COMPUTER HARDWARE

INPUT
Input is the term denoting either an entrance or changes which are inserted into a system and which activate or modify a process. It is an abstract concept, used in the modeling, system design and system exploitation. It is usually connected with other terms, e.g., input field, input variable, input parameter, input value, input signal, input port, input device and input file. Input may refer to: Advice (opinion), an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct Input (computer science), the act of entering data into a computer or data processing system Stimulus (physiology), a detectable change in the environment that influences an activity of an organism Power consumption, an amount of power used by a system International Public Television Screening Conference (INPUT), an international public television organization In economics, a factor of production, a resource employed to produce goods and services

Input Devices
In computing, an input device is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment) used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance. Examples of input devices include keyboards, mouse, scanners, digital cameras and joysticks. Many input devices can be classified according to: modality of input (e.g. mechanical motion, audio, visual, etc.) the input is discrete (e.g. key presses) or continuous (e.g. a mouse's position, though digitized into a discrete quantity, is fast enough to be considered continuous) the number of degrees of freedom involved (e.g. two-dimensional traditional mice, or threedimensional navigators designed for CAD applications)

Keyboard Types
A keyboard layout is any specific mechanical, visual, or functional arrangement of the keys, legends, or key-meaning associations (respectively) of a computer, typewriter, or other typographic keyboard. Mechanical layout The placements and keys of a keyboard. For an interactive, side-by-side comparison of various keyboard layouts, go to Microsoft's "Windows Keyboard Layouts" page. Visual layout The arrangement of the legends (labels, markings, engravings) that appear on the keys of a keyboard. Functional layout The arrangement of the key-meaning associations, determined in software, of all the keys of a keyboard. Most computer keyboards are designed to send scancodes to the operating system, rather than directly sending characters. From there, the series of scancodes is converted into a character stream by keyboard layout software. This allows a physical keyboard to be dynamically mapped to any number of layouts without switching hardware components merely by changing the software

Pointing Devices
A pointing device is an input interface (specifically a human interface device) that allows a user to input spatial (i.e., continuous and multidimensional) data to a computer. CAD systems and graphical user interfaces (GUI) allow the user to control and provide data to the computer using physical gestures-point, click, and drag-for example, by moving a hand-held mouse across the surface of the physical desktop and activating switches on the mouse. Movements of the pointing device are echoed on the screen by movements of the pointer (or cursor) and other visual changes. While the most common pointing device by far is the mouse, many more devices have been developed. A "rodent" is a technical term referring to a device which generates mouse-like input. However, the term "mouse" is commonly used as a metaphor for devices that move the cursor.

Image Capture Tips

Dynamic range - the range of tones from lightest to darkest a scanner can see and resolve affects the quality of scanned image more than resolution. The higher the dynamic range of a scanner, the more likely it can record the differences between two closely matched colors or grayscale areas. The quality of the images captured with scanners, digital cameras, and copiers varies with the technical sophistication of these devices. For best results, use current technology and associated software, or send your images to a prepress service provider that has the appropriate equipment. If you are not completely comfortable with image capture technology or if you lack the proper equipment, dont attempt to do it yourself. Turn the job over to a prepress service provider or your printer. Theyll work with you to give you predictable color images on press.

It is common to apply a sharpness tool or apply unsharp masking in an image editing application to image files captured by a digital camera.

Make sure that your storage device is compatible with the computer system that you and your prepress service provider will use to produce the actual design, color correction, pagination and output.
Calibrate your scanning devices, monitors and proofing devices on a regular basis. Most manufacturers provide calibration instructions and provide the IT8.7/1 (transparency) and IT8.7/2 (reflection) calibration targets for their devices. Do not try to pre-screen images in a photo retouching program. You will end up with a moir pattern when your grayscale image is sent to a postscript device, like a printer or image setter.

