HARDWARE Module

DEVICES 1.2

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HARDWARE Module
DEVICES 1.2

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 CONTENT

The information processing cycle

Input devices
Output devices
Storage devices
Communication devices
Test and improve your knowledge

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 THE INFORMATION
PROCESSING CYCLE

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 THE INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

Input Processing Output

Keyboard CPU Screen

Mouse RAM Printer
Touch pad Data
Touch projector
screen Touch
screen
Storage Speakers
Communication
Hard drive
ADSL Flash
modem/router drive Computers take data
Cellular 3G Optical
modem
and process it into
media
WiFi information.
Switch
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THE INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

Identifying data needed

Input deciding how to capture data

planning and creating data capture forms

and instructions

directly sent to storage

Output
directly communicated to other computers

used as input

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 COMBINING INPUT SOURCES AND
OUTPUT DESTINATIONS
Most ICT systems use multiple input sources and output destinations to
enhance productivity.
Sensors to detect movement
Smartphone or tablet and
may have Onscreen controls

POS (Point Of Sale) system may use

Specialised till keyboard + barcode

scanner + card reader + fingerprint
scanner

Musicians may connect

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) piano
keyboard + computer using USB + keyboard and mouse
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 PROCESSING

Processing
 only takes place if software and data is loaded into RAM
 uses a step-by-step solution (called an algorithm)
 uses data that has been input, creates information that can be output.

Processing typically involves tasks such as

• searching
• sorting
• mathematical calculations.
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 STORAGE

• Choose appropriate storage media.

• Security.
• Good backup policies.

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INPUT DEVICES

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 INPUT DEVICES

 Allows the ICT device to receive data and instructions.

 First step in any information processing system.

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 KEYBOARD

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Typing in text • Fastest way to enter • Not designed to be

• Giving commands text used with a GUI
• Easy to learn and use interface
• Takes up space
• Can be difficult to use
for some people
• Skills required

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 KEYBOARD

 Factors – buying decisions

 Ergonomic considerations
 Wireless vs. cabled

 Problem solving
 The keys are sticky: clean it with a damp cloth.
 Wireless keyboard not responding: batteries.
 Wired keyboard not responding: disconnect and re-connect.

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 MOUSE

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Interact with GUI • Easy-to-learn • Best used with a fixed

• Click, double-click, • Effective way to workplace and suitable
right-click, scroll, drag interact with GUI surface area
• Can be used whilst • Better devices for
pressing a key on the drawing or other
keyboard graphical actions
available

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 MOUSE

 Factors – buying decisions

 Ergonomic considerations

 Wireless vs. cabled

 Problem solving
 Sticky mouse: remove dust or lint underneath and use a
smooth, non-reflective surface.
 Wireless mouse not responding: batteries.
 Wired mouse not responding: disconnect and re-connect.

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 TOUCH SCREEN

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Replacement for • Functions as both a • On-screen keyboard
mouse mouse and keyboard harder to use than a
• Addition to mouse • Natural input, such as physical keyboard
and keyboard gestures • Some touch screens need
extra pressure to work
• Best interface for • Natural interactions, such
systems with as swiping, pinching, • The quality of the ‘touch
experience’ depends on
limited options expanding
the OS being used
• Easy to use, intuitive
• On-screen keyboards
• Increases space available reduce screen display
for the display area
• Increases usability of the • Not easy to use for
device certain tasks 16
 TOUCH PAD

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Replaces the mouse • The user does not have • Not as accurate or
in devices such as to carry an extra precise as a mouse
laptops device such as a • Difficult to use with drag
mouse and drop operations
• Same actions as • Difficult to use because
mouse, without extra of limited size of the
surface area or desk touch pad

