Output devices

Output device

  

An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) to the outside world.

In computing, input/output, or I/O, refers to the communication between an information processing system (such as a computer), and the outside world. Inputs are the signals or data sent to the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent by the system to the outside.

Video monitor

A video monitor also called a broadcast monitor, broadcast reference monitor or just reference monitor, is a device similar to a television, used to monitor the output of a video-generating device, such as a media payout server, IRD, video camera, VCR, or DVD player. It may or may not have audio monitoring capability. Unlike a television, a video monitor has no tuner and, as such, is unable independently to tune into an over-the-air broadcast. One common use of video monitors is in Television stations and in outside broadcast vehicles, where broadcast engineers use them for confidence checking of signals throughout the system. Video monitors are used extensively in the security industry with Closed-circuit television cameras and recording devices.

Speaker

Computer speakers, or multimedia speakers, are speakers external to a computer that disable the lower fidelity built-in speaker. They often have a low-power internal amplifier. The standard audio connection is a 3.5mm (1/8 inch) stereo jack plug often color-coded lime green (following the PC 99 standard) for computer sound cards. A plug and socket for a two-wire (signal and ground) coaxial cable that is widely used to connect analog audio and video components. Also called a "phono connector," rows of prong is 1/8" thick by 5/16" long. A few use an RCA connector for input. There are alsoUSB speakers which are powered from the 5 volts at 200 milliamps provided by the USB port, allowing about half a watt of output power.

Computer speakers range widely in quality and in price. The computer speakers typically packaged with computer systems are small plastic boxes with mediocre sound quality. Some of the slightly better computer speakers have equalization features such as bass and treble controls, improving their sound quality somewhat.

The internal amplifiers require an external power source, known as a 'wall-wart'. More sophisticated computer speakers may have a 'subwoofer' unit, to enhance bass output, and these units usually include the power amplifiers both for the bass speaker, and the small 'satellite' speakers.

Some computer displays have rather basic speaker’s built-in. Laptops come with integrated speakers. Unfortunately the tight restriction on space inevitable in laptops means these speakers unavoidably produce low-quality sound.