Learning About Peripherals

Learning About Peripherals Notes:

• Peripherals are the devices used for a computers input, and output.
• Peripherals are devices like, a mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, and USB.
• A keyboard reports a key press into a software program, that reads the keystrokes.
• Keyboards also give commands to the operating system of a computer. (ex. Ctrl-Alt-Delete combo brings up a task window.)
• There are different types of mice, like optical, or laser technology.
• Monitors are output devices, and there are two types of monitors, LCD and a CRT monitor.
• High-definition (HD) monitors have better resolution, which means a clearer picture.
• A pixel, which is a picture element, is the smallest colored dot that can be displayed on the screen. More pixels= more detail.
• Standard resolution is usually 1280 x 720 pixels (Width x height).
• printers and scanners add value to systems (ex. Multifunction, scanner, and inkjet).
• There are a lot of drives, and they have changed over the last 20 years (3 1/2 in. floppy drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, and Blu-ray drive).
• External Drives give users more storage options, (ex. Combo Hard Drive, DVD with laser light, USB drive).
• Tower cases have expansion bays, they usually have at least one bay for an optical drive, such as a DVD, or Blu-ray drive. Different sizes and types can be loaded into the same tower case.
• The peripherals needed for the dream computer projects: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, scanner, storage drives, and game controllers/ joysticks.