OUTPUT DEVICES

General Functions

The output devices of the computer are used to display results in electronic or paper medium.

Common output devices which produce output that is easily understood are

Printers
Monitors
Speakers

Hardcopy Output :: Such outputs are non-electronic version/permanent, and thus may be used at later date as and when they are required.; They are usually on paper and are generally used to produce reports.; The devices which are used to produce hardcopy output are
Softcopy Output :: Such outputs are electronic, thus they are available either on screen or may be stored digitally on some storage device.; The softcopy may be directly seen on screen or may be stored on hard disk/ CD/ DVD for further use.

Monitors

Printers

Impact Printers: These printers print with striking of hammers or pins on ribbon.; These printers can print on multi-part (using carbon papers) by using mechanical pressure.
Non Impact Printers: These printers do not use striking mechanism for printing.; They use electrostatic or laser technology

Impact Printers vs Non-Impact Printers
Work like typewriter and use striking/ hammering action.	They use thermal, electrostatic chemical and inkjet technologies.
Print in black or single colour.	Produce single colour/multicolour output.
Are noisy.	Almost noiseless
High resolution graphics cannot be produced.	High resolution graphics can be produced.

Plotter produces high quality diagrams on paper. Colour pens are used to draw lines on the paper which is placed in the plotter. Some plotters have a flat area to put the paper on. These are known as flatbed plotters. There is another type of plotters, the Roller plotter which uses a large roll of paper mounted on a roller. Usually a Plotter is capable of producing prints on very large size paper sheets but have a speed slower than printers. Plotters are used for drawing building plans, graphs & 3D-drawings. They are often used by Architects & Engineers designing machines, bridges, etc.

Other Output Devices

Control devices like traffic lights, buzzers and motors are used when the computer is controlling a situation such as regulating traffic lights or assembling cars. Also, a computer can control all sorts of devices which are operated by motors. Robotic arms are an example of a device which has its movements controlled by the computer. When an output device moves something it is called an actuator.