This document provides information about computer hardware components including input devices, output devices, and storage devices. It contains definitions and examples of each type of device. The document is divided into three activities that describe input devices for text, graphics, audio and video; output devices such as displays, printers, and audio equipment; and primary and secondary storage as well as different storage mediums. Worksheets with questions are included to help students identify and understand the different computer hardware components and their functions.

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COMPUTER PARTS & COMPONENTS
INPUT DEVICES
OUTPUT DEVICES
STORAGE DEVICES
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KEMENTERIAN PELAJARAN MALAYSIA
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2. ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Hardware Module
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MODULE 5
INPUT DEVICES
OUTPUT DEVICES
STORAGE DEVICES
Curriculum Development Centre
Ministry of Education Malaysia

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1. Name of Module : Computer Parts & Components –Input devices, Output devices
and Storage devices.
2. Learning Outcomes:The students should be able to:
• identify and list the input devices
• state the respective functions of input devices
• identify and list the output devices
• state the respective functions of output devices
• identify and list the storage devices
• state the functions of storage devices
• identify differences between primary and secondary storage devices
• state the units for data measurement
3. Knowledge and Skills:
1. Main components of computer system
2. System unit
3. Peripherals
4. Module Summary: At the end of the module, students should be able to identify input,
output and storage devices and their functions respectively.
This module contains 3 activities:
Activity 1: Input devices
Activity 2: Output devices
Activity 3: Storage devices

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Activity 1: Input Devices
Input devices are any electronic devices connected to a computer that produce input
signals.
A keyboard is an example of input device for text input.
A scanner is an example of input device for graphical as well as text
input.
A microphone is an example of input device for audio input
A webcam is an example of an input device for video input.
A mouse is also an input device but it is called a pointing device used
to input data into a computer.

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a. Input Devices for Texts
You can enter data such as text and commands into a computer by pressing the keys on the
keyboard.
You can press the keys of a virtual keyboard on the screen.
An optical reader is a device that uses a light source to read characters, marks and codes
and then converts them into digital data that a computer can process.
b. Input Devices for Graphics
A scanner is a device that captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazine
pages and similar sources for computer editing and display.
A digital camera allows you to take pictures and store the photographed images digitally.
c. Input Devices for Audio
Audio input is the speech, music and sound effects entered into the computer. This can be
done by using input devices such as a microphone and digital musical instruments like the
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) keyboard.

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d. Input Devices for Video
Video input are motion images captured into the computer by special input devices.
A Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) video camera is a type of digital video camera that
enables a home or small business user to capture video and still images.
A webcam is a video camera that displays its output on a web page.
A digital video camera allows you to record full motion and store the captured motion
digitally.
e. Pointing Devices
A pointing device is another form of input device. Pointing devices such as a mouse,
trackball, graphics tablet and touch screen are used to input spatial data into the computer.
Spatial data refers to data that is continuous and multi-dimensional.

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Activity 2: Output Devices
An output device is hardware that is capable of delivering or showing information to one or
more users. An output device displays, prints and presents the results of a computer’s work.
Types of Output Devices
A display device is an output device that visually conveys texts, graphics and video
information.
A monitor is an example of an output device that can be used to display text. It can also
display graphics and video. It is similar to a television set that accepts video signals from a
computer and displays information on its screen.
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projector uses its own light source to project what is
displayed on the computer on a wall or projection screen. A digital light processing (DLP)
projector uses tiny mirrors to reflect light which can be seen clearly in a well-lit room.

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A printer is an output device that prints text and graphics on a physical medium such as
paper or transparency film.
A photo printer is a colour printer that produces photo quality pictures.
An image setter produces high quality output compared to an ordinary laser printer. An
image setter is a high resolution output device that can transfer electronic text and graphics
directly to film, plates or photo-sensitive paper.
An audio output device produces music, speech, or other sounds. A pair of speakers is an
audio output device that generates sound. The headphone is a pair of small speakers
placed over the ears and plugged into a port on the sound card. A woofer or subwoofer is
used to boost the low bass sound and is connected to the port on the sound card.
wooferheadphonespeaker

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Activity 3: Storage Devices
What Is Computer Storage?
Information and documents are stored
in computer storage so that it can be
retrieved whenever they are needed
later on.
Computer storage is the storing of data
in an electromagnetic form to be accessed
by a computer processor.
Types of Computer Storage
1. Primary storage
2. Secondary storage
Primary Storage
Primary storage is the main memory in a computer. It stores data and programs that can be
accessed directly by the processor.
Types Of Primary Storage
There are two types of primary storage which are RAM and ROM.
Hard Disk Thumb Drive
Diskette CD ROM

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The Differences Between RAM And ROM
Random-Access Memory (RAM) Read-Only Memory (ROM)
.RAM is an acronym for Random-
Access Memory which means the
data and program in RAM can be
read and written.
ROM is an acronym for Read-
Only Memory. The data or
program in ROM can only be read
but cannot be written at all
RAM stores data during and after
processing. RAM is also known as
a working memory.
ROM is another type of memory
permanently stored inside the
computer.
The data in RAM can be read
(retrieved) or written (stored).
All the contents in ROM can be
accessed and read but cannot be
changed.
RAM is volatile which means the
programs and data in RAM are
lost when the computer is
powered off.
ROM is non-volatile. It holds the
programs and data when the
computer is powered off.
A computer uses RAM to hold
temporary instructions and data
needed to complete tasks. This
enables the CPU (Central
Processing Unit) to access
instructions and data stored in the
memory very quickly
Programs in ROM have been pre-
recorded. It can only be stored by
the manufacturer once and it
cannot be changed.
.

