Input/Output Devices

Why do we need input and output devices? What is input and what is output? A computer illiterate might ask you this.

You might answer:

Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard

Well, hmmm. I don't know.

I know! Input is sending information to the computer to perform a task.

Output is when you want the computer to send you a feedback.

For example, if you want to key in a letter (let's say "m") into the computer, you use a keyboard. The computer will then convert the letter into binary signals for it to understand. This is input.

After that, the letter "m" is displayed on the monitor. That's output.

Speaker

Then? What are devices involved in input and output.

For input, the users use:

-keyboard (key in letters, numbers and symbols)
-microphone (input voice)
-stylus (insert handwriting or click something on a PDA)
-camera (input image or moving images (video) into the computer)
-mouse/touchpad (insert commands for computer)
-scanner (input scanned images)

Scanner

Joystick

For output, we use:

-speaker (to listen to sounds, music, videos)
-monitor (to display content of an operating system, software, application)
-MP3 Player/iPod Touch (listen to songs)
-Printer (print softcopy files, convert softcopy into hardcopy)