Hardware Notes IGCSE

Input Devices
 Every computer system receives commands and data, from the real world,
via input devices
 Input devices converts inputs into digital data which can be processed
 For conventional computer systems, such as desktop computers and laptops, the
most common input devices are the mouse and the keyboard
 There are a wide range of input devices used in more specialist computer
systems such as scanners and sensors

optical mouse, microphone, barcode scanner, digital camera, QR code scanner,

touch screen (resistive, capacitive and infra-red), 2D and 3D scanners

 If you're asked to list some input devices, check you're not listing one included in
the question as you won't get a mark for this
 You won’t be asked how they technically work but may be asked what each
device does, why it does it and when it may be used

Barcode Scanner
  Barcodes are a series of black and white bars which represent a code
 A barcode reader shines a red laser at the barcode to read the data it represents
 The light from the white lines is reflected back
 Black lines absorb the light so less is reflected
 The different levels of reflection are converted into a binary value which can be
processed by a microprocessor
 A barcode reader can be handheld or built into a larger machine such as a self-
service checkout at a supermarket
 Barcodes can be used in many ways such as identifying a product being sold
or tracking a package through the delivery process
 Benefits include faster checkouts, automated stock control, less chance of
error due to manual entry of data, and more detailed tracking information

Digital Camera
  A digital camera works by capturing light and converting it into a digital image
 Light enters the camera through the lens, it reaches an image sensor where it is
split into millions of pixels (small squares). Each pixel measures light intensity
which is converted into binary and represents a colour.
 Digital cameras are integrated into smartphones , used in security
systems and by professional photographers to create high quality digital
images
 An advantage of digital cameras is they show a preview of the image
 They also instantly create an image which can then be
easily duplicated and transmitted via bluetooth or WiFi
 Software can be used to edit digital photos, for example applying a filter or
retouching a photo

Keyboard
 A keyboard is the most common device used for text-based data input
 They are connected either by a USB cable or wirelessly to the computer system
 They are built into laptops.
 Smartphones and tablets have virtual keyboards
 Each key on a keyboard has a peg underneath it which makes contact with a
conducting membrane. This is then converted into an electrical signal to transmit
a unique character code

Microphone
 A computer microphone works by converting sound waves into electrical
signals that can be processed by the computer.
 They can capture any real world sound and convert it into digital data which
can be stored, duplicated or modified
 The microphone has a diaphragm that vibrates in response to sound waves.
These vibrations are then converted into electrical signals by a coil of wire
attached to the back of the diaphragm. Changes in the signal are recorded by a
microprocessor using a analogue to digital converter
 Microphones are used to record music, telephone calls, communicate
online and dictation

Optical Mouse
 A mouse use a laser to detect and track movement, this is then processed by
a microprocessor which interprets the movement and replicates it when moving
a virtual cursor on-screen
 Items can be selected or moved using the left mouse button, whilst the right
button usually displays additional menus
 They can be wired or wireless
 They are used to control the cursor in a Graphical User Interface (GUIs)
  They are simple to use and provide the user with an intuitive way to navigate the
computer
 They are reliable due to no moving parts

QR code scanner

 A QR code is a visual representation of data using black and white squares

 QR codes can represent over 7000 digits whereas a barcode represents up to
30 digits
 QR codes are scanned by a camera (often on a mobile device)
 A piece of software convert the squares into binary data
 QR codes often link to a website where more information can be found
 They can also be used to advertise products, share contact details,
provide promotional codes, train tickets, and event tickets

Touchscreen
 A touchscreen can be classed as both an input device and an output device

Types of touch screen

Type How it works Benefits/Drawbacks Uses

Resistive screen Resistive screens consist of + Cheap to produce.

two conductive layers. The
top layer is flexible. When + Resistant to surface
Used in cash machines,
the screen is touched the two contaminants
information kiosks,
layer connect, completing a
medical equipment
circuit + Can be activated with
nearly every object (stylus,
finger, gloved hand)
Infra-red LEDs shine infrared light + Excellent image quality,
screens across a screen forming a
matrix. When the screen is + high precision
touched the beams are
interrupted + durable
Tablets, laptops,
smartphones
+ allows for multiple
touches at the same time

- Requires a bare finger or

stylus for activation
Capacitive Made up of a protective +Excellent image quality
screens layer, a transparent
Large scale commercial
conductive layer and a glass +Unlimited touch-life
displays
substrate. Touching the
screen changes the +Scale well
Information kiosks
electrostatic field of the
conductive layer - Sensitive
Medical equipment
to interference from light,
water, snow

