Input/output devices are the devices that connect you to your computer. Input devices let you input data and other information into your computer and they also let you give your computer special instructions so that it will know what to do. For example, you can type in data by using a keyboard, or you can input data in picture form by using a scanner. On the other hand, output devices display the results of your computer's computations. Examples of these would be your computer's monitor, which displays all of the programs you're running, as well as the printer, which will print out a hard copy of the information!
Input Devices:
I'm sure that you all know what a keyboard is. A keyboard is what you use to type in letters, numbers, and other characters. You can type instructions in to your computer, or you can use the keyboard to type up documents and other papers.
Mice have been around for some while now. Mice are used to manuever the cursor on your computer screen to give instructions to your computer and to run programs and applications.
Scanners let you put pictures and images onto your computer. They convert pictures and iamges to digital form so that you can edit them by using the computer or put them on the Internet!
Digital cameras are somewhat similar to regular cameras. You can take pictures of people, places, or things. However, digital cameras convert these pictures to digital form so they can be used on the computer.
Output Divices:
Your monitor is a fancy term for your computer screen. It displays the programs and applications you are running.
LCDs, or liquid crystal displays, are similar to monitors. They, too, are screens that display information, programs, and applications! LCDs are generally used on laptop computers.
Printers let you take documents, pictures, and other files and "print" them out. They create a hard copy of these files on a piece of paper.
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