Computer Output

3D Printing

3D printing allows designers to create three-dimensional objects from a computer image. Cross sections of the object are first created and then successive layers of material, usually plastic, are sprayed through a nozzle to recreate the object.

4K Ultra HD

4K Ultra TVs have four times the picture resolution of Full HD 1080p. Uses LED technology. 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. Full HD has 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. This increased pixel density allows you to sit very close to the device without sacrificing image quality.

Monitor

A computer monitor is an electronic, fixed-screen device that visually displays computer output. Monitors include the touchscreen monitors found on tablet computers, smartphones, and some laptop computers. Many users prefer liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors while some like the crispness of a light emitting diode (LED) display.

Dot Matrix Printers

A dot matrix printer is a type of impact printer. An impact printer creates output by physically striking an ink coated ribbon with a metal rod. A dot matrix printer uses a series of tiny rods arranged in a rectangular bundle to produce dots that form characters. Dot matrix printers are still used by a variety of businesses.

Peripheral

A peripheral is a device that connects to a computer. Peripherals enhance the capabilities of other digital devices. Peripherals can be connected either with wires or with radio waves (wireless). Examples of peripherals include a mouse, keyboard, speakers, monitor, game controller, and printer.

Output Devices

An output device allows users to view or otherwise use the information processed by a computer. Examples of output devices include monitors, projectors, printers, and speakers.

Audio Output

Audio output, or sound, is an essential component of most computer systems. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops include integrated speakers. To create sound, a computer uses digital-to-analog converters. Speakers then change the analog electrical impulses to sound by physically pushing air. To improve sound quality, particularly in the lower (bass) ranges, many users add external speakers to their computers.

CRT

CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. Older monitors use a glass picture tube to display video output. CRTs have a large glass tube which uses electron beam to create a picture. A CRT monitor or TV's size depends on the size of the tube. This makes them very large and heavy.

Inkjet printers

Inkjet printers are the most popular type of printers in the world. They print by spraying droplets of ink onto the substrate, usually paper. The four major manufacturers of inkjet printers include Canon, Epson, HP, and Lexmark. Manufacturers often sell printers below production costs and then mark up the price of the ink.

Laser printers

Laser printers are the most popular printers for use in business offices because they use relatively inexpensive toner rather than liquid ink. Laser printers are also faster than inkjet printers when printing multiple copies.

How do laser printers work?

Laser printers use toner, spinning cylindrical drums, and a laser to transfer images onto paper. Toner is a powdery, dry, plastic ink with a positive electrical charge. The cylindrical drum is negatively charged with electrons The laser removes the unnecessary electrons. The positively charged toner is attracted to the remaining electrons on the drum. The toner is then melted onto the paper to create the image.

Light Emitting Diode display

Light Emitting Diode displays, or LED displays are actually Liquid Crystal Displays with a screen of white LEDs to backlight the display. LEDs convert electricity into light. The greater the amount of electricity passing through the diode, the brighter the light. Because LEDs are microscopic, LED displays can be thin enough to hang on walls like pictures.

Liquid Crystal Display

Liquid Crystal Displays or LCDs are the most common type of display for computer monitors. An LCD is made of several layers of filters plus a screen of transparent electrodes and a layer of liquid crystal molecules. When powered, the electrode "twists" or "bends" the liquid crystal molecule, allowing light to either pass through or be blocked from a pixel filter. This determines the color and intensity of each pixel.

Optical media output

Optical media includes digital versatile discs, called DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. These discs store data using reflective material placed in the coating of a plastic disc. A laser "reads" this reflected data. Blu-ray technology uses shorter wavelength lasers in the blue spectrum. DVDs use longer wavelength lasers in the red spectrum. This means that Blu-ray players can read both Blu-ray discs and DVDs, but DVD players cannot read Blu-ray discs.

OLED

Organic Light Emitting Diode displays or OLEDs use red, green, and blue LEDs to create each pixel. These displays currently cost more than LCD displays, but mass production will bring down costs. Because LEDs are microscopic, OLED displays can be curved and paper-thin.

Ergonomics

Output device ergonomics refers to the art of designing products that present information in the most useful way. Ergonomics can help improve mental concentration and physical capability by providing only the information that is needed at the time. Ergonomic designs have been incorporated into modern cars, aircraft, ships, and many other devices. Ergonomic output devices include heads-up displays, integrated helmets, and numerous other applications.

Output

Output refers to anything created with a computer, meaningful information or non-discernible data. Output can appear in a variety of forms such as numbers, characters, pictures, or images. Examples of output include processed data, printouts or displayed on a monitor. Output allows other users to view and use the results of data processing.

Plasma Display Panel

Plasma Display Panels create images with pixels made of red, green, and blue cells. Each cell is filled with ionized gas called plasma. Electronic layers in the screen send electricity to each cell to vary the brightness of the cell. The greater the electricity, the greater the brightness of the plasma cell.

Plotters

Plotters are used to print large graphic images such as designs of buildings, machinery, and ships. Plotters recreate images by mechanically moving a pen over a large sheet of paper.

Printers

Printers recreate a computer image onto paper or other substrate. Printer resolution is described as dots per inch. Printer speed is described as pages per minute. The most common printers, inkjet printers, use ink. Other common printers include laser printers, which use toner, and thermal printers, which use heat-sensitive paper.

Projectors

Projectors use light to display output on a surface. They allow large audiences to view the video output of a digital device. Projectors require a darkened environment. Projectors are popular in classrooms and theaters where the lighting can be controlled and where video and images are viewed by larger audiences. Projectors create output using a very bright lamp. The brightness of the light emitted from the projector is rated in lumens. Many projectors use halide lamps that pass light through LCD panels. Another type of technology used in projectors is Digital Light Processing (DLP). DLP uses thousands of tiny mirrors that are controlled by a processor to create output.

Sampling Rate

Sampling rate refers to the accuracy of a digital recording. Sound is an analog signal. Sound has wavelength and frequency, or volume and pitch. Since computers can only process digital data, sound must be digitized. To digitize an analog signal, each incoming sound wave is measured or "sampled". The more samples taken, the more accurate the sound recording.

Compare speaker options

The speakers that are in smartphones and laptops are necessarily tiny, resulting in low sound quality, particularly in the lower ranges. To improve the sound output of digital devices, many users add external speakers. There are countless speaker options available. To determine which option to choose, first determine your needs. Does your speaker option need to be portable? How important is sound quality? In general, lower range tones require a physically larger speaker. Do you need speakers that are Bluetooth capable or will you be using wires? Once you've determined your needs, price will be a significant factor.

Thermal Printers

Thermal printing is used most commonly for creating receipts. Thermal paper turns black when heated, making it much less expensive and cleaner than using ink or toner. Some thermal paper comes with different colors, usually red and black, and heats the paper at different temperatures.

Connected Devices in Windows 10

You may want to check any devices connected to your computer that is running Windows 10. Open the Device Manager. Click the Cortana button or the Search box button. Type 'Device Manager' in the search box. Select Device Manager. View the list of connected devices. Close the Device Manager.