Input and Output Devices
Devices let us communicate with computers.
About this topic
Input devices send data into a computer, such as keyboards, mice, touchscreens, microphones, scanners, cameras and sensors. Output devices present results, such as monitors, speakers, printers and headphones. Some devices do both, like touchscreens and network cards.
Every device converts between the physical world and digital data. A microphone turns sound waves into electrical signals, which an analog-to-digital converter changes into numbers. A monitor does the reverse for pictures, lighting up millions of pixels according to stored values. Ports and wireless links such as USB and Bluetooth connect devices, and drivers help the OS talk to them.
Consider a video call: the camera and microphone are inputs, the CPU compresses and sends the data, and the screen and speakers are outputs at the other end. Accessibility devices such as screen readers, braille displays and eye trackers show how choosing the right input and output makes computers usable for everyone. A common mistake is to treat a device as only input or only output; a game controller with vibration is both. When designing a system, ask what information must come in, what must go out and what device suits the user best.
Key ideas
- Keyboard, mouse, touchscreen
- Monitor, printer, speakers
- Sensors and actuators
Quick check
Use cases: where Input and Output Devices helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Input and Output Devices before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Input and Output Devices without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Input and Output Devices changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Input and Output Devices in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Computing ideas run phones, search engines, games and the wider internet.
Frequently asked questions
What is Input and Output Devices?
Devices let us communicate with computers.
What will I learn in Input and Output Devices?
Keyboard, mouse, touchscreen. Monitor, printer, speakers. Sensors and actuators.
Is Input and Output Devices part of Computer Science?
Yes. It is one of 80 Computer Science topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Input and Output Devices lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Input and Output Devices?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.