Chapter 6

Output
Chapter 6 Objectives
Describe the four categories of outputa
Summarize the characteristics of LCD monitors, LCD screens, plasma monitors, and HDTVs
Describe the characteristics of a CRT monitor and factors that affect its quality
Explain the relationship between graphics chips and monitors
Describe various ways to print
Summarize the characteristics of ink-jet printers, photo printers, laser printers, thermal printers, mobile printers, label and postage printers,
and plotters and large-format printers
Describe the uses of speakers and headsets
Identify the output characteristics of fax machines and fax modems, multifunction peripherals, data projectors, joysticks, and wheels
Identify output options for physically
challenged users
Differentiate between a nonimpact printer and an impact printer
What is Output?
What is output?
p. 300 Fig. 6-1
Data that has been processed into a useful form,
Output device is any hardware component that can convey
information to user
Display Devices
What is a display device?
p. 302
Output device that visually conveys information
Information on display device sometimes
called soft copy
Monitor houses display device as separate peripheral
Display Devices
What is an LCD monitor?
p. 302 Fig. 6-2
Uses liquid crystal display
Have a small footprint
Mobile devices that contain LCD displays include
Notebook computer, Tablet PC, PDA, and Smart Phone
Flat-Panel Displays
What about using multiple LCD monitors?
p. 303 Fig. 6-3
Some users position two or more monitors side by side or stacked
Allows users to run multiple applications simultaneously
Flat-Panel Displays
What are some mobile devices that have LCD screens?
p. 303 Fig. 6-4
Flat-Panel Displays
How does LCD work?
p. 304
Step 1. Panel
of fluorescent
tubes emits
light waves
through
polarizing glass filter, which guides light toward layer of liquid crystal cells.
Step 2. As light passes through liquid crystal, electrical charge causes some of the cells to twist, making light waves bend as they pass through color filter.
Step 3. When light reaches second polarizing glass filter, light is allowed to pass through any cells that line up at the first polarizing glass filter. Absence and presence of colored light cause image to display on the screen.
Liquid crystal cells
Uses liquid compound to present information on a display
Flat-Panel Displays
What is resolution?
p. 304 Fig. 6-5
Sharpness and clarity of image
Higher resolution makes image sharper, displays more text on
screen, makes some elements
smaller
Flat-Panel Displays
How do you use an LCD monitor with a video card?
p. 305 Fig. 6-6
Plug monitor into Digital Video Interface (DVI) port
on computer
standard monitor
port
S-video port
DVI port
Flat-Panel Displays
What is a plasma monitor?
p. 306 Fig. 6-7
Displays image by applying voltage to layer of gas
Larger screen size and higher display quality than LCD, but are more expensive
Video conference
Play games
Shop
HDTV
(high-definition television)
works directly with
interactive TV
Flat-Panel Displays
What are HDTVs and interactive TV?
p. 306
Two-way communications
technology in which users interact
with television programming
Bank
Vote or respond to
network questionnaires
Select a movie from a
central library of movies
CRT Monitors
What is a CRT monitor?
p. 307 Fig. 6-9
Contains cathode-ray
tube (CRT)
Screen coated with tiny dots of phosphor material
Each dot consists of a red, blue, and green phosphor
Common sizes are 15, 17, 19, 21, and 22 inches
Viewable size is diagonal measurement of actual viewing area
CRT Monitors
What is the ENERGY STAR program?
p. 307
Encourages manufacturers to create energy-efficient devices that require little power when not in use
Monitors and devices meeting guidelines display ENERGY STAR label
CRT Monitors
What determines the quality of a CRT monitor?
p. 308
Screen resolution
Refresh rate is speed at which monitor redraws
images on screen
Text created with a smaller dot pitch is easier
to read
CRT Monitors
How does video travel from the processor to a CRT monitor?
p. 309 Fig. 6-10
Step 1. The processor sends digital video data to the video card.
Step 2. The video card’s digital-to-analog converter (DAC) converts the digital video data to an analog signal.
Step 3. The analog signal is sent through a cable to the CRT monitor.
Step 4. The CRT monitor separates the analog signal into red, green, and blue signals.
Step 5. Electron guns fire the three color signals to the front of the CRT.
Step 6. An image is displayed on the screen when the electrons hit phosphor dots on the back of the screen.
Video card (also called a graphics card) converts digital output from computer into analog video signal
Printers
What is a printer?
p. 310 Fig. 6-11
Output device that produces text and graphics on paper
Result is hard copy, or printout
Two orientations: portrait and landscape
Speed
Printers
How do you know which printer to buy?
p. 310
Budget
Color or
black and white
Cost per page
Paper types
and sizes
Photo printing
Graphics
capability
System
compatibility
Depends on printing needs
Wireless
capability
Future needs
Printers
What is a nonimpact printer?
p. 312 Fig. 6-14
Forms characters and graphics without striking paper
Ink-jet printer sprays tiny drops of liquid ink onto paper
Prints in black-and-white or color on a variety of paper types
Printers
What is the resolution of a printer?
p. 313 Fig. 6-15
Sharpness and clarity
Measured by number of dots per inch (dpi) printer
can output
Printers
How does an ink-jet printer work?
p. 313 Fig. 6-16
Step 1. A small resistor heats the ink, causing the ink to boil and form a vapor bubble.
Step 2. The vapor bubble forces the ink through the nozzle.
Step 3. Ink drops onto the paper.
Step 4. As the vapor bubble collapses, fresh ink is drawn into the firing chamber.
Printers
What is a photo printer?
p. 314 Fig. 6-17
Step 2. Insert media card into card reader on photo printer.
