Input Devices
- Hardware device used to provide data and control signals to a computer
Common input devices
- Barcode Scanner
- Digital Camera
- Microphone
- Optical Mouse
- QR Scanner
Advantages of using QR Codes in a Supermarket
- No need to price each item individually
- Automatic stock control
- Faster checkouts as items are immediately scanned
- Fewer errors in bills
Uses of digital cameras
- Reading QR codes on a smartphone
- Video conferencing
- Robots, where information about surroundings is needed
Output Devices
- Hardware devices that allow information to be sent out of a computer system
Common output devices
- Actuators
- Inkjet, Laser, 3D printer
- LED, LCD screen
- Speaker
DLP Advantages
- Higher contrast ratios
- Greater longevity
- Quieter running
DLP Disadvantages
- The image tends to suffer from “shadowing” during moving images
- They do not have grey components in the image
- Colour definition is not as good as LCD projectors
Printers
Inkjet Printer Pros & Cons
- Produce high-quality photo/vivid colour images
- Do not need to warm up
- Very low purchase price compared to laser printers
- Have a small ink reservoir
- Not suitable for long print runs (ink cartridges can be used up quickly)
- Small paper trays
- Slower prints per minute compared to laser
Laser Printer Pros & Cons
- Have large paper trays for long print runs
- Have large capacity toner cartridges
- Very quiet printing
- Cost per page is very low
- Expensive to maintain (toner is expensive)
- Not suitable for printing high quality pictures
- High up front cost (compared to inkjet)
Uses of a 3D Printer
- Prosthetic Limbs
- Making prototypes
- Fashion and art
Which printer?
- Laser printer: high volume printouts
- Inkjet printer: high quality image printouts
- 3D printer: printing models/prosthetics
Sensors
- Acoustic — measures the level of sound in an environment
- Accelerometer — measures the acceleration forces
- Flow — measures the amount of liquid or gas flowing through or around an environment
- Gas — measures the presence and concentration of a gas in the atmosphere
- Humidity — measures the level of moisture in the atmosphere
- Infra-red — measures infra-red radiation
- Level — measures whether a substance such as a liquid is at a certain level or amount
- Light — measures the ambient light in a certain environment
- Magnetic field — measures the presence of magnetic field that may be emitted by an object
- Moisture — measures the amount of water that is present in a substance
- pH — measures the pH level of a substance
- Pressure — measures the force of pressure that is applied to the sensor or device
- Proximity — measures how close an object is in comparison to the sensor
- Temperature — measures the temperature of an object or substance