Last updated on August 10th, 2023 at 07:16 pm
When we talk about the categories of hardware, we are talking about input, output, storage, and processing devices. They all have a particular function that makes computers very user-friendly. If you have a home computer, you will have at least one or two output devices at your disposal. Output devices are extremely important to the interaction between the computer and you, the user.
In this article, we will look at the following:
- What output devices are;
- Functions of output devices;
- Types of output devices; and
- Examples of output devices.
Definition of output devices
An output device is a peripheral device used to display information stored in the computer in a form that makes it human-readable. These devices display information in many different forms, and these form the basis for our types of output devices.
Functions of output devices
The primary purposes of output devices are to make information stored on a computer accessible to the user and to make the interaction between a computer and you, the user, easier.
For instance, if in entering information into a computer, you were not able to see what is entered when an error was made, you would be none the wiser. However, with the use of output devices such as monitors, we are able to see what is being entered on the computer. Additionally, we are able to tell the computer what we would like to format and how we would like the information displayed. All this is made possible with the use of output devices.
Related article: The IPOS cycle
Types of output devices
There are several different types of output devices. They are:
- Auditory;
- Visual;
- Tactile; and
- Printing devices.
What is a visual output device?
Visual output devices are those devices that display information on a screen so that the reader can see it.
Some examples of visual output devices are:
- Monitor;
- Projector; and
- Smart TVs.
What are auditory output devices🔊?
Auditory output devices are output devices that produce information in the form of sound.
Some examples of auditory output devices are:
- Speakerspeas; and
- Headphones 🎧.
Both speakers and headphones may be wired or wireless.
Definitions of tactile output devices
Tactile output services are those devices designed to output information specifically for blind people. These devices make it possible for the blind to access information from a computer. Since those who are blind cannot view the information displayed on visual output devices, peripheral devices have been designed to make it possible for humans to access processed information with the use of their sense of touch.
These devices have bumps which, when felt, have specific meanings for the visually impaired person. Unfortunately, very few tactile output devices exist today. However, several are in the developmental phase.
Some examples of tactile output devices are:
- The braille reader;
- Tactile electronic display; and
- Tactile display.
What are printing devices?
Printing output devices 🖨 refer to the many different types of printers available today. These devices give hardcopy output. Some examples of printing devices are:
- 3D Printers,
- Plotter;
- Inkjet printers;
- Laser printers;
- Thermal printers; and
- Microfilm.
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