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 SCANNER

Uses Advantages Limitations

• To capture images • Converts documents • Quality of image depends

from paper into digital format for on quality of the original
• To capture images of storage image
text and convert with • Converts image to • Can be affected by dirt or
OCR to editable text editable text with OCR fingerprints on the glass
• To read barcodes • Converts old film or dust on the sensor
photos into digital • Works best with single
format pages
• Benefits environment • Books can be difficult to
as less paper and ink scan
are used • Can take a lot of time
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 SCANNER-SPECIFIC ADVANTAGES

Office Automation POS and database Other uses

• Large documents – • Library and Point of • Number plates of cars

scanned and combined Sale (POS) systems as can be scanned and
into a single digital file they provide quick and recorded quickly on
• Digital copies saves accurate input roads using e-toll
office space • Access control systems
• Scanned copies can be ranging from swipe
e-mailed cards to radio tags

• Older documents can

be archived

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 SCANNER

 Problem solving
 Errors in image size or quality: check the
settings on the scanning software.
 Non-responsive scanner: check if
 it is switched on

 it is plugged in

 it is properly connected to the USB port

 the lock switch is switched off.

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 DIGITAL CAMERA

Uses Advantages Limitations

• To capture images • Photos in digital format • Photos are easy to

• To capture videos • Easy to use lose along with the
• Alternative to • Not expensive to take device
scanners as barcode many photographs • The quality of photos
or QR code readers if • You can instantly view depends on the
the camera is them quality of camera
integrated with a • Doubles up as good video
smartphone camera
• Built into devices
• Photos are easy to share
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 DIGITAL CAMERA

 Factors – buying decisions

Resolution
 The number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image
 Minimum of 300 dpi to get good images for printing
 72 dpi suitable for on-screen/web display

 Image quality depends on:

 Colour depth – the higher, the better (32 bits is currently the
maximum).
 Sensor size – the bigger, the better.
 ISO rating – the camera’s sensitivity to light.

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 WEBCAM

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Internet video • Cheap • Very low resolution --

communication • Small doesn’t create good
• ‘Live feeds’ of events • Often built into images
• Remote control portable computers • Needs to be connected
security cameras • Allows for video calls to an ICT device to
where you can see the work
person you are talking
to

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 WEBCAM

 Problem solving
 If the webcam is unresponsive, check that it is
 plugged in properly

 switched on

 selected as the current camera to be used by the software.

 The webcam software can often be used to test if the webcam

is functioning properly and to troubleshoot problems.

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 MICROPHONE

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Recording sound • Record dictation • Built-in microphones

• Communicating • Give voice commands don’t generally provide
• Adds the input of sound to high quality sound
a computer • One needs to have the
• Uses software involving ICT device present to
sound editing, analysis or record sounds
manipulation • Difficult to use in noisy
environments

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 WRITTEN MODULE ACTIVIT Y

 Page 31
 Complete questions 1 – 23

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OUTPUT DEVICES

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 OUTPUT DEVICES

 Output is how an ICT device shows the results of the

processing that has taken place.

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 MONITOR OR DISPLAY

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Interactive feedback • Immediate feedback • Quality of the display is

• Extra visual alerts • Interaction between the related to the size of
for hearing impaired user & computer the monitor
people • Displayed content can be • Size of the monitor
easily changed limits portability
• Text can be enlarged for • Output is difficult to
the visually impaired / share (unless with a
high contrast can be used projector)
• Display can be changed • Image quality can be
to suit the preferences of affected by ambient
the user light
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 MONITOR OR DISPLAY

 Factors – buying decisions

 Resolution
number of horizontal pixels multiplied by the number of vertical
pixels (e.g. 1024 x 768) .

 Image quality
 Colour depth – the higher, the better (32 bits is currently the
maximum).
 Pixel density – a higher pixel density makes the display crisper,
clearer and easier to read.
 Refresh rate – the higher, the better.
 Contrast ratio – the relationship between the darkest black and
the brightest white. Low contrast ratios produce soft, ‘muddy’
images.
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 MONITOR OR DISPLAY

 Problem solving
Problem Solution

The colours are faded, too strong or Adjust the settings.

muddy, or the image is too bright or too
dim.
The image is ‘blocky’ or stretched. The resolution settings are probably
wrong.

