Flashcards · 0417 · Topic 2

Input and output devices flashcards

14 cards on Topic 2, subtopics 2.1 to 2.3. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

Study mode needs JavaScript. Every card is listed below, so you can still cover the answers and test yourself.

All 14 cards

For a quick read-through or printing. Cover the right-hand side to test yourself.

Name eight input devices on the 0417 syllabus: Any eight of: keyboard, numeric keypad, pointing devices (mouse, touchpad, tracker ball), remote control, joystick or driving wheel, touch screen, scanner, digital camera, microphone, sensors, light pen.
Why is a touch screen suitable for a public information kiosk?: It is intuitive and needs no training, and there are no loose parts such as a mouse or keyboard to be damaged or stolen.
Why are sensors used as input in monitoring and control?: They take continuous, automatic readings with no human error, even in places or at times a person could not.
Is a touch screen an input or an output device?: Both. It is input when the user makes a selection on it, and output when it displays an image or interface.

What is direct data entry?: Data is captured automatically by a device, without a person typing or clicking it in. It is faster, has a lower error rate and needs no one to read or interpret the data first.
OMR vs OCR: OMR (optical mark recognition) reads marks in set positions, e.g. a multiple-choice answer sheet. OCR (optical character recognition) reads printed or handwritten text and turns it into editable text.
Why is RFID preferred to a bar code for tracking a moving object?: An RFID tag is read by radio waves, so it needs no line of sight and can be read while the object moves or the tag is hidden, e.g. a hospital wristband.
Why is MICR used for bank cheques?: Magnetic ink characters are hard to forge and can be read reliably even when the cheque is dirty or creased.
Name six direct data entry devices: Magnetic stripe reader, chip and PIN reader, RFID reader, OMR reader, OCR reader, bar code reader, QR code scanner.

Laser vs inkjet printer: Laser: fast and low cost per page for high-volume printing, but dearer to buy. Inkjet: cheap to buy with good colour and photo quality, but slower and expensive per page for large volumes.
When is a dot matrix printer still used?: For multi-part carbon forms printed in one pass (e.g. a delivery note with copies), or in dusty, harsh places that would damage a laser or inkjet printer. It is noisy and low resolution.
What is a plotter used for?: Large-format, high-precision line drawings such as CAD plans, maps and posters.
What is an actuator?: An output device that turns an electrical signal into physical movement, e.g. opening a valve, moving a robot arm or starting a motor.
Name eight output devices on the 0417 syllabus: Any eight of: monitor, touch screen, multimedia projector, laser printer, inkjet printer, dot matrix printer, plotter, 3D printer, speaker, actuator.