Input and Output

Part 4 - Hybrid Devices and Connections

Many devices use a combination of both Input and Output, and can thus be considered Hybrid Devices. Most Storage devices are a form of these Hybrid devices, however they are already covered in Data Storage section. The other most common area that Hybrid devices are those used for communications

The common Hybrid Devices

Network Interface Card - NIC - After Storage Devices, it Is the most common form of Hybrid device used today. It allows computers to communicate with each other. It is what enables most of us to communicate with each other over the Internet

Modems function as both an input and output device that allows computers to communicate with one another over great distances. The modem achieves this by converting digital signals from a computer into analog audible tone signals that can be transmitted over a telephone line. This process is called Modulation. The signal stays in this analog form until it reaches it's destination, when the modem that is connected to the recieving computer gets the analog signal and coverts it back into a digital signal that the computer can understand. This process is called Demodulation. If you take a closer look, this is how we get the name "modem". MO from MOdulation and DEM from DEModulation. MODEM. It's a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, it is fairly dated, and not used much longer.

• Cable Modemsare in fact a form of a Router which allow high speed access to the internet over cable TV lines. The Cable Modem requires two connections, one being to the cable line itself and the other to your computer. Cable Modems are more economical than regular telephone modems, and you don't have to worry about interrupting your telephone service or installing another telephone line. There is no need to dial because this type of modem is always active.
• DSL Modemsare very similar to Cable Modems. The big exception is they make use of the existing phone cabling to transmit their signals. Their usage also doesnt interrupt the Phone service, and it is still available

There are many other types of Devices that utilze both Input and Output, howeverr most are based on either Communicataions or Storage.

The common Connectors Devices

The pictures below represent somme Common Connectors found on Computer Cases.

Below are the Description of the Ports seen Above

• PS/2 - Connector used by Legacy Keyboard / Mouse connections
• Serial - Serial ports are used for various Devices, including External modem. Some older systems may have a 25-pin connector that looks just like a Printer port, except it has Pins just like the 9-pin Serial port, instead of holes for thhem.
• Parallel - Port on computer side has 25pins. On the printer end, there is usuallly a Centronics connector
• Audoi Jacks - Standard Jacks for Speakers and Microphones. Additional jacks can be used for Line in, Line out and more speakers like rear channel
• Video - VGA Analog - Connector for CRT Monitors
• Video - S-Video - Used to connect to TVs, and Projectors
• Video - Composite - Used to connect to TVs, projectors, and Recording devices like VCR, etc
• Video - DVI - Many different types exist, but are mainly used to connect to newer LCD Monitors. See above.
• Game / MIDI - Port used for Older Analog joysticks, also used to connect MIDI devices.
• Universal Serial Bus - USB - A peripheral connection system that is supported by many different devices. There are 2 versions. 1.1 is older and slower, 2.0 is newer and much faster. There are also 3 standard connector types, the A, B and Mini Connector.
• FireWire - IEEE 1394 - Similar to USB, Firewire was faster than the Original USB 1.1. FireWire devices tend to be more expensive. A new FireWire-B will be available soon and promises much better speeds
• RJ45 - Network - Connector used for Network Connectivity. The speed is based on the interface circuitry used. Today most mother boards support Gigabit Ethernet, and is backwards compatible to 100Base-T, and 10Base-T.
• RJ11 - MoDem - Your standard Phone Jack. Allows the Modem to connect to the phoneline.