The image is tinted purple, blue, yellow or The connection is faulty and a pin in the
green. VGA connector is probably bent.

There is no display. The power is off/not switched on; the

connection is not in properly, the
computer is not /cable is not connected.

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 SPEAKERS OR HEADPHONES

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Play sound • Headphones – listen to • Sound quality

• Provide audible sounds without disturbing depends on the
feedback to the other people around you quality of the
user • Speakers – a group of peripheral
• Provide extra people can hear sound • To play loud enough
notifications or • Listen to voice messages or for a group you will
alerts to people interact on Skype using need additional
with visual speakers and headphones audio equipment,
disabilities • Headphones make it such as an external
possible to use mobile amplifier
devices on the go
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 SPEAKERS OR HEADPHONES

 Problem solving
 If speakers or headphones are unresponsive
 they might be plugged into the wrong jack (e.g. the microphone jack)

 the computer’s sound settings may be low or on mute

 the computer might be set to use the wrong sound output device
 speakers that need power might be switched off or not be plugged in

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 PRINTERS

Uses Advantages Limitations

Laser printer Laser printer Laser printer
Print black and white or • Speed • Expensive to buy
colour documents • High quality text • Not the best for printing good
• Low running costs quality colour photos
Inkjet printer
• Toner is not absorbed by the
Print black and white or Inkjet printer
paper
colour documents • Cheaper to buy
Dot-matrix printer • Best quality photographic Inkjet printer
printers • Higher running costs
Most often used as POS
• Slower printing speeds
(Point Of Sale) printer for Dot-matrix printer
• General print quality is not as
receipts, invoices, etc. • Cheap
good as that of laser printers
• Low running costs
• Can create ‘carbon Dot-matrix printer
copies’ • Low print quality
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 PRINTERS

 Problem solving
 The printer is unresponsive:
 Not plugged in/ power is off
 Not properly connected.
 The wrong printer is selected in the print dialogue box.

 Content is incorrect or does not make sense:

 Wrong printer driver is installed

 Poor picture quality

 Ink appears faded or irregular - low on ink or toner
 May be the wrong type of paper

 Network printer is not working:

Network settings for printer or computer are wrong
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 PRINTERS

 Factors – buying decisions

 Speed – pages per minute.

 Colour – separate cartridges for colours are better

 Resolution – higher resolution gives better image

 Cost per page

 Paper – type of paper for high quality printouts.

 System compatibility – can it be used with a specific OS?

 Wireless capability - built-in wireless functionality, Bluetooth,

Ethernet port.

 Mobility – not generally mobile.

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 LCD PROJECTOR

Uses Advantages Limitations

To project a large image Allows the display to be • Quality and clarity of

of the display onto a viewed by a large group of not as good as high
surface to share it with a people quality display
large audience monitors
• The lower contrast
ratios result in muddier
images
• Normally limited to a
4:3 aspect ratio

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 WRITTEN MODULE ACTIVIT Y

 Page 32
 Complete questions 24 – 30

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STORAGE DEVICES

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 HARD DRIVE

Uses Advantages Limitations

• To store data and • Larger capacity than • Easy to damage

software permanently RAM • Comparatively slow –
• Make backup copies of • Cheaper per GB than operates on a
data and software RAM magnetic and
• Act as ‘virtual memory’ • Store data and mechanical basis
programs

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 HARD DRIVE

Problem solving
 Slow and unresponsive system
 Disk may be fragmented.
 Use a disk defragmentation utility to
 re-arrange the files
 to place scattered parts into whole
chunks
 for faster access to the files.