Output
Data generated by a computer is referred to as output. This includes data produced at a software level, such as the result of a calculation, or at a physical level, such as a printed document. A basic example of software output is a calculator program that produces the result of a mathematical operation. A more complex example is the results produced by a search engine, which compares keywords to millions of pages in its Web page index. Devices that produce physical output from the computer are creatively called output devices. The most commonly used output device is the computer's monitor, which displays data on a screen. Devices such as the printer and computer speakers are some other common output devices.

Output Devices
Monitor - A monitor is the screen on which words, numbers, and graphics can be seem. The monitor is the most common output device. Compact Disk - Some compact disks can be used to put information on. This is called burning information to a CD. NOTE: A CD can also be an input device. Printer - A printer prints whatever is on the monitor onto paper. Printers can print words, numbers, or pictures.

Speaker - A speaker gives you sound output from your computer. Some speakers are built into the computer and some are separate. Disk Drives - A disk drive is used to record information from the computer onto a floppy disk or CD. Floppy Disk - A floppy disk is used to record information on. The information is stored on the floppy disk and can be used later or used on another computer. Headphones - Headphones give sound output from the computer. They are similar to speakers, except they are worn on the ears so only one person can hear the output at a time.

The Different Types of PC Monitors

PC monitors come in two different flavors, each of which is known by a popular TLA (three-letter acronym): LCD and CRT.

LCD: Stands for liquid crystal display. The newer, flatter type of computer screen.
CRT: Stands for cathode ray tube. The traditional, glass-screen, television-set-like monitor. Between the two, the LCD monitor is more popular. The prices on LCD monitors have dropped dramatically in recent years, not to mention that the monitors are easy on the eyes and use less electricity than their glass-based counterparts.

Input and Output

How do you get data to the CPU? How do you get information out? Here we describe one of the most important places where the computer interfaces with people. We input text, music, and even speech, but we probably never think about the relationship between what we enter and what the computer processes. People understand language, which is constructed of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. However, computers can understand only the binary machine language of 0s and 1s. Input devices are essentially translators. Input devices translate numbers, letters, and actions that people understand into a form that computers can process. Have you ever wondered how information processed by the system unit is converted into a form that you can use? That is the role of output devices.

Difference Between Primary Storage and

Secondary Storage
1. All secondary storage is permanent 2. Most Primary Storage is temporary. 3. Secondary storage is usually cheaper and large 4. Primary Storage is expensive and smaller. 5. Primary storage is smaller in capacity (L2 Cashed is only 2MB) 6. Secondary Storage is bigger in capacity 7. Primary storage is usually faster therefore more expensive 8. Secondary storage connects to the CPU via cables and therefore is slower 9. Primary storage is closer to the CPU and/or is integrated onto it and therefore is faster. 10. Examples of Primary storage: RAM ,L2 Cache.. Secondary Storage; Hard drive, CD-ROM...

Cloud Storage vs. Cloud Computing

Even though the words become mainstream does not mean a majority of people really understand what the word or words actually mean. Many of the new words that have been introduced in the last two decades are computer related jargon. Unfortunately, a vast majority of people either do not understand the words at all or only have a vague understanding of it. This article will explain what two new recent words, Cloud Storage and Cloud Computing, actually mean. When personal computers first came onto the scene, they were standalone boxes that were isolated from most other computers. Each computer had software and hardware that was specific to each computer. In other words, everything that was bought with the computer was only used with by that particular computer.

REFERENCES

"Input." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Input Device." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Nov. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Keyboard Layout." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Aug. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Pointing Device." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Oct. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Image Capture." Image Capture. 2000-2006 Eureka Printing Company, Inc., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Output." Daily Definition RSS. 2013 TechTerms.com, 12 Dec. 2006. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Input and Output." Input and Output. (c)2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Cloud Storage vs. Cloud Computing." Gunner Technology. Gunner Technology, 2 Dec. 2011. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Ten Differences between Primary Storage and Secondary Storage in Computer.?" Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.