Peripheral

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Printer

Back 1

Printers provide hard copy (paper) output. All-in-one printers include other functions such as fax, scanner, and copier. Printers may connect via WiFi, USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth, or infrared connections. Operating systems have generic printer drivers, but better printer control and features can usually be obtained by loading the printer’s own drivers.

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ADF/Flatbed Scanner

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A scanner creates a digital image of a paper document and stores it in an image file or Portable Document Format (PDF) file. The original document can be input using a flatbed or an automatic document feeder (ADF). Flatbed scanners provide a glass bed onto which you place the document. This allows you to scan either one-page documents or pages from a book. An ADF feeds paper, one sheet at a time, from a stack of separate sheets of paper.

Front 3

Barcode Scanner/QR Scanner

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Barcode and quick response (QR) code scanners read barcode and QR codes, often using the same application. Barcodes are usually used to represent a machine-readable number, such as a product’s universal price code (UPC). QR codes are most often used to represent a machine-readable link to a website that provides more information.

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Barcode and quick response (QR) code

Back 4

scanners read barcode and QR codes, often using the same application. Barcodes are usually used to represent a machine-readable number, such as a product’s universal price code (UPC). QR codes are most often used to represent a machine-readable link to a website that provides more information.

Front 5

Monitors

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Monitors, also called displays, allow users to see the video output of a computer. They connect through various types of video output, such as HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort.

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VR Headset

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A Virtual Reality (VR) headset completely blocks the user’s view of his or her actual surroundings and replaces it with what is on the screen in the headset. The user can interact with the virtual reality they are viewing and hearing in a number of ways with various input devices. Input devices range from simple game-controller-type devices to sensor-embedded suits and multi-directional treadmills. The most common use is currently gaming, but VR headsets are also used for training, design, architecture, medical applications, and more.

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Optical Drive Types

Back 7

Optical drives are used to read CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. They are often built into desktops and larger laptops. Slimmer laptops cannot accommodate an optical drive, so they use peripheral optical drives. They are typically connected via USB.

Front 8

Touchpad

Back 8

A touchpad is an input device that provides point-and-click capabilities similar to a mouse. It is built into laptops but also available as a peripheral device that connects via USB or Bluetooth.

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Keyboard

Back 9

A keyboard is an input device used to enter alphanumeric characters and other symbols into the computer. Keyboards connect to today’s computers via USB or Bluetooth. Older computers used the PS/2 connector.

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Mouse

Back 10

A mouse is an input device that provides point-and-click capability for computers. Mouse devices connect to today’s computers via USB or Bluetooth. Older computers used the PS/2 connector.

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Signature Pad

Back 11

A signature pad is an input device that has a surface you can “write” on, but rather than writing in ink, the pressure on the pad is detected, displayed on the screen and/or stored in a file. It is used to capture a signature during a transaction. It connects via USB.

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Game Controllers

Back 12

Game controllers are input devices that allow a user to interact with a video game. It is available in the form of a gamepad, joystick, steering wheel, gun, or anything to simulate whatever is used in the game.

Front 13

KVM

Back 13

Keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) switches are typically used in data centers with many servers. Rather than each server having its own keyboard, video monitor, and mouse, KVMs connect a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse, to multiple servers. The user at the KVM can then select which server they are controlling.

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External Storage Drives

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External hard drives, solid state drives (SSD), and optical drives store data outside of the computer itself. They are usually not the primary drive but are used to back up data or increase overall storage capacity. They connect via USB, eSATA, or Thunderbolt connections.

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Power Supplies

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Power supplies convert AC power to the DC power that computer components run on. There are different types of power supplies to fit different types of computers. Each power supply has specific features related to capacity and connectors. You must be able to select the proper power supply type and features needed in any given scenario.

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Input 115V vs. 220V

Back 16

The input to a power supply is provided by the power company. This is the power available at a wall outlet. In North America and some other parts of the world, 110 volts AC - 120 volts AC is supplied. Other countries supply 220 volts AC - 240 volts AC. So, power supplies are designed to accept either or both of these inputs. You may find power supplies that accept only one or the other voltage, but most accept both. Some have a switch to set for the correct input. Others accept either input without having to set a switch.

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Output 5V vs. 12V

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The power supply converts the AC power input to DC power that supplies the computer’s components. Most power supplies provide +5V and +12V. Others may also provide -12V, -5V, and +3.3V. You may see more than one connector for a specific output. For example, you may see two +12V outputs, each with its own connector. Each output is called a rail, so in this example, there would be two +12V rails.

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24-Pin Motherboard Adapter

Back 18

Most power supplies provide DC output power on a standard 24-pin connector, also called the ATX power connector, which plugs into the motherboard. The connector is keyed so that it can only plug in one way, ensuring that the proper voltages are supplied to the right pins. Specific pins are designated to supply +5V, +12V, -12V, and 3.3V.

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Wattage Rating

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Wattage rating, or power rating, is the total capacity of the power supply. This must be high enough to meet the total power demands of all components in the computer.