Output devices translate information processed by the computer into a form that you the user can understand. View this slideshow to learn more about these devices.

1. OUTPUT DEVICES

2. OUTPUT DEVICES
 Output devices translates information processed by
the computer into a form you can understand.
Can you guess which
of these devices are
OUTPUT devices?

3. OUTPUT DEVICES
 Output devices can be divided into two categories:
SOFTCOPY output devices and HARDCOPY output
devices.
SOFTCOPY HARDCOPY
Monitors (VDUs) Printers
Projectors
Speakers
Video Graphics Card

4. SOFTCOPY vs HARDCOPY
 Softcopy output is information in intangible form i.e.
It is displayed on a screen or in audio or voice form
through speakers.
 Hardcopy output is tangible and refers to output
which is printed.

5. SOFTCOPY OUTPUT DEVICES
 Monitors – these are also called Visual Display Units
(VDUs). There are two types of monitors. These are
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and Flat Panel Displays.

6. CRT MONITORS vs FLAT PANEL SCREENS
 Differences between CRT Monitors and Flat panel
monitors.
It is less expensive. It is more expensive.
It takes up more desk space. Doesn’t take up much space.
It uses more energy. Are more energy efficient.
It is heavier and bulkier. Weigh’s much less.
It emits harmful radiation. Doesn’t emit radiation.
It is used only for PCs. Also used for laptops, PDAs,
cellular phones.

7. SPEAKERS
 Normal music system speakers are used to output
sound. They convert the sound from electronic form
stored in the computer to what the user can
understand.

8. HARDCOPY OUTPUT DEVICES
 Printers – Printers can be divided into two broad
categories IMPACT and NON IMPACT printers.
 IMPACT printers produce their output when the
printing mechanism strikes the paper to make a
print.
 NON IMPACT printers produce their output without
their printing mechanism making any impact with
the paper.

9. IMPACT PRINTERS
 Two common impact printers are DOT MATRIX
printers and LINE printers.
Dot Matrix Printer Line Printer

10. DOT MATRIX PRINTERS
 Dot matrix printers contain a print head with up to
24 pins arranged in a rectangular pattern (matrix).
These print one character at a time which are formed
by specific patterns of dots struck by the pins. The
print quality is not very good and they are slow.

11. LINE PRINTERS
 A Line printer is an impact printer which appears to
print one line at a time.

12. NON IMPACT PRINTERS
 Four types of Non Impact printers are: LASER
printers, INKJET printers, PLOTTERS and
THERMAL printers.
Laser Printer Inkjet Printer Thermal Printer Plotter

13. LASER PRINTERS
 Used in many large companies or institutions. They
produce very high quality output at terrific speeds.
They are also called PAGE printers because the
appear to print an entire page at a time. Some can
produce up more than 40 pages per minute.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtXes1sgUb4
This video gives you a good idea of how a laser printer produces output.

14. INKJET PRINTERS
 These printers produce their output by spraying
small, electrically charged droplets of ink from
nozzles, through holes, at a high speed, onto the
paper. The quality of printing is high but not as high
as laser printers.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3e55hXt-
LA&feature=related
This video gives you a good idea of how an inkjet printer produces output.

15. THERMAL PRINTERS
 These have a print head made up of pins arranged in
a pattern (matrix). These pins are heated electrically
and burn the characters onto heat-sensitive paper.

16. PLOTTERS
 A Plotter is a special printer designed to produce
high quality graphics in vibrant colour on a large
scale. They are especially useful for creating maps,
billboards, banners, architectural drawings and
charts.