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 HARD DRIVE

 Problem solving
 If the storage space is full
 delete or remove some files
 get extra storage
 add another hard drive
 use external storage devices
 use cloud storage.
 If files are corrupted
 use the Scandisk utility to fix the disk
May be caused by improper shut down, crashing programs or power
failures.

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 EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Store and carry media, • Large capacity • Not physically as small

data and software • Portability as a flash drive
around with you • As vulnerable as hard
• Ease of use
• Store backups safely, drives and can be
• High speed
away from the damaged easily
computer • Reliability because they are
• Add extra storage to mechanical and
the computer, without magnetic
physically opening the
computer

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 FLASH DRIVE

Uses Advantages Limitations

• To carry data and • Portability • Easy to lose
software around • Fast data access • More expensive per
with you • Cheap GB than hard drives
• To make backups • Larger capacities than • Lower capacities
• To distribute data optical media than newer hard
and software • Industry-standard use drives

• Reliability • A limited life span in

terms of how many
• Ease of use (in terms of
times data can be
adding and deleting files)
saved on them
• No need for a power source
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 OPTICAL MEDIA (CDS/DVDS)

Uses Advantages Limitations

• To distribute • Cheap • Slow

software • Portable • Easily damaged
• To distribute content • Industry-standard • Relatively small capacity
such as movies and use (700 MB for a CD, 4.7 to 9.4
music GB for a DVD)
• Back up • Not as easy or intuitive to
write to as flash disks
• Some machines like
Netbooks do not have
optical drives built-in

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 OPTICAL MEDIA (CDS/DVDS)

 Problem solving
 Often fail or experience problems because they get dirty.
 Clean a disc by wiping it with a soft damp cloth.

 Easily damaged and scratched.

 Difficult to repair. You usually have to replace it.

 Writeable and re-writeable discs are easily damaged by heat

or cold.
 Nothing can be done to fix this damage.

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 SSD (SOLID STATE DRIVE)

• Much faster than normal hard drives.

• No moving parts – can’t be damaged by being dropped or moved whilst

in use.

• Much more energy-efficient, durable and run quieter than traditional

(mechanical) hard drives.

• Much more expensive and have smaller capacities than traditional

hard drives.

• Sizes range from 8 GB to 750 GB (in early 2013), but sizes are
increasing rapidly.

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COMMUNICATION
DEVICES

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 3G MODEM

Uses Advantages Limitations

• Can access the • Easy to install and use • Can get lost or stolen
Internet wherever there (use USB port) fairly easily
is cellphone reception • Small enough to take • Not always as reliable
with you for Internet as a fixed line
access on any connection
computer • 3G Internet connection
• The 3G/4G network is depends on the
fast coverage and strength
of the 3G signal

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 ADSL MODEM/ROUTER

Uses Advantages Limitations

• A digital link to the • You can make and receive • Needs specialised
telephone phone calls and be equipment installed at
company’s connected to the Internet the telephone
network at the same time exchange, better
• Includes the • Cheaper connections to the suited for urban areas
functionality of a Internet than 3G • Speed drops the
small switch, • More stable as it does not further the further you
wireless (WiFi) depend on things like are away from the
connectivity and a cellphone reception telephone exchange
router • Allows wireless connection
• Designed for fast
to router to share an
downloads and slower
Internet connection
uploads 50
 WRITTEN MODULE ACTIVIT Y

 Page 32, 33
 Complete questions 31 – 43

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TEST AND IMPROVE
YOUR KNOWLEDGE

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 WE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING
DEVICES
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Touch screen
• Touch pad
Input devices
• Scanner
• Digital camera
• Webcam
• Microphone

• Monitor or display
• Speakers or headphones
Output devices
• Printer
• LCD projector
• Hard drive
• External drive
Storage devices
• Optical media (CDs/DVDs)
• SSD

Communication • 3G Modem
devices • ADSL modem/router 53
 WRITTEN MODULE ACTIVIT Y

 Page 33, 34
 Complete questions 44 – 58

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