2D and 3D scanners
 A two-dimensional (or flat-bed) scanner shines a strip of light over a document.
Reflected light is measured for each pixel. This data is converted into binary data
so the document can be digitally recreated
 A three- dimensional laser scanner shines a light over an object. The geometry
and dimensions are recorded so the object can be recreated digitally
 The digital 3D model can be modified using specialist software
 A 3D printer could then print out the model
 2D scanners can be used for creating digital versions of documents or
photographs
 Reading passports at airports
 3D scanners can be used to create 3D models for use with computer-aided
design (CAD) software
 Creating replicas with 3D printers
 Typical uses of 3D scanners and printers are dentistry, product development,
medical
 A cheap and quick way of creating a digital representation of both 2D and 3D
objects so they can be manipulated, stored, transmitted or copied

Summary of input device uses and benefits

Device Example Uses Benefits

Barcode scanner
Faster checkout, less errors, detailed
Checkouts, parcel delivery
stock/tracking information

QR code scanner
Can hold more information than a
barcode
Advertising products, linking to
websites, e-tickets
Can be scanned using a camera on a
mobile device (smartphone)
2D and 3D scanners Converts 2D and 3D objects into
digital data which is easier and
Scan documents, photos and objects
quicker to transmit/duplicate or
manipulate
Digital camera
Smartphones, professional
Instant preview and image
photography, security systems
Keyboard Entering text Universal, easy to use
 Mouse Navigating a GUI
Intuitive
Making selections and entering
commands
Microphone Recording real-world sound

Musical recordings

Telephone calls

Dictation
Touchscreen Entering text and commands on
mobile devices (tablet, smartphone)
Can be durable
Cash machines
Good image quality
Interactive advertisements
Intuitive/easy to use
Information screens

OUTPUT DEVICES

Output Devices
 An output device shows the results of the processing in a way humans can
understand
 In a general purpose computer system, the main output device is
the monitor/screen
 Other output devices include projectors, printers, speakers and actuators

Actuators
 Actuators are used in conjunction with a motor to translate energy (electrical,
air, hydraulic) into real-world movement of a physical object.
 They come in a variety of sizes and have been made specifically for a particular
function.
  Examples of use include turning a wheel, opening or closing a door,
controlling a conveyer belt, operating machinery, moving robotic arms,
vibrating a machine, starting or stopping a pump, opening or closing a
valve
 They are often used with sensors. The input of the sensor is checked
against stored values. If the input is within a certain range an actuator is used to
provide movement of a physical object

Light projectors
 Used to project computer outputs onto a large screen
 Used to give presentations in both business and education settings
 There are two types - Digital light processing (DLP) projectors and Liquid
crystal display (LCD) projectors.
 DLP systems use millions of micro-mirrors arranged in a grid on a
microprocessor within the projector. Light is shone through colour filters and
the mirrors. The position of the mirrors can be altered to change the intensity of
the light
 LCD projectors use three mirror filters to separate an image into red, green and
blue wavelengths. The three images are then combined to produce the full colour
image which is passed through the lens on to the wall/screen

Device Advantages Disadvantages

Digital light
Higher contrast ratios. Image tends to suffer from
projector (DLP)
“shadows” when showing a moving
Smooth video image

DLP do not have grey components

Higher reliability
in the image

The colour definition is not as good

Smaller and lighter
as LCD projectors

Better suited to dusty atmospheres than

LCD projectors
 LCD projector
Contrast ratios are not as good as
Give a sharper image than DLP projectors
DLPs
Better colour saturation and intensity than
Have a limited life
DLP projectors
Use less power and generate less heat LCD panels degrade over time.
Quieter running that DLP

Laser and Inkjet printers

 Both printers create hard copies of a digital document
 Hard copies are needed when you do not have access to an electronic device

Inkjet printers:

 Have a print head which moves across the page

 Spray liquid ink droplets from ink cartridges through very fine nozzles onto the
paper (these are in the print head)
 The droplets can be piezoelectric or thermal bubble technology
 Inkjet printers produce high quality hard copies of digital images or
documents

Laser printers:

 Are very fast when making multiple copies of a document

 Are useful for high volume print jobs for example producing leaflets
 Have a low running cost per page.
 Are often used in business and education setting
 Have large toner (dry ink) cartridges and large paper trays
 Use positive and negative charges to make the toner particles stick to piece of
paper, heat is then used to bond the particles to the paper

