Input and Output Devices
Input and output devices are the devices of a computer that are used to interact with the
user.
Input devices
Like the eyes, ears, nose, tong and skin provides a way to sense information about the
environment and feed it to the brain, input devices helps the user to provide commands to
the processor and also for the processor to receive data and information from its
environment. The user can use devices like the keyboard, mouse or trackball and joystick
to provide commands and data into the computer. Device like, the microphone, scanner
and digital cameras help the processor to receive data from its environment. Any device
that can feed data or information to a computer is referred to as an input device.
Output devices
Similar to body parts being used by the brain to output information and to interact with
the environment, the computer uses output devices to output information to the user. All
information which is outputted by the processor through the output devices can either be
seen, heard or felt. Devices like the Monitor or LCD panel and projectors display
information whereas a speaker would provide audible output. A feedback joystick would
provide an output which can be felt by the user. Any device that can be used to output
information from a computer is known as an output device. It is also important to note
that certain devices have functionality that fall into both input and output categories. For
example a touch-screen display and a feedback joystick function as both input devices
and output devices.