Computer Peripheral

Definition
• A peripheral is a device attached to a host
computer but not part of it, and is more or
less dependent on the host. It expands the
host's capabilities, but does not form part of
the core computer architecture.
• Examples are computer printers, image
scanners, tape drives, microphones,
loudspeakers, webcams, and digital cameras.
 Headphone, Loudspeakers, webcams
Headphones are a pair of small
loudspeakers, or less commonly a
single speaker, with a way of holding
them close to a user's ears and a
means of connecting them to a signal
source such as an audio amplifier,
radio or CD player
A loudspeaker (or "speaker") is an
electroacoustic transducer that
converts an electrical signal into
sound. The speaker moves in
accordance with the variations of an
electrical signal and causes sound
waves to propagate through a
medium such as air or water.
A webcam is a video capture
device connected to a
computer or computer
network, often using a USB
port or, if connected to a
network, Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

A laser printer is a common type
of computer printer that rapidly
produces high quality text and
graphics on plain paper. As with
digital photocopiers and
multifunction printers (MFPs),
laser printers employ a
xerographic printing process but
differ from analog photocopiers
in that the image is produced by
the direct scanning of a laser
beam across the printer's
photoreceptor.
Printers
An inkjet printer is a type of
computer printer that
reproduces a digital image by
propelling variably-sized
droplets of liquid material (ink)
onto a page. Inkjet printers are
the most common type of
printer and range from small
inexpensive consumer models
to very large and expensive
professional machines.
A dot matrix printer or impact
matrix printer is a type of
computer printer with a print
head that runs back and forth,
or in an up and down motion,
on the page and prints by
impact, striking an ink-soaked
cloth ribbon against the paper,
much like the print mechanism
on a typewriter.
 Storage Devices
External hard disc is an
option for additional
storage. A normal hard disc
can be used as an external
hard disc by mounting it in
a hard disc enclosure.
External hard disc drives
with more than 500 GB of
storage capacity are
commonly available today
Tape Drive
SDLT tape cartridge, an
example of off-line
storage. When used
within a robotic tape
library, it is classified as
tertiary storage instead.
Flash (Pen) Drive
USB flash drives are
typically removable and
rewritable, and
physically much smaller
than a floppy disk
 Scanners
A scanner is a device that optically scans
images, printed text, handwriting, or an
object, and converts it to a digital image.
Common examples found in offices are
variations of the desktop (or flatbed)
scanner where the document is placed
on a glass window for scanning.
A barcode reader (or barcode
scanner) is an electronic device
for reading printed barcodes.
Like a flatbed scanner, it consists
of a light source, a lens and a
light sensor translating optical
impulses into electrical ones.
 Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse
Monitor or display (sometimes
called a visual display unit) is an
electronic visual display for
computers. The monitor
comprises the display device,
circuitry, and an enclosure.
Keyboard is an input device, partially
modeled after the typewriter
keyboard, which uses an arrangement
of buttons or keys, to act as
mechanical levers or electronic
switches. A keyboard typically has
characters engraved or printed on the
keys and each press of a key typically
corresponds to a single written
symbol.
Mouse is a pointing device that
functions by detecting two-
dimensional motion relative to
its supporting surface. Physically,
a mouse consists of an object
held under one of the user's
hands, with one or more
buttons.