An output device is any peripheral that receives data from a computer, usually for display, projection, or physical

reproduction. For example, the image shows an inkjet printer, an output device that can make a hard copy of
any information shown on your monitor. Another example of an output device is a computer monitor, which
displays an image that is received from the computer. Monitors and printers are two of the most common output
devices used with a computer.
Types of output devices
3D Printer
Computer Output
Projector
Microfilm (COM)
Braille embosser
Sound card
Monitor
Braille reader
Speakers

Plotter
Flat panel
Speech-generating
Printer (Dot matrix
device (SGD)
GPS
printer,
Inkjet
printer,

TV
Headphones
and Laser printer)
Video card

Types of Monitor
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
This monitor uses a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT). CRT tube creates an image on the screen using a beam
of electrons. CRT consists of one or more guns that fire a beam of electrons inside the screen. The screen is
coated with very tiny Phosphor dots from inside. The beam of electronsrepeatedly falls on the surface of screen.
Every beam fall takes only a fraction of second. CRT in color monitors consists of three guns. These guns
generate red, green and blue (RGB) colors. The other colors are generated with a combination of these three
colors. Nowadays, most of the CRT monitors are replaced by Flat Panel Monitors.
Flat Panel Monitors
Flat Panel Monitors take less space and are lightweight. These monitors use much less power than CRTs. It
does not emit harmful radiations. It is much expensive than CRT. Notebook computers, PDA and cellular phones
use flat panel monitors. Flat panel monitors are available in different sizes such as 15, 17, 18 & 19 etc.
Flat panel display is made up of two plates of glass. These plates contain a substance between them. The
substance is activated in different ways.
There are two types of technologies used in flat panel display screens.
Liquid Crystal Display
Liquid crystal display screen contains a substance called liquid crystal. The molecules of this substance line up in
such a way that the light behind the screens blocked or allowed to create an image. LCDs provide a sharper
picture than CRTs and emit less radiation. LCD displays requires less power and take up less space than CRT.
Gas plasma Display
Gas plasma display uses gas plasma technology. This technology uses a layer of gas between two glass plates.
The gas release ultraviolet light when voltage is applied. The pixels on the screen glow due to this ultraviolet
light and form an image. Plasma display is available in the sizes of upto 150 inches wide. It provides richer colors
than LCD monitors but are more expensive. That is why, it is not commonly used. It provides higher display
quality. This type of monitor can hand directly on a wall.
Touch Screen Monitors
Touch screen monitors are used for input as well as output. A touch screen is a special type of visual display unit.
It has a grid of light beams or fine wires on the screen. It lets the user to interact with a computer by the touch
of a finger rather than typing on a keyboard or moving a mouse. The user enters data by touching icons or
menus identified on the screen.
Most touch screen computers use sensors to detect touch of a finger. Touch screen is well suited for
simple applications like ATM. It has also become common in department stores and supermarkets.
Types of touch Screen Monitors
There are different types of touch screen technology. The most common types are Resistive, Surface wave &
Capacitive.
Resistive Touch Screen
This monitor usually has a coat of thin electrically conductive and resistive layer of metal. A change in electrical
current occurs when it is pressed. The input can be processed by a computer. These monitors are the most
popular types of touch screen monitors used today. They are usually not affected by dust or liquids which make
them very reliable.
Surface Wave Touch Screens
These monitors use ultrasonic waves to process input from the screen. These waves flow over the touch screen.
The wave is absorbed and processed by computer when a person touches the pad.
Capacitive Touch Screen
These screens are coated with indium tin oxide. This material provides continuous current across the screen. The
current can be measure by the processor when the pad is touched. It is usually used with a bare finger instead of
stylus. These screens have high clarity and are not affected by dust. Nowadays most of the smartphones have
Capacitive Touch screens.
Types of Printer

A printer is any device that prints text or illustrations on paper. There are many different types of
printers. In terms of the technology utilized, printers fall into the following categories:
daisy-wheel: Similar to a ball-head typewriter, this type of printer has a plastic or metal wheel on
which the shape of each character stands out in relief. A hammer presses the wheel against a ribbon,
which in turn makes an ink stain in the shape of the character on the paper.Daisy-wheel printers
produce letter-quality print but cannot print graphics.

