Peripherals
Peripheral is any device that which is attached to the computer but is not part of that computer. There are two types of peripherals input and output devices. Input devices are peripherals that give information to the computer. On the other hand computer gives out information to Output device. Below are examples of input and output peripherals.
Input Devices
Keyboard
Keyboard - The most commonly used input device is the keyboard. Keyboards puts data in the form of letters, number and symbols, this is what makes it an input device.
Mouse - Used to control a pointer and to select items. A very user-friendly device. It delivers information from users preferred movement with his hand into the computer.
Joystick – Joystick is often used for playing games and for simulators. They can move in 8 directions and often have buttons attached for extra functionality. They give movement information into the computer, this may be used to control a character or object.
Scanner - Used to input information from the hardcopy into the computer. This includes pictures and text.
Digital Cameras - Digital cameras are used in just the same way as ordinary film cameras with the exception that the user can look at pictures on the computer that have been taken and delete the pictures they not like. The digital camera is an input device as the information in form of picture can be put on the computer.
Webcams: Webcams are very basic digital video cameras used to capture images to be sent down networks for video conferencing. Webcams do not allow you to save the images like digital video cameras do. Webcams are input devices because they are sent information in the form of videos from outside the computer to inside the computer.
Mouse - Used to control a pointer and to select items. A very user-friendly device. It delivers information from users preferred movement with his hand into the computer.
Joystick – Joystick is often used for playing games and for simulators. They can move in 8 directions and often have buttons attached for extra functionality. They give movement information into the computer, this may be used to control a character or object.
Scanner - Used to input information from the hardcopy into the computer. This includes pictures and text.
Digital Cameras - Digital cameras are used in just the same way as ordinary film cameras with the exception that the user can look at pictures on the computer that have been taken and delete the pictures they not like. The digital camera is an input device as the information in form of picture can be put on the computer.
Webcams: Webcams are very basic digital video cameras used to capture images to be sent down networks for video conferencing. Webcams do not allow you to save the images like digital video cameras do. Webcams are input devices because they are sent information in the form of videos from outside the computer to inside the computer.
Output Devices
Printer
Printers - Printers are used to produce a hardcopy or printout of computer output. There are two kinds of printer Laser and Inkjet Printers. Printers are output devices because the put out information from the computer into a hardcopy.
Plotters - A plotter produces hardcopy from the computer like a printer but in a different way. It has one or more pens that draw onto the paper. Plotters are usually used for producing very accurate plans and drawings that have been created using certain computer software. Plotters are output device because it put data out of the computer by the use of paper.
Monitors - Monitors these are sometimes called VDUs and are the most commonly used output device. A computer need a monitor to display what the user is doing on the computer. There are many different types of monitors; most commonly used ones are LCD monitors. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. This is a flat screen that several advantages over the older monitor. Older monitors are called CRT monitors. CRT stands for cathode ray tube these screen are still in use but are not common. Monitors are output devices because they display images and text from the computer.
Plotters - A plotter produces hardcopy from the computer like a printer but in a different way. It has one or more pens that draw onto the paper. Plotters are usually used for producing very accurate plans and drawings that have been created using certain computer software. Plotters are output device because it put data out of the computer by the use of paper.
Monitors - Monitors these are sometimes called VDUs and are the most commonly used output device. A computer need a monitor to display what the user is doing on the computer. There are many different types of monitors; most commonly used ones are LCD monitors. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. This is a flat screen that several advantages over the older monitor. Older monitors are called CRT monitors. CRT stands for cathode ray tube these screen are still in use but are not common. Monitors are output devices because they display images and text from the computer.
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial Cable is a type of wire that is used for TVs and computers. In computers it is used to connect to the network card. Some older computer still use the less expansive telephone wire but coaxial cable can transfer more data. This feature of coaxial cable makes the internet connection faster. The wire is surrounded by insulation and then a grounded shield of braided wire. The shield minimizes electrical and radio frequency interference.
Optical Fibre Cable
Optical Cable
Optical fibre cable is a type of cable that contains one or more optical fibre. The optical fibre wire s0 are coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be put. Optical fibre cable is the fastest way of transferring data; it can transfer data up to 182,000 km/s. Optical fibre cables are used for internet connectivity. As optical fibre cable transfer data fast they are ideal for internet connections, optical fibre cable give the fastest internet connection at these time. They are also for telecommunication.
Twisted-Pair Cable
Twisted Pair Cable
Twisted-Pair cable is used by older telephone network cables and is the least expensive type of local area network (LAN) cable. Most network wires contain some twisted-pair cabling at some point along the network cable. Twisted-Pair cable is made up of two insulated wires twisted around one another. The use of two wires twisted together helps to reduce some types of interference.