Chapter 5 - Output devices

Take data produced by the computer and turn it into a form that humans can understand

• back-lit using LEDs that consume little power and therefore produce less heat • reach maximum brightness immediately • brighter and sharper image with vivid colours • last indefinitely, so are very reliable • quite thin due to LEDs’ small size

• can be used in wearable technology, electronic books and magazines • made of plastic, therefore flexible • quite thin • brighter, need no backlighting, so consume less power • slow to refresh, don’t last as long

• high-quality, high-speed printing using powdered ink (toner) • used in businesses, professional printing services • colour printing is very expensive so best left to inkjet printers

• spray dots of ink onto paper to create images • cheaper than laser, but slower • ink cartridges need replacement frequently

• matrix of pins strike the surface of paper through an inked ribbon • can operate in damp and dirty conditions • noisy, slow and print quality is poor

• used to create car, aeroplane parts, medical equipment, prosthetic limbs • produce prototypes, spare parts

• teachers can deliver the same quality lessons to multiple groups • can present text, graphics, audio and video

• used to give verbal instructions in a sat-nav, read text from the screen for visually impaired people and give warning beeps and notifications

• motors used with sensors (sense change in environment and store analogue data) • control a mechanism e.g. open a window, move an aircraft aileron