1. Hardware Basics:
Peripherals
Miguel Rebollo
Introduction to Computer Science
2009-2010

2. Aims
• Know common input devices and their
roles in getting different types of inform.
• Know output devices and the way htey
make computers more useful
• Know the functionality of different types of
storage devices
• Explain the ways the components of a
computer fit together
4626. Introd to Computer Science

3. Outline
1. Input Devices
2. Output Devices
3. Storage Devices
4. Computer Systems: The Sum of Their Parts
4626. Introd to Computer Science

4. Input devices
Keyboard
• Most familiar input device
• They can be…
• QWERTY
half keyboard (web site)
• ergonomic frogpad (web site)
• wireless
4626. Introd to Computer Science

5. Input devices
Pointing devices
• Mouse (touchpad, pointing stick, trackball)
• Joystick
• Graphics tablet
• Touch screen
4626. Introd to Computer Science

6. Input devices
Reading tools
• They read specific marks representing codes
• Examples:
• optical-mark, mag. ink, bar-code
• OCR (optical char. recognition)
• smart whiteboards
• QR codes
example of QR code in a poster
4626. Introd to Computer Science

7. Input devices
Digitalising the real world
• Scanners (flatbed, slide, drum, sheet-fed)
• Digital camera: snapshots as digital images
• Video digitaliser card: capture video signals
• Videoconferencing devices
• Audio digitalisers and speech recog. systems
• Sensors: real world magnitudes
4626. Introd to Computer Science

8. Output devices
Screen
• Connected through a video adapter
• VRAM: specialised memory for graphics
• Monitor
• technology: CRT or LCD
• size (inches): diagonal line across the screen
• resolution: No. of pixels displayed How the
• color depth: No. of different colours image is
formed?
4626. Introd to Computer Science

9. Output devices
Paper output
• multifunction: Impact Non-impact
printer + scanner
ink-jet
• plotter: line
large blueprints laser
and maps dot-matrix sublimation
(A0 sized)
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10. Output devices
• Fax machines
• Sound: sound cards and
synthesizers
• Controlling machines
• robot arms
• transportation
devices
• automated factory
equipment
4626. Introd to Computer Science

11. Storage devices (I/O)
Magnetic
• large capacity at low
cost
Tapes •
•
sequential access
appropriate for
TS3400 tape library (IBM) backups
Until 37 tB of space
4626. Introd to Computer Science

12. Storage devices (I/O)
Magnetic
• Random data access
Discs
• non-removable: HARD DISK
• removable: floppy disks, REV disks
4626. Introd to Computer Science

13. Storage devices (I/O)
Optical
• uses laser beams to r/w bits on its surface
• cd-based media: CD-R, CD-RW
• dvd-based media
• DVD-RAM, only for data
• DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW
4626. Introd to Computer Science

14. Storage devices (I/O)
Solid state
• also known as flash memory
• without moving parts
• from 16mB to 16 gB
• replacement of HD in laptops?
4626. Introd to Computer Science

15. Computer Systems
Typical personal computers
• Tower systems
• Flat desktop systems
• All-in-one systems Entertainment
• Portable computers • Barebones
• Media center
4626. Introd to Computer Science

16. ...the sum of its parts
Ports and slots
• serial port:
one bit at a time
(modem)
• parallel port:
bits in groups
(printer)
• keyboard/mouse
ports (PS/2)
4626. Introd to Computer Science

17. ...the sum of its parts
External connections
• video port
to the monitor
(VGA, DVI…)
• sound ports:
microphone,
speakers,
headphones, MIDI
• LAN: Ethernet or
wireless
4626. Introd to Computer Science

18. ...the sum of its parts
Easy expansion
• Hot plug-in
• USB 1.1 and 2.0
(Universal Serial Bus)
• Firewire
(IEEE 1394)
• PC has an
Open Architecture
4626. Introd to Computer Science