 dot-matrix: Creates characters by striking pins against an ink ribbon. Each pin makes a dot, and
combinations of dots form characters and illustrations.
ink-jet: Sprays ink at a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers produce high-quality text and graphics.
laser: Uses the same technology as copy machines. Laser printers produce very high quality text
and graphics.
LCD & LED :Similar to a laser printer, but uses liquid crystals or light-emitting diodes rather than a
laser to produce an image on the drum.
line printer: Contains a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at one time. Line
printers are very fast, but produce low-quality print.
thermal printer: An inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated pins against heat-sensitive
paper. Thermal printers are widely used in calculators and fax machines.
Printers are also classified by the following characteristics:
quality of type: The output produced by printers is said to be either letter quality (as good as a
typewriter), near letter quality, or draft quality. Only daisy-wheel, ink-jet, and laser printers produce
letter-quality type. Some dot-matrix printers claim letter-quality print, but if you look closely, you can
see the difference.
speed: Measured in characters per second (cps) or pages per minute(ppm), the speed of printers
varies widely. Daisy-wheel printers tend to be the slowest, printing about 30 cps. Line printers are
fastest (up to 3,000 lines per minute). Dot-matrix printers can print up to 500 cps, and laser printers
range from about 4 to 20 text pages per minute.
impact or non-impact: Impact printers include all printers that work by striking an ink ribbon.
Daisy-wheel, dot-matrix, and line printers are impact printers. Non-impact printers include laser
printers and ink-jet printers. The important difference between impact and non-impact printers is that
impact printers are much noisier.
graphics:Some printers (daisy-wheel and line printers) can print only text. Other printers can print
both text and graphics.
fonts : Some printers, notably dot-matrix printers, are limited to one or a few fonts. In contrast,
laser and ink-jet printers are capable of printing an almost unlimited variety of fonts. Daisy-wheel
printers can also print different fonts, but you need to change the daisy wheel, making it difficult to
mix fonts in the same document.
Types of Plotter
A plotter is a special output device used to produce hard copies of large graphs and designs on paper, such as
construction maps, engineering drawings, architectural plans and business charts. The plotter is either a
peripheral component that you add to your computer system or a standalone device with its own internal
processor.
DRUM PLOTTER
A drum plotter is a pen plotter that wraps the paper around a drum with a pin feed attachment. The drum then
rotates the paper as pens move across it and draw the image. It was the first output device used to print
graphics and large engineering drawings. There are two types of drum plotters, external and internal. With an
external drum plotter, the paper is wrapped around its external surface, while the internal drum plotter uses a
sheet of paper wrapped around its internal surface.
FLAT-BED PLOTTER
A flat-bed plotter is a mechanical drafting device used with many CAD programs for designers. The paper
remains stationary on a flat surface while a pen moves across it horizontally and vertically. This plotter may use
several different pen colors to create the graphics. The size of the graphic is limited to the size of the flat-bed
plotter's surface.
INKJET PLOTTER
The inkjet plotter creates an image by spraying small droplets of ink on to paper. A popular choice for
advertising agencies and graphic designers, inkjet plotters are used generally for large outputs, such as banners
and billboards and large signs often seen along roadsides. They are available in thermal or piezoelectric models.
Thermal inkjet plotters use heat to apply droplets of ink, while piezoelectric plotters use charged crystals to
apply the ink. Inkjet plotters typically produce better quality graphics than other plotter types.
CUTTING PLOTTER
The cutting plotter is a large scale cutting device that produces ready-cut mylar or vinyl lettering and graphics.
Automated plotter knives cut into a sheet of the material lying on the plotter's flat surface area, carving out the
design stored in the attached computer. Used for sign making, billboard advertising and vehicle graphics, the

devices offer far greater speed and precision than can be achieved with the traditional method of creating sign
lettering and logos by hand.