select components for my

computer system?

Consider your storage needs

Consider RAM and video memory capacity
Evaluate the computers upgradeability
Select software
Select peripheral devices and accessories
Evaluate manufacturer and vendor support and
warranty

Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition

Chapter 2