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Secondary Storage
Secondary storage is another alternative
storage to save your work and documents. It
is very useful to store programs and data for
future use.
It is non-volatile, which means that
it does not need power to maintain
the information stored in it. It will
store the information until it is erased.
Types Of Secondary Storage
Magnetic Medium
Magnetic Medium is a non-volatile storage medium. It can be
any type of storage medium that utilizes magnetic patterns to
represent information. The devices use disks that are coated
with magnetically sensitive material. Examples of magnetic
storage are:
magnetic disk such as:
o a floppy disk, used for off-line storage
o hard disk, used for secondary storage
o
magnetic tape such as
o video cassette,
o audio storage reel-to-reel tape

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Optical Medium
Optical Medium is a non-volatile storage media , holds content
in digital form that are written and read by laser. These media
include various types of CDs and DVDs. These following forms
are often commonly used :
Optical Media Description
CD, CD-ROM, and
DVD
Read only storage, used for distribution of digital
information such as music, video and computer
programs.
CD-R Write once storage, the data cannot be erased or
written over once it is saved.
CD-RW, DVD-RW,
and DVD-RAM
Slow to write but fast reading storage; it allows data
that have been saved to be erased and rewritten
Optical media has more advantages over magnetic media such as:
• Disk Capacity. One optical disk holds about the equivalent of 500 floppy disks worth of
data.
• Durability. They are able to last for up to seven times as long as traditional storage
media.
Flash Memory
Flash Memory is a solid-state, non-volatile, rewritable memory that
functions like RAM and a hard disk drive. Flash memory store bits
of electronic data in memory cells just like DRAM (Dynamic RAM)
but it also works like a hard disk drive that when the power is
turned off, the data remains in the memory. Flash memory cards
and flash memory sticks are examples of flash memory.
Flash memory cards are also used with digital cellular phones,
MP3 players, digital video cameras and other portable digital
devices.
Flash memory is also called USB drive, thumb drive, pen drive or
flash drive, are the up and coming players in the portable storage
market.
The advantages of flash memory are:
• offers fast reading access times among the secondary storage
devices, (though not as fast as RAM)
• durable and requires low voltage.
• light and small.
The disadvantage is, it is more expensive than the magnetic disk of
the same capacity.

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The Differences Between Primary And Secondary Storage
PRIMARY STORAGE SECONDARY STORAGE
Known as the main memory of a computer. Alternative storage in a computer.
Examples are: RAM / ROM. Examples are: Floppy disc, Hard disk, CD-
ROM, USB storages
Storage capacity is limited. Storage capacity is larger.
An internal memory (inside the CPU) that can
be accessed directly by the processor.
An external storage that refers to various ways
a computer can store program and data.
Has a volatile memory for RAM and non-
volatile memory for ROM.
INon-volatile, which means that
it does not need power to maintain
the information stored in it.
Units for data measurement
• Bit
• Byte
• Kilobyte (KB)
• Megabyte (MB)
• Gigabyte (GB)
Basic terminology
• 8 Bits = 1 Byte
• 1024 Byte = 1 KB
• 1,048,576 Bytes = 1024 KB = 1 MB
• 1,073,741,824 Bytes = 1024 MB = 1 GB

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Worksheet 1
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
Laser printer Output device Flash card
Tape Bar code Pen drive
flat panel monitor
1. Identification code that consists of vertical line and spaces of different widths is known
as _________________________
2. __________ storage requires sequential access.
3. A _____________ is commonly used as the ‘film’ for digital cameras.
4. __________________ is any type of hardware component that conveys information to
one or more people.
5. An LCD monitor also call a _______________ produces harp, flicker free images.
6. A ______________ is flash memory storage device that plugs in a USB port.
7. _____________ is a high speed, high quality non impact printer

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Worksheet 2
Identify the type of input the devices produce. Tick (/) in the appropriate column
Devices Text Audio Graphics Video Pointing
1. Microphone
2. Keyboard
3. Webcam
4. Scanner
5. Bar Code Scanner
6. Mouse
Worksheet 3
Mark on the types of output each device produces.
Device Text Graphic Audio Video
Monitor
Printer
LCD Projector
Speakers
Headphone
Facsimile Machine

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Worksheet 4
Tick (/) the correct answer.
No QUESTIONS TRUE FALSE
1 A display device is an output device that visually conveys text.
2 A microphone produces music.
3
A photo printer is a colour printer that produces photo quality
pictures.
4
Output is the result of raw input data that has been processed by
the central processing unit into meaningful information.
5
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projector uses its own light
source to project what is displayed on the computer on a
wall or projection screen
6
A digital light processing (DLP) projector uses large mirrors to
reflect light which can be seen clearly in a well-lit room.
7
A video camera is an electronic device used to capture and
store photographs digitally

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Worksheet 5
Convert the following storage to the particular measurement
1. 1 GB = ______ MB 2. 1024 KB = ______ Bytes
3. 2 GB = ______ KB 4. 1024 MB = ______ GB
5. 10 GB = ______ MB 6. 2000 KB = _______ MB
7. 2 MB = ______ KB 8. 4800 MB = _______ GB
9. 6 MB = ______ Bytes 10. 100 GB = _______ MB

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Reference
Cashman, S. (2006) Discovering Computers 2006. USA : Thomson Course Technology.
Ibrahim Ahmad, Mohd Hafiz et al (2007) Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Based on SPM Syllabus. Selangor: Venton Publishing (M) Sdn Bhd.
NCC Education (2002) Computer Studies, Computer Ace. Sri Lanka : Computer Pioneers.
Basic Computing (2003) by TMEdu Tech (M) Sdn Bhd
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://images.search.yahoo.com
http://www.google.com.my
CD courseware ICT