Computers Are Your Future Chapter 5

Input / Output and Storage

 Computers Are Your Future Chapter 5

Input
 Input is any data entered into the computer’s
memory.
 Types of input include:
 Data – Unorganized information (words, numbers,
images, or sounds) that the computer converts to
meaningful information
 Software – Programs transferred from storage devices to
the computer’s memory
 Commands – Instructions that tell the computer what to
do
 Responses – Prompts requiring user feedback
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Input Devices: Giving Commands

Keyboard

Mouse

Other Pointing
Devices
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Audio Input

 Computers can accept input from a microphone.

 An expansion card called a sound card records and
plays back sound files.
 Sound files contain digitized sound data.
 Popular sound file formats include:
 Windows WAV
 Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG)
 MP2 and MP3
 Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
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Audio Input: Speech Recognition

 Speech recognition is a type
of input in which the
computer recognizes words
spoken into a microphone.
 Special software and a
microphone are required.
 Latest technology uses
continuous speech recognition
where the user does not have
to pause between words.
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Digital Input: Digital Cameras and

Digital Video
Digital Video
Digital Cameras
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Alternative Input Devices

Scanners Fax Machines

Flatbed Barcode reader
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Output Devices: Engaging our Senses

 Output devices are peripheral devices that enable us

to view or hear the computer’s processed data.
 Visual output – Text, graphics, and video
 Audio output – Sounds, music, and synthesized speech
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Monitors

CRT LCD

 A monitor is a peripheral device which displays

computer output on a screen.
 Screen output is referred to as soft copy.
 Types of monitors:
 Cathode-ray tube (CRT)
 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD or flat-panel)
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Monitor Specifications

 Screen size – The diagonal measurement of the screen surface

in inches (15, 17, 19, 21)
 Resolution – The sharpness of the image determined by the
number of horizontal and vertical dots (pixels) that the screen
can display (800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1600 x 1200)
 Refresh rate – The speed at which the screen is redrawn
(refreshed) and measured in Hertz (Hz) (60Hz, 75Hz)
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Printers

A printer is a peripheral
device that produces a
physical copy or hard
copy of the computer’s
output.
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Types of Printers
Inkjet Laser

 Inkjet printer, also called a  Laser printer works like a

bubble-jet, makes characters
by inserting dots of ink onto
paper
 Letter-quality printouts
 Cost of printer is inexpensive
but ink is costly
copier
 Quality determined by dots
per inch (dpi) produced
 Color printers available
 Expensive initial costs but
cheaper to operate per page
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Plotter

 A plotter is a printer that uses a pen that moves over a

large revolving sheet of paper.
 It is used in engineering, drafting, map making, and
seismology.
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Audio Output: Sound Cards and Speakers

 Audio output is the ability of the computer to output
sound.
 Two components are needed:
 Sound card – Plays contents of digitized recordings
 Speakers – Attach to sound card
Click an icon Try clicking on
to play Cheers while
music. playing music.
Click the icon WMA MIDI MP3 WAV
again to stop
playing. Beethoven Rocky Hornsby Cheers
1:15 min 2:56 min 48 sec 15 sec
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Memory vs. Storage

Hard Drive – storage RAM – memory

 Storage, also known as mass media or auxiliary storage,

refers to the various media on which a computer system can
store data.
 Storage devices hold programs and data in units called files.
 Memory is a temporary workplace where the computer
transfers the contents of a file while it is being used.
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Why Is Storage Necessary?

 Storage devices:
Retain data when the computer is turned off
Are cheaper than memory
Play an important role during startup
Are needed for output
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Storage Devices

 Storage devices are categorized by:

The type of operations they perform
The method they use to access the information
The technology they use
Their location in the storage hierarchy
Their capacity and speed
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Sequential vs. Random Access Storage

Tape Drive – Floppy Disk Drive – Hard Disk –
sequential storage random-access storage random-access storage

 Sequential – Storage devices that read and write data

in a serial (one after the other) fashion
 Random-Access – Storage devices that read and
write data without going through a sequence of
locations
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Storage Technologies: Magnetic and Optical

Magnetic Storage Optical Storage –
CD/DVD drive

 Magnetic – Storage devices use disks or tapes that

are coated with magnetically sensitive material
 Optical – Storage devices that use laser beams to
read patterns etched into plastic disks
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The Storage Hierarchy

 The three levels of storage hierarchy are:
 Online storage – Also called primary storage, it is made
up of the storage devices that are actively available to the
computer system. User action is not required.
 Near-online storage – Also called secondary storage, it is
not readily available to the computer system. The user
performs an action, such as inserting a disk, to make it
available.
 Offline storage – Also called tertiary storage or archival
storage, it is not readily available to the computer system.
Devices such as tape backup units store data for archival
purposes.
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Storage Capacity and Speed

Floppy Disk Hard Drive CD ROM / DVD

Capacity – 720 KB to Capacity – Up to 6 TB Capacity – CD-ROM 700

1.44 MB MB; DVD 8.5 GB
Access Time – 6 to 12ms
Access Time – 100ms Access Time – 80 to 800ms

 A storage device’s performance is measured by:

 Capacity – The number of bytes of data that a device can hold
 Access Time – The amount of time, in milliseconds (ms), it takes
the device to begin reading data
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Hard Disks

Platter Read/Write
head

 Hard disks are high-speed, high-capacity storage devices.

 They contain metal disks called platters.
 They contain two or more stacked platters with read/write
heads for each side.
 Hard disks can be divided into partitions to enable computers
to work with more than one operating system.
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Factors Affecting a Hard Disk’s Performance

 Seek time or positioning performance – How

quickly the read/write head positions itself and
begins transferring information. It is measured in
milliseconds (ms).
 Spindle speed or transfer performance – How
quickly the drive transfers data. It is measured in
rotations per minute (RPM).
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Floppy and Zip Disks and Drives

Zip Drive
Floppy Drive

Floppy Disk
 A disk or diskette is a portable storage medium.
 High-density floppy disks that are commonly
used today store 1.44 MB of data.
 Disks work with a disk drive.
 Zip disks store up to 750 MB of data and are not
downwardly compatible with floppy disks.
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CD-ROM Discs and Drives

 CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc-

Read Only Memory.
 CD-ROM drives can not write data
to discs.
 They are capable of storing 700 MB
of data.
 They are used for storing operating
systems, large application programs,
and multimedia programs.
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CD-R and CD-RW Discs and Recorders

CD-R
 Discs can be read and
written to
 Discs can only be
written to “once”
 CD-R drives are capable
of reading data
CD-RW
 Discs can be read and
written to
 Discs are erasable
 Discs can be written to
many times
 CD-RW drives are
capable of reading,
writing, and erasing data
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DVD-ROM Discs and Drives

 DVD stands for Digital Video Disc.

 DVD technology is similar to CD-
ROM technology.
 DVDs are capable of storing up to
8.5GB of data.
 The data transfer rate of DVD drives is
comparable to that of hard disk drives.
 DVD-R and DVD-RW drives have the
ability to read/write data.
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Solid State Storage Devices

 Solid state storage devices use nonvolatile memory

chips to retain data.
 They do not have moving parts.
 They are small, lightweight, reliable, and portable.
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Solid State Storage Devices

Smart Memory
Card Stick

Compact
Flash
Flash
Memory
Memory

PC Micro
Card Drive