An Introduction to the Output Devices
An output device is any hardware device that is used to send data from a computer to another device or user. We have many output devices, but the following are the most commonly used output devices:
Monitor
Printer
Speaker
Images of a Few Output Devices
Output Devices
More Details of the Above-Mentioned Output Devices
Monitor
Monitor is the most important output device of a computer as it is the visual output device. Without it, the computer is incomplete. The monitor is a basic device of the computer for the visual display of all types of information or data in any form. The monitor is designed to display information in symbolic and graphical types. It shows all the data and information as a Soft Copy of that data on its screen. Anyone can view Files, photos, videos, texts, graphics, and tables in real-time through the monitor.
Monitor
Following are Types of Monitor:
Colour Monitor: As its name tells us, it is a monitor which displays everything colourful on its screen. This is because monitors or television screens produce three colours (red, green, and blue), and the other colours we see have different combinations and intensities of these three primary colours. Each pixel on a computer screen consists of three small connecting dots called phosphors surrounded by black mask. Examples are monitor, television, tablet etc.
Coloured Monitor
Monochrome Monitor: A monochrome monitor is a type of computer monitor that displays computer text and images in different two colours only, as opposed to a coloured monitor that can display text and images in multiple colours, they are black and white. It was very common in the early days of computing from the 1960's to the 1980's, before colour monitors were widespread on the market.
Monochrome Monitor
TFT Monitor: It stands for Thin Film Transistor (TFT) monitor. A TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display screen is a liquid crystal display (LCD) commonly found in laptops and portable computers that has a transistor for each pixel that is, each small element that controls the backlight of the display.
TFT Monitor
Printer
A Printer is a device that takes text and graphic data from a computer and transfers the information to paper. Printers can be differentiated on the basis of size, speed, complexity, and cost.
Printer
Following are Types of Printers:
Inkjet Printer: The inkjet printer is a computer peripheral that prints hard copies by jetting ink onto paper. A typical inkjet printer can produce copies with a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). Some inkjet printers can print full colour copies at 600 dpi or higher.
Inkjet Printer
Dot Matrix Printer: The dot matrix printer can print multiple sheets at once by printing directly on the white front sheet and then back on colour carbon paper.
Dot Matrix Printer
Laser Printer: Laser printers are a popular type of computer printer that uses shock-free copier technology where the keys do not touch the paper.
Laser Printer
Speaker
They are the audio output devices. Computer speakers are hardware output devices that connect to a computer to reproduce sound. The signals used to reproduce sound from your computer's speakers are produced by your computer's sound card.
Speaker
Examples are:
High groove - UB3.
Bose-Companion 2 Computer Speaker System
Logitech- Multimedia speaker system Z313.
Logitech-Speaker S120.
Amazon Basics- U213.
Points to Remember
Output device is computer hardware that receives data from a computer and then converts that data to another format. This form can be a hard copy such as audio, video, text, or printed document.
This is a hardware device used to pass the output which we get from computations performed within the CPU to other connected devices or to other users on the same network.
An output device is a device that helps us to get data processed from a computer, usually in the form of visual, audio, and xerox.
Monitors are of three types - coloured, monochrome, TFT.
Printer converts the data from softcopy to hardcopy (on paper).
Printers are of three types - inkjet, dot matrix, laser.
Learn By Doing
Write true or false for the following:
A keyboard is an output device.
Monochrome monitors display output in two colours only.
Monitor acts as an interface between the CPU and the user.
The dot matrix printer can print one sheet at a time.
Output devices take data from the user.
Speaker is the standard audio output device.
Sample Questions
1. Arrange these jumbled words.
toomnir-Monitor
epeahhdon-Headphones
iletvonie-Television
2. Which type of output device speaker is.
Ans: Speaker is a type of “Audio Output Device”.
3. Write three modified types of speakers.
Ans: The three modified forms of speakers are Headphones, Airpods, and Bluetooth speakers.
Summary
Output devices are one of the two main devices of a computer system. They provide us with the results produced by the computer. There are different types of output devices for different forms of output like for display we have monitor, for audio we have speaker, and for printing we have printer.
FAQs on Output Devices of Computer
1. What is an output device in a computer?
An output device is a piece of computer hardware that receives processed data from a computer and converts it into a human-understandable form. Essentially, it takes the results of the computer's operations and presents them to the user through various means like visuals, audio, or physical print.
2. What are some common examples of output devices used in daily life?
Some of the most common output devices you encounter every day include:
- Monitor: Displays visual information on a screen.
- Printer: Creates physical copies (hard copies) of documents and images.
- Speakers: Produce audio output like music, sounds, and voice.
- Headphones: Provide personal audio output.
- Projector: Displays computer output on a large surface for presentations or viewing.
3. How do output devices present information from a computer?
Output devices work by receiving electrical signals from the computer's processor (CPU) and graphics/sound card. They then translate these signals into a specific form of output. For example, a monitor translates signals into pixels of light to form an image, while speakers convert signals into sound waves by vibrating a diaphragm.
4. Why is the CPU (Central Processing Unit) not considered an output device?
The CPU is the brain of the computer; its primary function is to process data and execute instructions. It performs calculations and manages the flow of information. It does not, however, present the final, usable information to the user. That role is exclusively for output devices like monitors or printers, which receive the processed data from the CPU.
5. What is the fundamental difference between an input device and an output device?
The fundamental difference lies in the direction of data flow. An input device (like a keyboard or mouse) sends data to the computer for processing. In contrast, an output device (like a monitor or speaker) receives processed data from the computer to present to the user. One lets you talk to the computer, the other lets the computer talk to you.
6. Can output devices be categorized into different types based on their function?
Yes, output devices can be broadly categorized based on the type of output they produce. The main categories are:
- Visual Output Devices: These display information visually, such as monitors, projectors, and video cards.
- Audio Output Devices: These produce sound, including speakers and headphones.
- Print Output Devices: These create a physical copy of data, like printers and plotters.
- Tactile Output Devices: These provide output through touch, such as Braille readers for the visually impaired or haptic feedback controllers in gaming.
7. What is the use of a plotter, and how does it differ from a regular printer?
A plotter is a specialized output device used to create high-quality vector graphics. Unlike a regular printer that uses dots (pixels) to form an image, a plotter draws continuous lines using pens. This makes it ideal for producing large, precise drawings like architectural blueprints, engineering designs, and maps. The key difference is precision and scale; plotters excel at large-format line art, while printers are better for general text and raster images.
8. How do output devices relate to the concepts of 'soft copy' and 'hard copy'?
Output devices are the bridge between these two concepts. A soft copy is a digital version of a file that is viewed on a screen; a monitor or projector is the output device used to display it. A hard copy is a physical, printed version of that file; a printer or plotter is the output device used to create it. You cannot have a hard copy without an output device that can produce a physical duplicate of the digital data.
9. Can a single computer use multiple output devices at the same time? Explain with an example.
Yes, a computer can use multiple output devices simultaneously. For example, a user could be watching a tutorial video on their monitor (visual output) while listening to the audio through their headphones (audio output). In this scenario, the computer is sending different types of processed data to two distinct output devices at once.
