8 min readConcept sheetOften a 5- or 10-mark answer

Input and output devices

Input devices turn data into a form the computer can read; output devices give results as soft copy (screen, sound) or hard copy (paper).

Input methodsManual keying or direct data capture

Direct captureBarcode, MICR, OCR, OMR, RFID, biometrics

Output typesSoft copy and hard copy

PrintersImpact (dot matrix) and non-impact (laser, inkjet)

Two input methods

Manual (keyboard) entryA person types the data, for example a clerk keying in invoices. Slow and error-prone for large volumes.

Direct data captureA device reads the data straight from its source, such as a barcode or a cheque's magnetic line. Fast and accurate, with fewer typing errors.

Direct data capture is also called source data automation.

Input devices

Device	How it works	Business use
Keyboard	Keys for letters, numbers and commands	Data entry, letters, reports
Mouse, touchpad, touch screen	Point at and select items on screen	Office PCs, ATMs, POS screens, phones
Scanner	Turns a paper page or photo into a digital image	Storing documents electronically
Barcode reader	Reads a pattern of bars as a product code	Supermarket tills, stock control
MICR reader	Reads characters printed in magnetic ink	Bank cheque processing
OCR (optical character recognition)	Recognises printed or typed text in an image	Reading forms and documents into text
OMR (optical mark recognition)	Detects pencil or pen marks in fixed boxes	MCQ answer sheets, survey forms
RFID reader	Reads a small tag by radio waves, without line of sight	Tracking stock, containers, ID cards
Biometric reader	Reads a fingerprint, face or iris	Staff attendance, phone unlock
Microphone, webcam, camera	Capture sound and images	Video meetings, voice input

Output devices

Device	Output	Notes
Monitor (LCD/LED)	Soft copy	Quality depends on size and resolution (pixels)
Laser printer	Hard copy	Fast, sharp, quiet; good for busy offices
Inkjet printer	Hard copy	Cheap to buy, good colour; ink is costly per page
Dot matrix printer	Hard copy	Impact printer; noisy but prints multi-part (carbon) copies
Plotter	Large hard copy	Building plans, engineering drawings
Speakers, headphones	Sound	Alerts, video meetings, presentations
Multimedia projector	Large soft copy	Presentations and training

Impact vs non-impact printers

ImpactPins or hammers strike an inked ribbon onto paper (dot matrix). Noisy and slow, but cheap to run and can print carbon copies of invoices.

Non-impactNo striking: laser (toner fused by heat), inkjet (sprayed ink), thermal (heat-sensitive paper, as in many till receipts). Quiet, fast and high quality.

In Sri Lankan business

Sri Lankan banks read cheques through the MICR line printed at the bottom of each cheque, supermarkets use barcode readers at the till, and many shops accept LankaQR payments, where the customer's phone camera reads a QR code.

Exam angle

Short answer: “What is MICR and where is it used?” Magnetic Ink Character Recognition: a device reads characters printed in magnetic ink. Banks use it to read cheque details quickly and accurately.

Structured question: “Distinguish between OCR and OMR, with an example of each.” OCR recognises printed text (reading a typed form into a document). OMR only detects marks in fixed boxes (an MCQ answer sheet).

Essay: “Discuss the input and output devices used in a modern business, with examples.” Explain input methods, keyboard and pointing devices, direct capture devices, soft-copy and hard-copy output, and how to choose devices.

Remember it

Direct data capture: bars (barcode), magnetic ink (MICR), characters (OCR), marks (OMR). Output: soft copy you see or hear, hard copy you hold.