2. Chapter Objectives In this chapter, you will learn:
About how peripherals work
How to connect peripherals using ports, wireless connections, and expansion slots
About input and output devices
About multimedia technologies
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

3. An Overview of Peripherals
Input is any data or instructions entered into the memory of a computer
An input device is any hardware component that allows users to enter data or instructions
Output is data that has been processed into a useful form
An output device is any hardware component used to convey this information to a user
A peripheral device can be connected to the computer in an expansion slot, via a cable that connects to a port, or using a wireless connection
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

4. Converting Analog and Digital Data
Humans process data that is analog, while computers process digital data
Computers use an analog-to-digital conversion to convert all analog input into digital values before processing the data
To output information, computers perform digital-to-analog conversions to convert the digital data back into analog form
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

5. Installing Peripheral Devices
Install the device
Internal
External
Install the device driver
The driver must be written specifically for the operating system installed on your PC
Install the application software
Application software packages are built to interface with the device driver
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

6. Connecting Peripherals Using Ports
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

7. Using Serial Ports
Serial ports are used to connect input devices and transmit data in single bits
A serial port conforms to the standard interface called RS-232c (RS-232 port)
This standard originally called for 25 pins, but newer computers only use 9 pins
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

8. Using Serial Ports
Serial ports rely on a special controller chip called the Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART)
DTE (Data Terminal Equipment)
DCE (Data Communications Equipment)
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

9. Using Parallel Ports
A parallel port transmits data in parallel, eight bits at a time
A parallel port generally is used for fast transmission of data over short distances
A parallel port sometimes is referred to as a DB-25 connector, which indicates that it has 25 pins on the connector
Parallel ports are considered bidirectional
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

10. Parallel Port Technologies
The standard parallel port (SPP) is an 8-bit standard port first introduced in 1987
Enhanced parallel port (EPP) allows for bidirectional data transfer about 10 times faster than the standard parallel port
The extended capabilities port (ECP) allows for bidirectional data transfer at speeds slightly faster than EPP
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

11. Configuring Parallel Ports
Parallel ports use port assignments of LPT1 or LPT2
Use CMOS to configure parallel ports that are connected directly to the motherboard
To connect a printer or other device to a parallel port, simply connect the device cable to the port and install any required drivers or software
If the parallel port is not working, check the CMOS setup to ensure it is enabled
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

12. Using USB Ports
The USB port was designed to make the installation of peripheral devices as effortless as possible
USB uses Plug and Play technology and this allows for hot-swapping or hot-plugging
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

13. Using USB Ports
The universal serial bus is controlled by a USB host controller, which is included in the chip set for most motherboards
A motherboard can have two USB host controllers, each of which can be enabled or disabled using CMOS setup
You can daisy chain up to 127 peripherals together using USB cables
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

14. USB Technologies
The latest version of USB, USB 2.0, allows for data transmission speeds of 480 Mbps, and is almost 40 times faster than USB 1.0 and USB 1.1
USB 2.0 is also called Hi-Speed USB or USB2
Most devices connected to a USB port receive power through the USB port and therefore do not require an additional power cable
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

15. Installing a New USB Device
To install a USB device, you need the following:
A motherboard that provides a USB port
A USB device and its device drivers
An OS that supports USB
Before installing a USB device, carefully read and follow the device documentation
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

16. Using FireWire (IEEE 1394) Ports
A FireWire port is used to connect high-speed input, output, and multimedia devices that require large data transfers
Digital video cameras
External hard drives
FireWire provides speeds as high as 3.2 gigabits per second
FireWire uses isochronous data transfer, which means that data is transferred continuously over the FireWire bus
Devices connected to a FireWire port are controlled by a FireWire host controller
Installing a FireWire device involves the same basic principles as installing a USB device
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

17. Using FireWire (IEEE 1394) Ports
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

18. Connecting Peripherals Using Wireless Connections
Infrared (IR) technology uses infrared light waves to transmit signals to other infrared-enabled devices
Infrared technologies are often used to transfer data to and from a PDA
An infrared port (IrDA) supports infrared devices such as wireless keyboards, mice, and printers
Many notebook computers already have infrared ports
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

19. Connecting Peripherals Using Wireless Connections
Radio frequency (RF) devices use radio waves to transmit signals
Items blocking the line of sight will not degrade the communications, as with IR technology
Bluetooth and are two widely used radio frequency technologies
Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity)
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

20. Connecting Peripherals Using Expansion Slots
Expansion cards are circuit boards designed to provide additional functionality or to provide a connection to a peripheral device
Expansion cards are inserted into expansion slots:
PCI
AGP
ISA
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

21. Installing an Expansion Card in an Expansion Slot
Protect yourself and the computer from ESD
Shut down the computer, unplug it, and remove the case cover
Locate the expansion slot in which you want to install the expansion card and then remove the faceplate from the slot
Insert the expansion card in the expansion slot
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

22. Installing an Expansion Card in an Expansion Slot
Replace the cover of the computer case, power cord, and other peripherals
Plug in the device intended to use the port on the rear of the card
Reboot the computer
Test the device
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