Characteristic Inkjet Laser

Uses ink cartridges x

Uses toner (powdered ink) x
Great for bright colours and images x
Great for clear, sharp images and text x
Widely used in homes and home offices with lower x
print volumes
Widely used in office with higher print volumes x

3D printers
 3D printers create 3D models of a digital model by depositing layers of
material, such as plastic or resin, on top of one another to slowly build up a 3D
object
 They allow for precision and can be used in medicine to create prosthetics and
blood vessels
 3D printers can be used to create rapid prototypes
 Models can be transmitted digitally and then models printed out all across the
world

Liquid Crystal Display screens

 LCD screens are made up of millions of tiny liquid crystals.
 The display is made of pixels arranged in a matrix
 The display requires backlighting
 They are used for TVs, monitors, tablets and phones
 They have low power consumption and run at a cool temperature
 They do not suffer image burn or flicker issues
 They provide bright images and colours
 They are cheaper to produce than LED screens

Light emitting diode (LED) screen

 An LED screen is made up of tiny LEDs
 They do not need backlighting which makes them thinner and lighter to hang
on the wall
 LED screens are replacing LCD displays in TVs, monitors, laptops and mobile
devices
 They have better image quality and a longer life span
 They can be used to create very large screens that can be used to show visual
content at events such as football matches and music festivals
 They consume very little power making them suitable for being switched on for
many hours in the day

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen

 Much thinner and lighter than traditional LCD screens
 Use organic light emitting diodes (OLEDS).
 They use organic carbon compound to create semiconductors
 No form of back lighting is required
  You can have very thin, flexible screens

Speakers
 Speakers are used to take digital sounds or recordings and output them as
sound waves which can be heard by humans
 The digital data is changed into a electric current using a digital to analogue
converter (DAC)
 It is then passed through an amplifier to create a current large enough to drive a
loudspeaker
 The loudspeaker converts the current into a sound wave
 Typical uses include listening to music, listening to video sound, telephone
calls and alarms

SENSORS

Sensors
 Sensors are input devices
 They measure a physical property of their environment such as light levels,
temperature or movement
 Sensors can be used for monitoring systems and control systems
o A monitoring system tracks the state of a system, it gathers data and
may issue warning messages
o A control system will control the system based upon the input from
sensors
o For example, if the water temperature in a fish tank fell below the
acceptable level, a control system would start up a heater. The system
will then continue to check the water temperature readings and when they
are within the acceptable range it will switch off the heater
 This process of the outputs affecting the following set of input
values received from the sensors is called a feedback loop

Sensor type What it measures Typical use

 Acoustic Sound levels To detect changes in sound levels
of industrial machinery

To monitor noise pollution

In security system to detect

suspicious sounds
Accelerometer Acceleration rate, tilt, vibration Detecting sudden changes in
vehicle movement and deploy
safety features if needed

In mobile phones to detect

orientation of the device
Flow Rate of gas, liquid or powder Detect changes in the flow
flow through pipes in water system
Gas Presence of a gas e.g. carbon Detect levels of gas in confined
monoxide spaces

Detect gas levels when fixing gas

leaks
Humidity Levels of water vapour Monitor humidity in greenhouses
Infra-red Detecting motion or a heat source Security systems detecting
intruders who break the beam

Measures heat radiation of

objects - used by emergency
services to detect people
Level Liquid levels Detects levels of petrol in a car
tank

Detect levels of water in a water

tank

Detect a drop in water levels due

to a leak
Light Light levels Automatically switching on lights
when it gets dark (street lights,
headlights)
Magnetic field Presence and strength Anti-lock braking system

Monitoring rotating machinery

such as turbines
 Moisture Presence and levels of moisture Monitoring moisture in soil

Monitoring damp in buildings

pH Acidity or alkaline Monitoring soil to ensure
optimum growing conditions

Monitor pHlevels in chemical

processes
Pressure Gas, liquid or physical pressure Monitoring tyre pressure

Monitoring pressure in pipes

during manufacturing process
Proximity Distance Monitoring position of objects in
robotics

Used in safety systems to prevent

objects colliding
Temperature Temperature in Celsius, Used to maintain temperature in
Fahrenheit or Kelvin swimming pools

Used to control temperature in

chemical processes