Output Devices

Output devices allow us to receive information

from the computer system Monitor (LCD and TFT) Speakers Plotter Printers (Inkjet and Laser)

Output Devices

Used to display data using a screenThere are two types of monitor, LCD and

TFT

Monitor

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

Flat screen Consists of a thin layer of fluid between two sheets

of plastic Can be colour or black and white Used in:

Calculators palmtop computers Laptops ultra-thin computer monitors

Thin Film Transistor (TFT)

Flat screen Consists of one transistor for every pixel Has better quality (sharper pictures and better

colours) than LCD Used in:

Laptops Flat screen monitors

Printers are devices that produce a hard copy of the output from a computer.

Output can be: Black & White (Monochrome) or Colour

There are two types of printer: Laser Inkjet

Printers

A type of printer that uses toner and a laser beam to print images onto paper

Laser Printer

Toner is a powdery substance.The laser “draws” the image inside the printer.A high temperature inside the printer makes the toner “stick” to the paper in the right places as the paper passes through the printer.

A type of printer that sprays tiny streams of coloured ink (like paint) onto paper through tiny holes in the print head.

Inkjet Printer

A print head is a small part of the printer that moves backwards and forwards as the paper passes through the printer.

Inkjet vs Laser You need to be able to compare inkjet and

laser printers in terms of their speed, resolution, initial cost and running cost Speed (Measured in pages per minute - ppm)

Inkjet – slow, Laser – fast Resolution (Measured in dots per inch – dpi)

Inkjet – high, Laser – very high Initial Cost (The cost to buy the printer)

Inkjet – cheap, Laser – expensive Running Cost (The cost to buy ink/toner)

Inkjet – expensive, Laser - cheap

Used for accurate drawings/designs on paper Paper can roll backwards and forwards Uses special pens to print on rolls of paper Used by architects

Plotter

Used to output soundHeadphones are “personal” speakers

Speakers/Headphones

Specialised Output Devices for Virtual Reality

User wears a headset which contains a screen and headphones.