Color printer that produces photo-lab-quality pictures
Printers
What is a laser printer?
p. 315 Fig. 6-18
High-speed, high-quality nonimpact printer
Prints text and graphics in very high-quality resolution, ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 dpi
Typically costs more than
ink-jet printer, but is much faster
Printers
How does a laser printer work?
p. 316 Fig. 6-19
Step 1. After user sends an instruction to print a document, drum rotates as gears and rollers feed sheet of paper into printer.
Step 3. Laser beam creates a charge that causes toner to stick to drum.
Step 4. As drum continues to rotate and press against paper, toner transfers from drum to paper.
Step 5. Set of rollers uses heat and pressure to permanently fuse toner to paper.
Step 2. Rotating mirror deflects low-powered laser beam across surface of drum.
Printers
What is a thermal printer?
p. 317 Fig. 6-20
Generates images by pushing electrically heated pins against heat-sensitive paper
Dye-sublimation printer (also called a digital photo printer) uses heat to transfer dye to specially coated paper
Printers
What is a mobile printer?
p. 317 Fig. 6-21
Small, lightweight, battery-powered printer that allows mobile user to print from notebook computer, Tablet PC, or PDA while traveling
Printers
What is a label printer?
p. 318 Fig. 6-22
Small printer that prints on adhesive-type material
Postage printer has built-in digital scale and prints
postage stamps
Most also print bar codes
Printers
What is a plotter?
p. 318 Fig. 6-23
Sophisticated printer used to produce high-quality drawings
Large-format printer creates photo-realistic-quality
color prints
Printers
What is a dot-matrix printer?
p. 319 Fig. 6-24
Impact printer that produces printed images
when tiny wire pins strike ribbon
Impact printer forms
characters by striking
mechanism against inked
ribbon that contacts paper
Printers
What is a line printer?
p. 319 Fig. 6-25
High-speed impact printer that prints entire line
at a time
Speed measured in lines per minute (lpm)
Band printer prints fully
formed characters using a hammer mechanism
Shuttle-matrix printer is high-speed printer that works like dot-matrix printer
Video: Wired Cellular Headsets
A guide to the best cellular headsets
low quality
(click to start)
high quality
(click to start)
Speakers and Headsets
What is an audio output device?
p. 320 Figs. 6-26 – 6-27
Computer component that produces music, speech, or other sounds
Speakers and headsets are common devices
Speakers and Headsets
What is voice output?
p. 321 Fig. 6-28
Computer talks to you through speakers on computer
Internet telephony allows you to have conversation
over Web
Other Output Devices
What is a facsimile (fax) machine?
p. 322 Fig. 6-29
Device that transmits and receives documents over telephone lines
Other Output Devices
What is a fax modem?
p. 322 Fig. 6-30
Modem that allows you to send and receive electronic documents as faxes
Other Output Devices
What is a multifunction peripheral?
p. 323 Fig. 6-31
Provides functionality
of printer, scanner,
copy machine, and
fax machine
Other Output Devices
What is a data projector?
p. 323 Fig. 6-32

Device that takes image from computer screen and projects it onto larger screen
Other Output Devices
What is force feedback?
p. 324 Fig. 6-33
Sends resistance to joystick or wheel in response to actions of user
Putting It All Together
What are suggested output devices for the home user?
p. 325 Fig. 6-34
Monitor
Printer
Other
17- or 19-inch LCD monitor
Ink-jet color printer; or
Photo printer
Speakers
Headset
Force-feedback joystick and wheel
Putting It All Together
What are suggested output devices for the small office/home office user?
p. 325 Fig. 6-34
19- or 21-inch LCD monitor
Color LCD screen on Tablet PC, PDA, or smart phone
Multifunction peripheral; or
Ink-jet color printer; or
Laser printer
Label printer
Postage printer
Fax machine
Speakers
Monitor
Printer
Other
Putting It All Together
What are suggested output devices for the mobile user?
p. 325 Fig. 6-34
15.7-inch color LCD screen on notebook computer
Color LCD screen on Tablet PC, PDA, or smart phone
Mobile color printer
Ink-jet color printer; or
Laser printer for in-office use
Photo printer
Fax modem
Headset
DLP data projector
Monitor
Printer
Other
Putting It All Together
What are suggested output devices for the power user?
p. 325 Fig. 6-34
23-inch LCD monitor
Laser printer
Plotter or large-format printer; or
Photo printer; or
Dye-sublimation printer
Fax machine or fax modem
Speakers
Headset
Monitor
Printer
Other
Putting It All Together
What are suggested output devices for the large business user?
p. 325 Fig. 6-34
High-speed laser printer
Laser printer, color
Line printer (for large reports from a mainframe)
Label printer
Fax machine or fax modem
Speakers
Headset
DLP data projector
Monitor
Printer
Other
19- or 21-inch LCD monitor
Color LCD screen on Tablet PC, PDA, or smart phone
Output Devices for Physically Challenged Users
What is the Magnifier command?
p. 326 Fig. 6-35
Windows Magnifier command enlarges text
and other items on screen
Output Devices for Physically Challenged Users
What other output options are available for visually impaired users?
p. 326 Fig. 6-36
Change Window settings,
such as increasing size or
changing color of text to
make words easier to read
Blind users can work with
voice output
Braille printer outputs
information in Braille
onto paper
Fax machines and fax modems
Summary of Output
Flat-panel displays
CRT monitors
Printers
Speakers and headsets
Multifunction peripherals
Data projectors
Force feedback joysticks and wheels
Chapter 6 Complete