IGCSE Syllabus Section 2

Section 2: Input and output devices
Candidates should be able to:
(a) identify the following input devices:
keyboards, numeric keypads, pointing devices (including mouse, touch pad and tracker ball), remote
controls, joysticks, touch screens, magnetic stripe readers, chip readers, PIN pads, scanners, digital
cameras, microphones, sensors, graphics tablet, MICR, OMR, OCR, barcode readers, video cameras,
web cams, light pens
(b) identify suitable uses of the input devices stating the advantages and disadvantages of each:
Device Use
Keyboard Entering text into a word processing document. Applications where text
has to be created rather than copied
Numeric keypad Applications where only numeric data is to be entered. Inserting personal
identification number (PIN) for Chip and PIN credit/debit cards, or when
using an ATM machine to withdraw money or check a bank balance
Pointing devices –– all All applications which require selection from a graphical user interface. For
example: the selection of data from a set list or menu
Mouse In most PCs
Touchpad On laptop computers
Trackerball For use by people with limited motor skills e.g. young children or people
with disabilities
Remote control Using remote control devices to operate TVs, video players/recorders,
DVD players/recorders, satellite receivers, HiFi music systems, data or
multimedia projectors
Joystick Used by a pilot to fly an aeroplane or flight simulator. Used in car driving
simulators and for playing games
Touch screen Selecting from a limited list of options e.g. certain POS uses such as cafes,
tourist information kiosks, public transport enquiries. May be used for
handwriting recognition in a PDA or Tablet PC
Magnetic stripe readers At POS terminals, ATMs and in security applications
Chip readers and PIN pads Payment cards, ID cards, door control systems, public transport tickets
Scanners Entering hard copy images into a computer
Digital cameras Taking photographs for input to computers, for input to photo printers
Microphones Recording of voices for presentation software
4. Curriculum content
Sensors (general) in control and measuring applications, see section 7.1
Temperature sensor Automatic washing machines, automatic cookers, central heating
controllers, computer-controlled greenhouses, scientific experiments
and environmental monitoring
Pressure sensor Burglar alarms, automatic washing machines, robotics, production line
control, scientific experiments and environmental monitoring
Light sensor Computer controlled greenhouses, burglar alarm systems, robotics,
production line control, scientific experiments and environmental
monitoring
Graphics tablet Inputting freehand drawings or retouch photographs
Optical Mark Reader Inputting pencil marks on a form such as a school register, candidate
exam answers, any application involving input of a choice of options
Optical Character Reader Inputting text to a computer ready for processing by another software
package such as word processors, spreadsheets, databases etc.
Bar code Reader Inputting code numbers from products at a POS terminal, library books
and membership numbers
Video camera Inputting moving pictures, often pre-recorded, into a computer
Web cam Inputting moving pictures from a fixed position into a computer
Light pen Where desktop space is limited, it is used instead of a mouse or for
drawing applications where a graphics tablet might be too big
4. Curriculum content
Candidates should be able to:
(c) identify the following output devices: monitors (CRT, TFT), projectors, printers (laser, ink jet and dot
matrix), plotters, speakers, control devices –– motors, buzzers, lights, heaters
(d) identify suitable uses of the output devices stating the advantages and disadvantages of each:
Device Use
CRT monitor Applications where space is not a problem. Applications where more than
one user may need to view screen simultaneously such as in design use,
e.g. when several designers may need to offer suggestions on a prototype
TFT monitor Applications where space is limited such as small offices. Applications
where only one person needs to view the screen such as individual
workstations
Multimedia Projector Applications such as training presentations, advertising presentations and
home cinema –– it displays data from computers, pictures from televisions
and video/DVD recorders
Laser printer Applications which require low noise and low chemical emissions, e.g. most
networked systems. Applications which require rapid, high quality and high
volumes of output, e.g. most offices and schools
Inkjet printer Applications which require portability and low volume output, where
changing cartridges is not an issue e.g. small offices and stand alone
systems. Applications which require very high quality output and where
speed is not an issue, e.g. digital camera applications
Dot matrix printer Applications where noise is not an issue and copies have to be made, e.g.
industrial environments (multipart forms, continuous stationery, labels etc.),
car sales and repair companies, manufacturing sites
Graph plotter CAD applications, particularly where large printouts are required such as A0
Speakers Any application which requires sound to be output such as multimedia
presentations and websites including encyclopaedias. Applications that
require musical output such as playing of music CDs and DVD films
4. Curriculum content
Control devices in Control applications, see section 7.1
Motors Automatic washing machines, automatic cookers, central heating controllers,
computer-controlled greenhouses, microwave ovens, robotics, production
line control
Buzzers Automatic cookers, microwave ovens
Heaters Automatic washing machines, automatic cookers, central heating controllers,
computer-controlled greenhouses
Lights/lamps Computer-controlled greenhouses