Last updated on October 8th, 2023 at 02:31 pm
Computers use output devices to display information for users. However, the information can be in different formats, for example, auditory and visual output devices. In this article, we will cover the following:
- What visual output devices are; and
- Examples of visual output devices.
Related article: Types of hardware
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What are visual output devices?
Visual output devices are those devices that display results to a user visually. This means that they display information in a pictographic format.
If the user is able to see the result, or the output obtained is a picture or a video on the screen, then the device is said to be a visual output device. For example, a monitor, a projector, a video card, etc.
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If you are interested in learning about other types of output devices, be sure to visit our article on audio output devices.
Examples of visual output devices are
Two devices that display information visually are
- Monitors – the word monitor refers to a visual display terminal or visual display unit that looks like a television. It is used to display information on a computer in an electronic format. Unlike a television, a monitor usually displays information at a much higher resolution.
- Printers – These are devices that transfer information stored in an electronic format on a computer to paper format or hard copy.
Related article: Output devices
Types of Monitors
There are several types of monitors available on the market today. Some of these are:
- CRT (Cathode ray Tube) monitor: The CRT monitor refers to the earliest technology used in computer monitors and televisions. CRT monitors used a vacuum tube with electron guns to display pictures on a phosphorescent screen. These monitors are easily recognizable with their big backs and curved screens. Today these monitors are disappearing as they are quickly being replaced by more recent technology – the flat panel display monitors. These include LCD and LED monitors.
- LCD (Light crystal display) monitor: The LCD monitor is a flat panel (sometimes referred to as flat screen) monitor that takes up very little space, unlike the earlier CRT monitor. This monitor is used on many different types of computers, e.g., Laptops, cell phones, calculators, and tablets.
- LED (Liquid Emitting Diode) monitor: This is basically an upgrade of the LCD monitor. The main difference between these two types of monitors is the technology in use. Unlike the LCD monitor, this type of monitor uses small light-emitting diodes to provide light to the screen. Some advantage of LED technology over LCD technology is that it is less expensive to manufacture, more reliable, has, on average, longer life, is much more energy efficient, and is more environmentally friendly.
Types of printers
There are many different types of printers available today. They use different technologies, and the quality of the output also differs. Printers come in two different categories: impact and non-impact. Some types of printers are:
Non-impact printers
- Laser printer: This type of printer uses laser technology to produce very high-quality images and text. The laser in this printer creates images of electrostatically charged dots on an electrostatic drum. This attracts the toner powder (used instead of the usual ink), which fuses with the paper to form images with the use of heat. The laser printer is the best choice for high-resolution images. It produces outputs of 600 dots per sq/in and even higher.
- Inkjet printer: This type of printer uses a technology that sprays tiny jets of ink unto the paper to create the image. As such, they are much less expensive than laser printers. They are typically small and light. They are the first choice for home users. These printers have high-resolution output, although they cannot beat the laser printer for quality. One downside to this type of printer is that the ink can sometimes smudge due to the slow drying process.
- Thermal printer: As the name suggests, the thermal printer uses heat technology with a heated print head to create an image. The print head is either pressed against a specific type of surface that activates a chemical on a type of paper that is pretreated to create an image or uses a ribbon that transfers ink onto paper and is bonded to it as a result of the heat.
- Plotters: The original plotter was a type of manual, non-impact printer that used a pen instead of ink to draw images on paper. They provide a highly detailed output and are more accurate than your typical office printer. Additionally, letters provide a wider print format than other types of printers. We use this type of printer specifically to create designs, maps, and architectural drawings. While its use may have remained the same, today, plotters use laser, inkjet, and other technologies to create their output.
- 3D printer: A 3D printer goes beyond what we think of as printing today. Dating back to the 1980s, it uses layering to create an actual model of the object on the screen. Often referred to as raid prototyping, many industries today rely on 3D printers to manufacture products. Manufacturers in the automotive industry use it to print automotive parts to have them on the market faster and quite cheaply. It is also used to create footwear, dental products, spectacles, etc. As you might imagine, 3D printing is very accurate.
❗Microfilm: For those of you who have never heard of microfilm, it is a sheet of flat film where tiny photographic records of documents are stored. These films cannot be read with the naked eye but rather a microfilm reader is used to read these images. Microfilms are typically used for archiving purposes since they save sace and are able to last for up to 500 years.
- Microfilm printer: A microfilm printer is a type of printer that we use to transfer documents from microfilms to paper. Many of them have a built-in microfilm reader. These printers contain a xerographic copier which works like a photocopier. It collects the image and projects it unto the drum for printing. However, it should be noted that microfilm printers with built-in readers are no longer being manufactured, although many companies still use them. Microreader scanners have replaced them. These feed the image from microfilms to the computer, and the computer prints the information with the usual home or office printer. To learn more about microfilms and microfilm printers, visit Microfilm World as well as Wikipedia.
Impact printer
- Dot matrix printers: The dot matrix printer is a type of impact printer that uses a technology where ins hits a ribbon against paper to create a print output. It bears a striking resemblance to a typewriter. This type of printer has a ribbon stretched across the page and has an electronic print head that strikes the ribbon creating a series of dots that creates the printed output. The dot matrix printer is a very low-resolution printer. The dot matrix printer is inexpensive, noisy, and durable; however, by nature of the technology, when compared to the laser and inkjet printer, it is slow. This type of printer is suitable for print where quality output is not a requirement, for example, to print bills in supermarkets, etc.
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