23. PC Cards and ExpressCards
A PC Card (PCMCIA) is about the size of a credit card, but thicker, and inserts into a PC Card slot
Type I
Type II
Type III
The latest PCMCIA specification, CardBus, improves I/O speed and increases the bus width from 16 bits to 32 bits
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

24. PC Cards and ExpressCards
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

25. Keyboards
A keyboard is an input device with keys that users press to enter data and send instructions to a computer
Enhanced keyboard
Ergonomic keyboard
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

26. Connecting a Keyboard
For desktop and tower computers, keyboards connect to a PC in one of four ways:
PS/2 connection
DIN connection
USB connection
Wireless connection
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

27. Common Keyboard Problems
Several keys do not work
Keys continue to repeat after being released
Major spills on the keyboard
The keyboard does not work at all
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

28. Pointing Devices
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

29. Types of Mouse Units
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

30. Connecting a Mouse
A mouse can connect to the computer wirelessly, or using one of several ports
Serial port
USB port
PS/2 port
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

31. Maintaining and Troubleshooting a Mouse
Clean the mouse
Close any open applications and restart the computer
Check the mouse port connection
Using Device Manager and the Add New Hardware icon in the Control Panel, first uninstall and then reinstall the mouse driver
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

32. Output Devices: CRT Monitors
A CRT monitor is a desktop monitor that contains a cathode-ray tube (CRT) and is similar to a standard television
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

33. Output Devices: CRT Monitors
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

34. Output Devices: Flat Panel Monitors
A flat panel monitor, also called an LCD monitor, uses a liquid crystal display instead of a cathode-ray tube to produce images on the screen
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

35. Video Cards
Video cards serve as the interface between the computer and the monitor
Video cards can have up to four ports:
RGB video port
DVI (digital video interface) port
S-Video (Super-Video)
Composite video
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

36. Video Cards Video RAM AGP Technologies Graphics Accelerators VRAM
SGRAM
WRAM
AGP Technologies
Direct memory execute (DIME)
Graphics Accelerators
Type of video card that has its own processor
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

37. Troubleshooting Monitors and Video Cards
If the monitor has power but is not displaying a picture:
Check the contrast and brightness adjustments on the monitor
Check the monitor cables
Check the CMOS settings
Reseat the video card and/or move it do a different slot
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

38. Troubleshooting Monitors and Video Cards
If the monitor is flickering:
Check that the cable connections are snug
Check if something in the work area is causing a high amount of electrical noise
Check that the monitor refresh rate is not set too low
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

39. CPU Technologies for Multimedia
Intel updated their CPUs with new technologies to support multimedia applications
The Pentium MMX introduced MMX (Multimedia Extensions) and the Pentium III introduced Intel’s performance enhancement called Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE)
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

40. Audio Input and Output
A sound card is an expansion card that records sound, saves it in a file on your hard drive, and plays it back
A computer’s CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is attached to the sound card internally
A sound card can be an expansion card or embedded on a motherboard
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

41. Sampling and Digitizing the Sound
The analog-to-digital converter digitizes the analog sound flowing to sound cards
Several factors in the sampling process affect the quality of the sound during playback:
Sampling rate
Audio resolution
Mono or stereo recording
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

42. Installing a Sound Card
After you are properly grounded, turn off the PC, remove the cover, and locate an empty expansion slot for the card
Attach the wire to the sound card and to the CD-ROM drive
Remove the cover from the slot opening at the rear of the PC and seat the card
Check again that both ends of the wire are still connected securely and do not interfere with the CPU fan. Replace the cover
Plug in the speakers to the ports and test
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

43. Installing a Sound Card
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

44. Troubleshooting Sound Problems
Is the sound cable attached between the drive and the analog audio connector on the sound card?
Are the speakers turned on? Is the speaker volume turned down? Is the volume control for Windows turned down?
Are the speakers plugged into the line “Out” or the “Spkr” port of the sound card?
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

45. Troubleshooting Sound Problems
Is the transformer for the speaker plugged into an electrical outlet on one end and into the speakers on the other end?
Is Device Manager displaying a red X to indicate the card is disabled or an exclamation point symbol to indicate a problem with the card? If the card is disabled, enable it. If another device is using the same I/O addresses or IRQ number, assign new resources to the card.
Is the sound card properly seated? To check for a bad connection, turn off the computer, and then remove and reinstall the sound card. If you think the sound card is the source of the problem, replace the card with one you know is good.
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

46. Digital Cameras
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

47. Video Cameras and Digital Video Cameras
Video input is the process of capturing full motion images into a computer and storing them on a storage medium
A video capture card converts the analog signals from a video camera, VCR, or television for storage
Digital video (DV) cameras record video as digital signals instead of analog signals
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

48. MP3 Players
A popular audio compression method is MP3, a method that can reduce the size of a sound file to make it significantly smaller and easier to transfer to and from computers and audio devices, without much loss of quality
An MP3 player is a device that plays MP3 files
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

49. Chapter Summary In this chapter, you learned:
About how peripherals work
How to connect peripherals using ports, wireless connections, and expansion slots
About input and output devices
About multimedia technologies
Chapter 6: Supporting Input, Output, and Multimedia Devices

50. Chapter 6 Complete